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.