Title Sequences

Analysing Opening Sequences:
How does it use titles effectively?
Look at:
Titles
Narrative against titles
Typography
Camera work/editing/sound/mise-en-scene
How does all this indicate the genre and show narrative?

Dexter
The titles are written in blood and blood is shown everywhere. It starts with a mosquito on a man's arm, a mosquito is a blood sucking creature. The music that plays is creepy and sounds like it is made up of string instruments - the typical instruments that are used in thriller films. In this sequence there are many day-to-day things that are made to look creepy. He prepares cooks meat in an almost sinister way. You see him cut the meat as if he's murdering a person. There is a close up of his mouth while he chews on the meat which makes the audience cringe. He also shaves his face and blood is drawn when he slighting scratches himself. Many transitions are used.

Se7en
The titles show up in a creepy way in that they flash up and slowly disappear and it almost looks like they've been handwritten. During the title sequence lots of pictures show up. The pictures aren't clear and the screen appears to shake about which makes the audience feel disorientated and as though they can't see what's happening clearly. It creates a sense of mystery and this makes the audience feel a strong need to carry on watching. The music that Se7en uses for their opening sequence sounds creepy. It's synchronous to the genre because it sounds like scratching and seems creepy, this is what is expected of a thriller. It also seems to crescendo throughout as it builds up to the film. All of these things included in the sequence indicate the genre because it makes us feel on edge and excited to see what may happen in the film. The title sequence needs to pull the audience in otherwise they won't have any interest in the film itself.