Codes and Conventions : Art of the Title Sequence

Research !!!
In order to construct my own horror opening , i have to research and plan to gain knowledge and ideas about the horror genre. Below is the opening title sequence of SE7EN and some ideas about the opening title sequence of se7en , exploring the effects of the technical aspects and also how horror is presented through this.

            Se7en

There is a psychological genre of the film is constructed as the opening title shows a filter which is sepia; this makes it look dirty and gritty, which perhaps makes the audience feel uneasy. The opening title has a double vision effect which mirrors the obscurity of the killer and creates a sharp tension. The killer crosses out words and makes the audience question and examine this, creating confusion and also their lack of control. It also allows the audience to witness things from the killer’s perspective, when he is planning and researching his imminent kills.

Sound is used constantly almost as a drone.The effect of the non diegetic sound of the amplified screams and metal on metal builds tension and reflects the kills about to be made. The music seems distorted and erratic, combined with the increased pace it causes a sense of anticipation to the audience.

The typography is enlarged and appears like flashing lights almost to like a figment of imagination , creating suspicion and paranoia. The application of distorted words gives the audience an insight into the killer’s mind.The scratchy handwriting constructs his handwriting and the positioning of the text is fragmented which is another reflection of the killer’s mind. The tile "Sev7en " appears to be  scratched by a razor or scissors  making you associate it with the objects  used by he killer such as scissors, razors, paper etc. Such things are everyday objects , which create a sense or verisimilitude and realism.This creates more of a psychological thriller , the fact that these objects could actually be used for something extremely dangerous.

John Doe’s character turns the page and a shadow of the hand is seen, this emphasises the tension and engages the audience. A prop such as the Bible is a hint of the different aspects and the key motives within the film; this allows the audience to know what might happen.

The casting company is the information which is provided in the opening sequence.

The editing techniques used make the sequence slow, but as it progresses the pace becomes faster which enables the audience to really focus on the words and pictures , this also ties in with the sound and tempo as it gradually speeds up becoming slightly muffled.

There are a lot of quick jump cuts and cross fading is when the eyes are crossed out to his face crossed out creates tension. The flashing font emphasises the words and the double vision on the hand writing makes the sequence realistic and engages the audience.