Opening scene analysis- Miss Georgiou

Within this post I will be analysing the opening scene of Halloween released in 1978. The purpose of an opening sequence in the thriller genre is to set the scene to the audience, because of this we are able to engage with the film and ultimately, this gives an indication of what is to come within the film. Also, the opening sequence gives the audience the time frame of the film and therefore sets up enigmas. In this post I will be analysing what is noticed within the opening scene of Halloween.

When looking at the opening sequence, I noticed that there was use of cinematography to present to us the vital things in which is occurring within the clip. For instance, when the film begins there is use of zooming in to the house. This makes the audience primarily focus on the house and leads us to believe that the house will be the main setting within the film and also the zooming in to the house makes us think that something bad will happen within the house, portraying the house as vulnerable. This belief is proved correct in when the girl gets murdered in her bedroom. The zooming in makes the audience scared for the potential people that may be within the house, therefore making us sit on edge. This is is suitable for the intended audience as it creates the fear and suspense in which the film is intended to do. Another cinematography element in which I noticed when analysing this clip is the use of point of view throughout the whole opening. We are given the point of view from the killer, allowing us to believe that that something bad will happen and that potentially he is looking for someone as we are shown around the whole house. Also, because of the use of point of view, we are given an emphasis in the knife when the killer picks it up. This leads the audience to believe that someone is going to get hurt and therefore makes the intended audience to feel scared and uncomfortable to what may occur. Overall, cinematography is used within thriller films to enhance the fear that is presented to the audience. It creates emphasis on certain things and therefore makes the audience fully engage to the film.

Another element in which is used within the opening sequence to engage the audience is the use of sound. We can hear the clock strike which is a diagetic sound. The clock is symbolised to be the girls life coming to an end, each strike of the clock presents the girls life coming closer to and end. This brings fear to the audience and makes them feel scared for the girl, allowing us to build a relationship with her. The audience are also made to feel worried and therefore feeling rather uncomfortable to the outcome. This diagetic sound is suitable for the intended audience as it builds up the tension and also allows the fear to build up within the opening. Another sound in which is heard is a parallel sound, which is the piano that matches the killers footsteps. Because of this, we are able to know clearly what is going on. It is made to seem more realistic and therefore builds up the fear and tension within the scene. The audience are ultimately made to feel scared and on edge due to the footsteps. Off screen sound is also used in the opening sequence, when the children are chanting to what seems to be a rhyme but can be mistaken for as the same rhythm as a spell. This gives the audience the idea that the film could include characters such as children who could either be a victim. Also, because we cannot see where the noise is coming from, it makes the audience feel vulnerable to what may happen. Overall, sound is conventional to the thriller genre as we are given a wide insite of what is occuring within the scene, it also creates fear and suspense to the audience, ultimately making the film scary.

The representation of characters is seen in the opening sequence. Being introduced to the main characters of the film makes the audience aware of why the characters are important to the opening and that particular moment. In the opening sequence we see a young, in love couple who are oblivious to the fact that someone is watching them from outside the window and then inside the house. It shows a typical feature of a thriller because ultimately the victim is unaware of what is going to soon happen and therefore represents the characters at this point as vulnerable and unknowing, therefore creating a sense of enigma. Leading the audience to feel scared and on edge for the characters. At the end of the opening sequence, the masked killer gains his identity when he takes off his mask. When his mask is taken off, we are able to see that it is a young boy. This creates shock for the audience as we wouldn't expect a young boy to be holding a knife and kill somebody. This makes the audience feel nervous and uncomfortable to what happened within the opening as the represntation of the character is seen to be too innocent and vulnerable to do such thing. Both representation of characters are seen to be effective as they are suitable for the intended audience. Because the victim is teenager, the intended audience are led to feel that this could happen to them and makes the sequence more realistic. Also, the young boy is not what we expect to see therefore builds up the enigma.

The narrative used within this opening sequence is something in which is typically used within the thriller genre. For example, we can see it is set within a house in a suburban area giving the impression something bad is going to occur within the house and that it is a main feature of the film. This makes the audience feel vulnerable as it is making them believe it could happen at any time to them and therefore make them nervous to what may happen next. Also, the fact that there is a murder within the opening sequence, makes the audience more aware to what may occur within the rest of the film as a murder is a strong convention of the thriller genre. This then builds up the mystery as to what may happen next.

Throughout the opening sequence there are conventions used. For example, there is low key lighting used up until the murder takes place and then it changes into high key lighting, the change to high key lighting is used to highlight what is going on within the scene and makes the audience focus on the murder. This also builds the relationship between the audience and the characters as we are led to feel sorry for her and also feel vulnerable on her behalf. A blonde, female victim is also another convention is used within the opening. This is typical of the thriller genre as she is portrayed as innocent and oblivious to her surroudings making it seem something bad will eventually happen to her. This leads us to wonder who the killer is, is he going to kill her? This builds up the enigma within the scene and allows the audience to build a strong relationship with the girl as we feel vulnerable for her and sympathise with her. Another convention used within the opening scene is the use of shock, suspense, surprise. The use of these three elements make the audience sit on edge and feel more involved within the scene. We are able to build relationships with the main characters within the scene. The suspense makes the audience feel uncomfortable to what may happen eventually. The shock is created when the killer is revealed and it turns out to be a young, innocent looking boy in  which we wouldn't expect.

Overall, when looking at the opening of Halloween I have realized that many conventions are used to build fear and tension. I now know that I can use many conventions within my opening scene to create as much fear and horror as I can.