Analysis of 3 title sequences

The Conjuring:

The key plots in the title sequence consisted of quite possible some historical events as newspapers were frequently show. The storyline is not entirely introduced but you do see a few locations (the home), two families and the newspapers which could possibly link to the storyline. The characters introduced were the two families, the Perron family and the Warren family. Not many social groups as all characters introduced were white but there was range in the ages, also the KKK was shown within the newspapers. There was not much diversity in the use of camera shots as they mostly consisted of close up. The editing this sequence was quite slow as the images flipped over as if they were a book. There was not much range in colour for the conjuring title opening as it was black and white, the scene set is rather old looking with the lack of colour and the partially rusted feel the images and the newspaper had. The sound in the title opening was very low and dark sounding creating a creepy atmosphere.

The Perron Family

The Warren Family

Directed by James Wan

Written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes

Produced by Tony Derosa, Grund Peter Safran and Rob Cowan

Executive producers

Director of photography

Production designer

Edited by

Actor

Actor

Actor

Actor

Actors (4)

Actors (3)

Casted by

Costume designer

Music by

New line cinema presentation

Production

A James Wan film

TITLE

‘THE CONJURING’

The Shining:

The is no real indication of the story of the movie through the title sequence as there are only two things you are introduced to which are the car and the location which appears to be in the the middle of nowhere. You are also not introduced to any character or social groups during the title sequence. There is also not much range in camera shots as they are taken from birds eye view until they reach the location of the house then a long shot is shown. There are lots of cuts during this sequence to mountains etc. The music throughout the sequence is quite spine chilling and threatening sounding.

A Stanley Kubrick film

Jack Nicholson

Shelley Durall

TITLE

‘THE SHINING’

Danny Lloyd

Scatman Crothers

Barry Nelson

Philip Stone

Joe Turkel

Anne Jackson

Tony Burton

Executive producer

Based on a novel by Stephen King

The producer

Screenplay by

Produced and directed by

Nightmare On Elm Street:

The nightmare on elm street title sequence had used a range of camera shots including close up shots, long shot, a location shot and action shots. Match cuts have been used when the character had been running. Match cuts had been used very seamlessly making the transitions of camera movement very smooth. The location is shown as well as the claws, some weapons are also shown, main character is shown but not much narrative given away. There was the diegetic sound of the screaming women and the name calling with the non diegetic sound of the scary music in the background.

There are some clear similarities and differences between the three title sequences which is expected as they belong to the same genre. Some similarities were that both 'The Shining' and 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' used match cuts when editing the sequences whereas 'The Conjuring' did not use any as it was quite slow. Both 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' and 'The Conjuring' used close ups while filming 'The Shining' did not consist of any wide shots and high angles were used when filming this title sequence. All title sequences had very similar music. The music used was a very low and dark instrumental in the background. I think most horror movie title sequences would look a lot like 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' and 'The Conjuring' as they are quite dark in colour, have dark settings and low music. I think 'The Shining' was different to grab the audiences attention making them more intrigued into the story as there is nothing given away that it is a horror movie in the title sequence other than the low music.