The Walking Dead title sequence

This is the title sequence for ‘The Walking Dead’ 

                    

The lighting on this title sequence is quite dark and dingy, The edges of the frame are a little blurry. All of the photograph shots that are show look very derelict and abandoned. Also here all the shelves in this picture of a shop are empty and it looks like it has been trashed, which suggests there could have been some sort of panic. Also it looks to be that there is smashed items on the floor which suggests that there was some sort of struggle.

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Here the shot has a blurred framed around the abandoned teddybear with a shadow at the side of it, there are lots of dark dull colours, the camera is pointing down on the teddy bear as it is on the floor, The lighting is quite dark and the teddy bear is the lightest thing on the shot as it is the main focus. I think this represents that there could have been panic for the child to have dropped the teddy bear.

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Here the shot is quite dull and dark, there are vehicles that look like they have been blown up, there are no people around to be seen, suggesting that it has been abandoned because something bad has happened, it gives the audience an idea of what the genre of the film is going to be like - tense/thriller - and not something bright and happy.

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(Similar) Film Reviews

(Similar) Film Reviews

Insidious

As insidious was a similar film to ours, I looked into what the audience thought of it in order to pick up techniques and tips to improve our film.

"In fact, there were several points during the film where I screamed like a 13-year old girl at a Justin Beiber concert."

"I was also expecting to see some blood and guts, especially coming from the guys who made Saw, but there wasn't a drop."

"And the movie constantly feeds that tension, making even the characters' mundane family life somehow seem utterly terrifying. I was actually exhausted leaving the theatre from all of the uncomfortable squirming I was unable to control."

"Overall, the movie was great. It was crazy scary, thoroughly entertaining, and even surprisingly funny at times. Having said that, it will be quite some time before I watch another horror movie; I have no desire to be turned into a frazzled bundle of nerves again anytime soon."

This reviewer found Insidious very scary and tense because it was jumpy, however, they expected more gore because it had the same creators at the Saw films that they had already seen.

Therefore, in our film we could try and include some kind of gory, blood scene.

On the other hand, this reviewer of the film hated it.

"This can't be serious. 'Heavy face paint' is meant to scare me? I've seen better at Halloween!!! And as for the ghosts...well, they made me cry...with laughter!!! I can't believe I wasted my time and money. The thing that annoys me the most is that it could have been a slightly different, more modern version of Poltergeist. At least that would have made it acceptable. But no, another huge waste of time. I would not suggest it for any TRUE horror film fans."

They thought the effects were bad, like the use of face paint and would not recommend it to anyone.

As a result, we need to make sure our effects look as genuine as possible.

Nightmare on Elm Street

"But now, I can see that the film has got something unique, which makes the film different from other horror movies. I think it`s down to the basic idea of this film - dreams and everything that can happen in our dreams sometimes become true. The authors of this film did not have to be bound with the need to stay realistic and that opens a free way to their wildest imaginations. Charles Bernstein`s music in this movie has become classic and we can hear the basic melodic motive in some of the sequels."

This reviewer really liked the idea of the dreams, as it gave the creators of the film no limits as to what would be classed as too unrealistic. They also liked the theme song to it.

As a result, we could have a repeated sound or song in our film as well, that would become memorable.

Horror Film Distributors

 

Film Distributors

 



A lot off horror films like ours, created around a storyline from someone who is not well known, if at all, would more likely be produced by an independent film company.

Maxim Media

http://emaximmedia.com/company-profile/

This the largest independent film company of horror Films. They were founded in 200 and have a library of over 300 films. They regularly stream their films on the internet and can occasionally create films successful enough to be made into DVD’s and play them at local cinemas.

They have created films such as Demon and Slaughter Daughter.

 

Brain Damage Films

 

http://braindamagefilms.com

Founded in 2001, this independent film company is one of the biggest horror movie distributors, with a worldwide fan base .They have produced classics, such as Traces of Death.

The company streams their releases and can create DVD’s. Brain Damage Films’ sister company, Midnight releasing, also sell their films on DVD through Brain Damage Films.

Film Certificate

General terms of film certificates:

A film certificate sets the minimum age someone must be to see/buy/play a product.

U - 4 years +:

Mild language and sexual references with no violence, eg, ‘bloody’ & characters kissing

PG - Anyone but parental guidance is suggested

Mild language and some references to sex, there may be some blood but no visible violence, eg ‘shit’ & innuendoes.

12 A - Under 12 accompanied by an adult

Infrequent strong language, discreet mentions of sex with use of weapons and blood in context.

12 - Only those over 12

Infrequent strong language, discreet mentions of sex with use of weapons and blood in context.

15 - Only those over 15

Frequent strong langauge, nudity and sexual activity used with strong violence, there could be discrimination

18 - Only those over 18

No limit to language used, real sex, very strong violence that can be very gory.

Our film will probably fit into the 12 or 15 certificate and it depends on the level of violence we decide to include.

The difference in violence between the two is:

12 Certificate

At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).

Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12 or 12A, and there may be long fight scenes or similar. Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds should not be glamorised in 12A and 12 works.

Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated at 12A. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.

Yes, some horror films are passed at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at 12 or 12A as long as disturbing sequences are not too frequent or sustained.

15 Certificate

Yes, at 15 violence may be strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, however, and the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

Easily accessible weapons may not be glamorised.

Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

This is according to the official film certificate website - http://www.bbfc.co.uk

All in all, I think our film would be a 15, as there is strong language used and a lot of gore in the main characters dreams, caused by torture instruments.

Halloween Title Sequence

Halloween Title Sequence

 

view from beginning to 22 seconds (Halloween and Halloween II)

 

 

The title sequences of the first two Halloween films are very simple, but create and eerie and suspense atmosphere.

This is because the orange colours are linked to the event of Halloween and so does that image of the pumpkin. Furthermore, the red colour of the other text connotes danger and blood and foreshadows that there could be deaths in the movie.

 

We could take inspiration from this for our film, as a plain font a colour would not give too much away, but like the Halloween titles, could just hint at the content of the movie.
For example, a black font could suggest the nightmare aspect of our film, but this is very stereotypical of horror films.
Due to the fact we are subverting some of the stereotypes of horror films by aiming it at a mainly female audience and only having female main character, we could also subvert the normal black text and have white titles instead.
As well as being unusual, white is also a colour associated with doctors and hospitals and so could foreshadow that one of our characters ends up in hospital and this is where her nightmare leads off from.

Opening Scene Analysis



Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
 

 

This is the opening scene from 'Nightmare on Elm Street' which introduces to the audience the villain and the idea of linking the characters nightmares with real life.
This opening scene will be similar to the our opening two minutes as our film also includes a character who goes into a dream and has to escape from a villain who is trying to kill her. Therefore, we will use similar techniques used in the opening scene of Nightmare on Elm  Street.

 

Titles

This title gradually flickers into focus to represent that something is not right because it is a horror film. The connotations of red, like blood and danger, also cause the audience fear before the film has even begun.

 

These titles have odd, crooked looking fonts, also to represent that it is a horror film as it does not look right. The font also looks childish as nightmares are something that you suffer with when you are young.

 



 

Mise en Scene



 

To show that the equipment in the background of the scene is the main focus it has the most lighting the frame on it. The reason why the background is the main focus of the scene is because contraptions and weapons are associated with horror films and death and so it makes the opening scene even scarier.

 

 

Although the villain is only briefly shown as he runs past, the audience gets a clear view of his jumper, which has distinctive red and green stripes. This infers to the audience that each time this jumper/colours is seen, he is getting closer or someone could be going to die.

 

 

The nightie the girl is wearing shows many things to the audience. Firstly, the fact that she is wearing nightwear links to the nightmares in the film. What also shows that her nightmares are becoming real life is that fact that the nightie is ripped, as though the villain has slashed it. Finally, in contrast to the bright jumper worn by her killer, the girl is wearing white, which shows the audience her innocence.

 

Cinematography

 

Using an extreme close up of the girl, intensifies her fear.

 

 

In contrast, an extreme close up is used of the villain to show what she is afraid. The fact that the frame only shows his eye and is very dark causes fear for the viewer, as it is a mystery as to who the villain is and what he looks like.

 

 

At this point in the opening scene, the camera is zooming into the girl from behind in order to represent that something/someone, is getting closer, which builds tension for the audience.

 

Iconography

 

A common feature in horror films is low lighting, which causes darkness and casts shadows. In this scene, the shadows on the girls back are to represent the slash of four blades from the villain's glove. This, along with the darkness of the frame creates mystery and tension, as to what is in front of her. 

 

 

Another use of iconography in the opening scene of the film is the cross which the girl takes off the wall in order to protect her. This is used in the film as crosses are associated with religion, which aims for all good and to fight against the devil. The fact that she tries to protect herself, even when she is awake, shows her fear.

 

Sound

 

Throughout the opening scene, in order to constantly remind the audience that the villain is there, his laughter or heavy breathing can be heard. What is uses to show he is getting closer is the sound the blades on his glove.

 

The sound of the blades ripping material represents it ripping through clothing and flesh.

 









 

The high pitched sound of the villain dragging his glove against metal represents the screams of his victims.

 

Another effect of sound that is used to create fear for the reader is the non-diegetic, low pitched music through the scene, which suddenly increases in pitch when the villain gets closer or something is about to happen. This creates fear for the audience as it shows the abnormality of the situation as the two pitches don't fit together and therefore, the who scene just doesn't appear right.

 

Characters

The main female character in the film fits the stereotypical, female character, as she is young, has light hair and clothing and always seems to make the wrong decision. The facts that she is young and blonde represents her innocence as she tries to escape from the villain. The fact that she always seems to choose the wrong way to get away from her killer foreshadows her death, as her clueless behaviour will be as predictable to the killer as it is to the audience.

The only other key character in the opening scene is the villain, Freddy Krueger. His character is shown as one to be feared as he has a gruesome appearance, like his gory looking skin and the bladed glove he uses on his victims. As well as this, the high pitched, incidental music, heavy breathing and evil laughing also creates fear for the audience. Furthermore, the fact that he always seems to appear very suddenly out of the darkest part of the frame creates mystery and tension as to when he will appear next and frighten the audience by making them jump when they least expect the villain to appear.

The female’s parents appear briefly in the opening scene and are very stereotypical. Her mother is presented as caring but disciplining, as she questions her about her dream and reminds her to cut her fingernails. Her father on the other hand is a typical horny man, which is shown by how desperate he is to get his wife back to bed and he has no interest in his daughter’s bad dream. The fact that they are a stereotypical family creates a normality surrounding the girl’s situation, which will make the audience feel like the storyline could happen to them in real life, making the whole film scarier to watch.

 

 

More Iconography

Iconography - Torture Contraptions

As well as shadows and darkness being a common feature of horror movies, each film usually has a signature weapon as an iconography of horror films is torture weapons.

In the film 'Nightmare on Elm Street' the villain has a bladed glove which he uses on his victims. 

 

This means that throughout the film, whenever the audience sees or hears the blades on the glove, they know that someone is going to be killed.

 

Likewise, in Halloween, Michael Myers kills all his victims with a butchers knife. 

 

 

 The significance of the knife is put into context at the beginning of the film as it is the same knife which he killed his sister with. This shows the audience that he has killed once and is willing to kill again.