What Makes A Successful Horror Film Opening?

After watching many openings of horror films, there seems to be many recurring themes that are successful at creating an atmosphere suitable for the horror genre.

When it comes to lighting, a successful horror film opening would usually use low key lighting. Darkness is seen as frightening, especially as horrific things happen and monsters are portrayed as coming out at night.

Film Openings Research

As we have recently started looking at the horror genre, we were asked to watch the openings of horror films. They could be any horror films we liked, and while we watched, we had to write down and analyse many different aspects. Camera shots, editing, sound, lighting and mise-en-scene were all the things we had to look at in the first few minutes in each film. Also, after looking at these, we had to anaylse in what way they connotate the genre of horror.

The film that I watched was Alien. The film is quite old, as it was made in 1979. The age certificate of alien is 18, but films from years ago are seen as less scary nowadays, this one included, so I wanted to watch it and see what techniques it used to create horror and why they don't seem to be as effective anymore. I think if this film was aged at the present, the certificate would be 15 or even possibly 12. As well as being in the horror genre, the film is also science fiction, which means it involves futuristic technology, alternate universes or impossible things.

Alien opens with the credits rolling, like the prodction company and actors names. In the background, there is animation of outer space, and the camera pans around to show you space. This already sets the scene as you know where the film is going to be set, and introduces the genre of science fiction horror. Space is a mysterious and terrifying place, and many people fear what is out there. There is a long shot of a ship, which cuts to a close up of it so you can see it in detail. There is low lighting used and very quiet diegetic sound is heard while there is a trcking shot through the inside of the ship. This creates tension and suspense because it feels like you are in the cameras place and the sound and stillness is building up to something.

Preliminary Task Video

Preliminary Task Photos

These are the photographs we took for our preliminary task. We created a short scene and acted out the movements and emotions of the characters we created.

This is a close up of a hand opening a door. The close up means that the audience can see the action clearly and builds tension because it seems like there is something important on the other side of the door.

This is a long shot of the back of character as she enters through the door. The long shot shows where she is and what she is doing. This shot builds tension as the audience doesn't know what is on the other side of the door.

This is another long shot of the character, and it is an action shot sicne she is in the middle of walking with one leg bent and the other slightly lifted.

This could be classed as either a long shot or an establishing shot as the photograph sets the scene. The photograph keeps to the 180 degrees rule like all of the other shots.

This is a mid shot photograph, and it is used so that you can see one characters expression while looking over the shoulder of another. It makes it seem like the audience is seeing the character from the other character's point of view.

Here is a mid shot of a character. This is the only character in the shot, which makes the audience focus on them. The character is in the middle of speaking and the mid shot enables you tosee the characters emotions clearly.

This is a close up of another character. This is matron action as the photo swicthes from one character to another while they talk. The close up displays the emotions of the character.

Lastly, there is another mid shot. Again, the mid shot allows you to clearly see the emotions on the characters face and the body language they are using to express themselves. These photos all keep to the 180 degrees rule as the camera always stays on one side.