Opening Title Sequence Analysis

Mise En Scene The mise en scene in this opening sequence sets up the overall tone of the film and gives an insight into the mind and life of a serial killer. All of the shots are very dark, interior settings that use low key lighting to create an abundance of shadows. This gives the whole title sequence a very ominous, sinister feel and suggests that the subject matter and character are an evil threat and not the protagonist. A lot of the colour is very desaturated almost to black and white, with yellow filters making the image look dirty or tainted, possibly reflecting the person in the sequence. None of the shots reveal where the actions are taking place, creating mystery for the audience and thus building tension. All of the props used in are fairly everyday objects that could be found in a home or maybe office environment, this could suggest that it could be anyone in the sequence. Many of the props such as pens, notes and files can be associated with detectives, crime and police work, setting up the genre of crime-thriller.

Mise En Scene Continued The handwritten font and layout of the titles is very scattered and scratchy possibly reflecting the insane mind of the serial killer in subject and fits with the subject material. The imagery we see in the sequence may also give us clues to their personality, aims or desires. For example we see them removing their finger tips with a razor blade, developing and cutting up photographs, and taking notes on police files/people etc. This can show many things such as the person wants to keep their identity a secret, that they’re have specific people they want to ‘target’ and are very thorough or obsessive. The way the shots are put together is scattered and disorganized using various different transitions. Some use quick cuts that create confusion and tension in the viewer while others cross fade giving the impression that a lot of time is being put into whatever this person is planning or doing, keeping the audience on edge. The image of the word god being cut from a dollar bill may suggest a religious motivation for the character in question.

Cinematography Absolutely all of the shots are close up or extreme close up, using a shallow depth of field to focus on one object or action at a time without context. There are no mid shots or long shots to give anything away. This creates tension because the audience doesn’t know why something is being done or what significance an object may have. It also distracts them from seeing who the person in the scene is, further masking their identity. To assist in keeping the audience focused on one thing there isn’t much camera movement in terms of pans or tilts, however there is some occasional jerky movement to perhaps enhance the feeling of an unstable mind.

Sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2gsEI34CE All of the sound in this sequence is non diegetic but sometimes uses sounds that are made to sound natural. The soundtrack is created using bass drums, piano and unusual sound effects that replicate natural sounds such water dripping, screams, and metal grating. They are put together in a composition that combines high and low pitches to an uncomfortable, teeth grating effect and increases in tempo as it plays, constantly building tension. The only dialogue we hear is toward the end when we hear a distorted voice say ‘You’ve got me closer to god.’. This further emphasises the possible religious motivator in the film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2gsEI34CE