I will be analysing the opening title sequence of the film Halloween, an independent, American horror movie directed by John Carpenter, in 1978. Produced on a budget of $320.000 then engrossing $47 million later in 2008 becoming the most profitable independent film of all times. Set in a suburban area of
The film begins with the entrance of the titles, sequencing on a black background, representing that it is gong to be a dark not vibrant film.
As the title sequence begins, an extreme long shot of a pumpkin gradually zooms in, from an extreme long shot to a close up, showing that it is an evil pumpkin face, indicating something negative will be happening in the film. Also the extreme close up of the pumpkin, allows the bright orange to be highlighted against the black background, making it fully visual and clear to the audience. The pumpkin is used to symbolise the time of Halloween as this is a traditional/conventional feature, this letting the audience know it is going to be a dark film. The titles are coloured in a mix of orange and red, also standing out against the black, again giving link to the Halloween theme. The red fading in an out of the orange, suggests danger on Halloween, possibly violence/death.
The score of the film was made by the director himself, John Carpenter. The main instrument used through the film is piano; the notes are played singularly, not in cords, and mainly high pitched keys used. Due to the main use of piano, the music is repetitive. The repetitiveness reinforces a tense, eerie feel, making a mysterious atmosphere and suspense, indicating it is horror film.
A title caption appears, introducing the scene/time/place to the audience, a fade out of the caption is used to continue into the scene/setting. An establishing shot of a house is shown, this indicating to the audience the negative actions are going to take place/surround and be linked to this house, also that the scene/action about to take place is in this house.
A hand held camera is used as we begin to move towards the house, allowing the point of view of an unknown character, a conventional technique used within the horror genre. Within the background, children chanting Halloween songs can be heard, again reinforcing that it is Halloween, also the chanting sound representing something evil is brewing.
A side panning of the house is used to show the movement of the unknown character. Then a low angle shot of the top window is shown, where shadows of the two characters (a girl and boy) can be seen. This is showing that the unknown character is feeling discomforted by their actions within the bedroom and feels that he has no power being outside the house, therefore he enter the house using forward tracking.
As the character forwards upstairs, the music grows louder. As he enter the girls bedroom the music steadies out, then church bells ring and the thriller music rises as he starts to violently kill the girl (who we find out is his sister).
He leaves the bedroom, then a high angle shot is used as he makes his way downstairs, this is showing everything is below him, he is in control. Outside, the character is revealed to be a young boy, due to the point of view shots; we are giving the illusion that the character is an adult, when in fact he is not, giving a more shocking and dramatic storyline.
The scene ends with a master shot of the house, just as it had begun, reinforcing danger is lurking even in the most innocent of places.
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