Research - Horror Film Openings

Horror Film Openings

In order to understand the horror genre for my film opening, I took time to watch various horror movies, from classic pieces such as Nosferatu, to more recent titles such as The Ring, 28 Days Later, Saw, and many more. This gave me a perspective of what types of techniques were used, how the directors wanted the characters and protagonists to act physically and mentally. Further more I took time to watch and take note of the directors cut version available on DVD’S, the commentary that the director and the producer had for each of the scenes in the movie. This dissected understanding directly from the makers, gave a real insight into what was used to make a particular scene memorable. For example in 28 days later, how the shot of Central London, had been achieved to seem barren and portraying as non-existent of life. As well as what mistakes may have occurred and how they managed to edit out these mistakes.

I watched around about 22 to 25 horror movies, I took notes on how the movies start and how and what method the director may have used to keep the audience interested. I took into consideration the music used, how the camera was used, what setting and scenery were appropriate for the movie, and if the title of the film was suitable. For my opening sequence of my film to work I thought about these methods very carefully and how I will be able to use them to fit in with my film.

Here are some of the notes I took for 4 of the movies I watched, I chose these movies because it’s around the same type of supernatural story that I want to work around basing my film opening on.

The Omen 2006 - Director John Moore

This movie is very well known as it was a successful horror movie released in 1976, it has grossed over $60 million to date.

· The film starts off with showing the 666 circling to make the title ‘The Omen’ with the title you have intense music to make you feel uncomfortable. The font for the title is a mix between old English and Times New Roman to give it a biblical feel.

· The background is black with a bloody red outline of a building.

· The camera angle used is a low angle shot, the observer is looking up.

· The opening shot is of the Vatican observatory where we see the shutters open to the sky and a priest astronomer about to do his evenings work.

· The scene sets up events to give meaning to the movies title, the priest makes a worrying observation and then goes on to do a feverish study.

· There are sequences that show old texts with illustrations of a satanic nature.

· Finally the priest is shown going to his superiors to report his findings on THE OMEN.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 – Director Samuel Bayer

This movie for me is another classic and which has also been recently remade and again was also successful in 1984 grossing over $25 million

· The film starts off with the title sequence of the names of the actors and actresses with a black background which then keeps doing cut shots of kids playing, their toys as well as showing school photos followed by intense and creepy music.

· The opening shot is a long shot of a diner, it’s raining, the camera is slowly moving towards the diner. The diner lights flicker due to the rain.

· The next shot is taken inside the diner and it’s a close up of a clock hung on a wall, the diner looks quite dim and quite.

· Then it’s a fast cut shot towards a man sitting down, the camera slowly moves closer to the back of his head, the music at this point gives a sensation of wonder and ponder.

· While the camera was moving closer, a waitress was walking towards the camera and ignored the customer where he asked for a refill at this point the camera changes to show the rest of the diner

The Sixth Sense 1999 – Director Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan

This movie is the first psychological thriller I have seen so far, I like the way the movie opens with a trick which is carried on throughout the whole movie until the end. When the truth is out.

· The opening of the movie starts off with scary music and then a black background. The opening titles flash very quickly accompanied by chilling chords that make your skin crawl.

· The movie uses most of the first three minutes to simply show simple titles with accompanying scary music. Just as the three minutes are up, a slowly brightening filament bulb is shown with a very black background.

Thir13en Ghosts 2001 - Director Steve Beck

This was an interesting movie, with plot twists and lots of background on all the ghosts in the movie. The film grossed over $110 million at the box office.

· Dark, moonlit low angle exterior shots of a junk yard accompanied by eerie music.

· The titles are in a Times New Roman style with fiery red outlines

· Dramatic entrance of a convoy of heavy vehicles, these turn out to be ghost hunters who seem to act with military precision.

· Entrance of the group’s leader and his assistant, it is clear they have a discordant relationship.