Research on Horror Film Openings

Film Openings

In order to start planning for my project I started researching film openings from horror and thriller films so that I could get an idea of what goes into the production process. I looked at how elements of mise-en-scene, lighting, sound, and movement all played a role in the interpretation of the film and the mood it created.

The Conjuring (2013)

The beginning of the film starts with non- diegetic sound of a narrator explaining the dolls origin. Then the shift turns to a two shot of the two nurses on the couch showing that these characters have a bond. Later I found out that this video was also a video in the movie as it cleverly zooms out to expose an exposition filled with students and the researchers from the "investigation". The Conjuring makes it very known how important and relevant these two characters are going to be throughout the film by, after they answers the student's questions and getting applauded, cutting to a black screen with their job description as well as an emphasis on how rare their positions are. My favorite aspect was the mention of the fact it is based on real events because I feel like that makes the audience feel much more wary of the topics discussed. The use of colors is all very strategic because whenever the haunted spirit is in the scene there are very dull dark colors and the use of shadows is amplified, but when, for example, it changed to the presentation everything is well lit and light colors signifying a safe space.

Bird Box (2018)

This film starts with an empty black screen, with a score playing which was written by Trent Reznor. This score has a very gloomy mood and that is further supported when the first image is shown. A crane shot reveals a foggy and dark scene of a lake and the forest that stretches as far as the eye can see, seemingly untouched by man. The fact that this area remains uncivilized is a foreshadowing of the fact that the people living in this society are limited by a risk factor that comes with the outside and opening of your eyes. Towards the end of the shot I was able to hear a woman's voice through the use of non- diegetic sound and then the film quickly shifted to a tight close up of the woman emphasizing her role of importance and that what she is telling her children is of extreme urgency. This film also uses the element of lighting to signify safety and danger, as clearly shown whenever they are outside everything becomes dark and foggy but indoors, they have everything brightly lit. Interestingly enough, I noted that the colors which appear very bright indoors are heavily muted when in a "danger" zone.

It (2017)

This film begins by showing a little boy dressed in a neon yellow raincoat. The yellow in this instance represents his innocence and naive-ity. This horror film also uses shadows to convey what they are trying to get across to the audience. In this instance the character "Pennywise" in almost fully engulfed in the shadows with the exception of the majority of his face and his one visible hand. The use of the bright red for the clown's lipstick serves as a warning sign much like how animals in the wild have vibrant colors to warn other animals of their danger. In the first two minutes the movie is superficially wholesome but when you take into account the fog, rain, and the use of the long shot to emphasize Georgie's solidarity all come together to hint that some evil force is upcoming. 

Overall, what I found most interesting is how lighting plays such a big role in the interpretation of a scene and how a mood can be transmitted through just the use of shadows. For my project I will definitely be experimenting with these different ways to make a scene feel gloomy and will attempt to incorporate contrasting elements like the cuts away from all the bad into normal human societies. The film I will mainly be referencing for these characteristics will likely be The Conjuring because in my opinion the way this film incorporates them is the best.