ANALYSIS OF 2

FILM OPENINGS

INTRODUCTION

The films I am studying and will be writing about are

'Insidious' and 'The Purge'. Insidious has the genre of

paranormal thriller, whereas 'The Purge' is a crime thriller.

I will be analysing the first 2 minutes of this film, this can

include the credits. The conventions in these film openings

would include things like lighting, low key sound, music, key

events which give you an insight into what the plot will be

about and establish the genre and show credits and

character introductions. During the analysis I will be looking

for elements such as mise en scene, cinematography, editing

etc.

1. INSIDIOUS

In the first 20 seconds of the opening it

begins with the shot of the boy sleeping

in his bed. This is the first shot within the

opening and it starts by the camera

slowly panning down from the ceiling of

the room then stopping to focus on the

boy for 5 seconds. This makes him

seem important and suggests he could

be a main part in the film as the camera

does not carry on panning.

The panning can also create suspense and makes you feel as if someone or

something is watching, which can link to horror.

Whilst the shot is happening there is no dialogue, sound or music playing

making it a silent which can create suspense and an eerie feeling. They have

used low key lighting which can relate to the genre of horror, as stereotypically

horror films use many dark scenes.

INSIDIOUS

As the first shot continues the camera

starts to pan smoothly across and takes

you through the house, as if you were

walking through it, using a point of view

shot. As this happens a sound appears and

begins to slowly increase in volume as the

clip goes on. The sound is the screeching

of violins which creates a suspense

frightening tone, linking to the fear horror

films aim to give.

The camera the stops to focus on a shadow in the window. They have

created this with the use of lighting, and again the setting in the house is

still very dark like films of this genre often are. By focusing on the shadow it

could again suggest, like the boy, it is an important character/feature within

the film.

INSIDIOUS

Still in shot 1, it carries on from a long

shot panning across the room then does

into a close up shot of the woman. This

is done by slowly zooming in on the dark

figure and focuses on to the woman for

a few seconds. This creating a suspense

feel to film and make you feel as if a

jump scare is going to happen.

The music of the screeching violins is continuous throughout this shot and is

still increasing in volume which distresses the viewer to create the horror

feel. The lighting within the shot is very low and the whole shot is lit with

candle light, which only makes the woman's face visible. This therefore

makes sure you can only see her face, making it difficult for you to look

away and is increasing fear as her white make up and veil creates a very

sinister feel.

INSIDIOUS

This is the second shot in the opening and

it is a still shot of the title of the film. It is

focusing on the title as it is a key word with

in the film and it connotes to words such as

evil and danger, linking to the horror.

The sound stops for a few seconds and it is

silent, but then then violin screeching

suddenly appears at a high volume,

creating the audience to jump at the

sudden noise

The text is visible by the use of writing as the writing is being shone at an

angle. This is creating a shadow on the title, giving it a more spooky feel.

The light also flickers which links to horror as it could create a sense of

uncertainty and danger or that something is trying to disrupt the light.

INSIDIOUS

In the 3rd shot of the opening it begins to play

the credits of the film , this including actors,

directors and producers etc.

It displays a close up off the house in which

we assume is the one that was in the scene

before. The camera pans down the house and

then it fades out into the black in the bottom

right corner, which could represent the genre

as darkness is seen to be scary.

Whilst the camera is panning the house a different type of music begins playing.

It is the same violin instrument but the notes are elongated and the music is at a

slower pace. This gives an eerie feel about the things that are being shown in

the credits, for example the house displayed in the screenshot.

The colour red is used for the credits which can connote to things such as

danger and evil, linking to genre of horror. Also, the backgrounds are greyscale

and are only black and grey, these dark colours can suggest, the unknown and

danger.

INSIDIOUS

Still credits are rolling, this being shot number 7. The credits are all still shots of different places inside of the house which suggests to the audience they could have a significance within the film. All of the shots fade into the darkness, reoccurring action so likely darkness is a key aspect in the film which can link to the genre as darkness creates fear for many people.

The music begins slowing and becomes more high pitched, this can

be to create more suspense and have the watcher waiting for

something to happen. The text appears but then fades out which

could be associated with ghost and supernatural beings as they do

similar things, ghosts are frightening and are often involved in

paranormal thrillers like this.

INSIDIOUS

Shot 11 is where the credits fade into the

actual begging of the film. It shows a still

close up shot of a character we haven’t

met yet sleeping. The music has come to

an end, there is no music, sound or

dialogue. This lack of sound makes you

feel as if something is wrong or something

is going to happen as the silence causes

so much suspense, which adds to the fear.

The fact that the woman is still in black and grey makes the audience

think that something has happened to her or that she

However this shot does not produce a scary clip like predicted, it leads

into the light fading into the shot as if it was coming into the morning

which is deceiving like most horror films are as they get you to think

something is going to happen and give you false hope.

2. THE PURGE

This is the opening scene to ‘The Purge’ and

it begins with a piece of text fading in. It is a

black and white colour scheme which gives it

an formal out look which means it could be a

serious film, like thrillers often are. It is also

informing the audience of something, the

ellipses at the end making it dramatic and

keeps us in suspense waiting for something to

happen, waiting for the ‘thrill’.

In the background there is some music which is low pitch elongated notes

and increases and decreases in volume. This creates a tense atmosphere

which like the ellipses has you waiting for something to happen or

something shocking to be seen.

THE PURGE

The second shot fades like with

the first shot. However it displays a

quote which means that it is

truthful and factual which creates a

realistic feel to link to the genre as

thrillers are often made so that

they are linked to normal everyday

life.

Typography is also used to display the genre as the font is a very

simple informative font this can leave a tense serious effect on

the audience, like this genre often does. The colours of light and

dark could also give connotations of good and evil which are key

thriller conventions. The low tone of music still continues, still

building suspense and keeping audience waiting.

THE PURGE

The next shot is the beginning of the

credits. It is in the same way as the

shots before were, therefore it still

connotes to good, evil and a sincere

opening which is usual in thrillers. Non

diegetic sound is here, the music

differs as the credits begins and

changes in to a higher tone of violins

and flutes, it is more relaxed and

creates a happier tone in the film.

This could represent the changes from evil to good, showing the low key

music as bad. However the text and colour scheme still implies things

such as danger and evil. This making a contradiction which can lead the

audience to be unsure and keep them interested in the film which is

important in thrillers to keep the watcher interested in the film

THE PURGE The shot changes to a CCTV monitor which

is filmed at a mid angle which is looking

down on to the people. This gives a sense of

realism to the film as it makes you feel as if it

could happen to you, thrillers try to make

things relatable. The fact that this is being

recorded could give the audience a sense of

paranoia as it shows people are watching

you, this links to the genre as thrillers try to

get you worried. The time, date and location

is displayed on the camera and they are all

normal places within the world, this makes it

seem realistic as it shows the audience that it

could happen anywhere which can represent

the genre as it makes it more believable.

The settings used in the shot are stereotypical places for crime such as alleyways, streets and

behind buildings. The lighting in all the settings are very dark which connotes similar things to

the setting such as danger and evil, danger is often displayed in thrillers There is a montage of

violent acts displayed in this form which gives murder and violence a normality, this can link to

the genre as it displays violence as it is a usual act. However whilst the montage is playing the

music is in a form of a melody of flutes and violins which is quite a relaxing sound. This creates

a juxtaposition as it is showing us people committing violent acts towards one another but the

music sounds quite elegant and artistic. This links to the genre as it gives the film a sinister feel

as comes across as trying to make murder and violence look like a good thing and maybe an

art.

THE PURGE The shots of the violence begin to

end and a birds eye view shot is

showed of what looks like the after

math of the violence. However there

is still connotations of danger in the

shot, for example the fire in the

middle of the street. There is also

people wit their hoods up, so you

cannot see their face. This support

the thriller as it can create fear for

the audience as you do not know

who is doing this as they have

hidden their identity.

The music also becomes elongate, slower and still the elegant artistic tone

which can suggest it is the end of the violence and possibly a happy ending, tells

the audience that the violence is only permitted for a certain amount of time and

it is a good thing. This can relate to the genre as it gives you a small idea as to

what happens and you want to keep watching to see what happens, thrillers get

you hooked on the story line. It could also be seen as a sinister act as violence

is not a happy thing.

CONCLUSION

Elements I have researched for the films ‘Insidious’ and ‘The Purge’ were things such as camera angles, different shots, mise en scene and sound. I found that mise en scene was very effective for the genre of horror and thriller. This is because of things such as the lighting. Lighting is a great element for showing the genre as they are all generally lit by low key lighting, meaning they are dark which creates a suspense and mysterious feeling.

I think that the research I have done has given me a good idea on what is needed to make an effective horror or thriller film/opening. This is because I have gone into great detail and picked apart how each section in a shot could influence the effect on the viewer, for example a camera shot being a long shot could give the idea of not wanting to be too clos to what is happening as it could be dangerous.