Typical Traits of a Psychological Horrors opening sequence

Typical Traits of a Psychological Horrors opening sequence

psychological horror opening sequences typically try to input the feeling of isolation from the very start and the film, “Shutter Island” provides a key example of this method (http://vimeo.com/23211894) as it starts on a boat in which the lead actor wishes to get off. The theme of isolation is a constant through the film and even the use of the word “Island” in the title suggest this to the audience. Other title sequences will use other methods to give the feeling of isolation; The Shining uses a lone car driving through large vast landscapes to give this feeling.

Another typical trait of this particular genre is to use dull lighting; Shutter Island makes great use of fog to make the opening scene seem like a dream which makes the audience question their own minds. Scorsese uses fog throughout the film to try and achieve this effect of people is scared of what they cannot see.

Darkness is used in many physiological horrors; this allows the audience to create their own fears and is used during the titles in Shutter Island by placing the credits on to blurred backgrounds making the audience wonder what the hidden image behind it is.

Title sequences of the physiological horror genre usually have an undertone of sinister music that is attached to them, the opening scenes of “The Shining” are well known for the low bass notes and high vocal note contrast that creates. Insidious is infamous for the high pitched violins that are played in the opening credits of the film, they can instantly input tension and fear into an audience and combined with the general darkness of the shots it leaves a lot for the audience to fill in. link here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1e1feo4DUk)