For my analyses I am going to review the opening sequence of the horror genre by using the example of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho from 1960. The opening title where comprised by the Saul Bass.
At the beginning of the opening sequence the rumbling of a String quartet Strikes as the title “Psycho” fills the screen. The title burst on to the screen in the dead centre of the screen, which with the beginning of the music sequence bring a chilling, and surprise early to the film. A few seconds later the title starts to deform by the words splitting in opposite direction give the film a feel of something is not quiet right and the plot of this film is going to be prepared for a fright.
This starts a tirade of sound and transition showing the production team names appear on screen with a series of wipes from vertical and horizontal direction and start connecting the letters. Giving the film a feel of mystery this continues though the sound of ever growing sound of musical instruments in the background which occurs for a long time.
When this end it going in to a establishing shot of a n typical American CIty which is later to be reveled on a centered text as "Phoenix". Then will going through a pan the music start to die and the time of day is revealed in word format to be 2:43 which suggest an important development in the story will occur shortly. The camera then zooms into a apartment and to two characters however we get no conversation or icon provided by the ending of the titles.
Overall, the opening title give little away to the viewer and gives the film of an overall feel of suspense and mystery.
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