How does the opening sequence of 'Halloween' inform the audience of the conventions of a thriller film?
What is the purpose of an opening sequence?
The purpose of an opening sequence is to present the title of the film and cast the members in the film both at once using visuals and sounds. It can also show the audience location, plot, themes and genre. The opening sequence is very basic so the viewer is not confused and is engaged in the film rather than taken away.
Codes and Conventions
There are many different conventions in the opening scene of Halloween. These typical conventions are a blonde female victim, hidden identity (masked killer), deep shadows because of the dark night setting at which the opening takes place. The blonde female victim is one of the most stereotypical victims as they are portrayed as weak and dumb so the audience relates to them as the audience can tell this is the character something is most likely to happen to first, this can be proved as this is what directly happens in the opening scene. The audience creates a bond with the character as they can see that the characters life expectancy has been lowered dramatically. This convention is typical of the thriller genre as blondes are always left on there own in vulnerable settings because they are an inferior victim. Another convention that is seen is hidden identity the mask adds an element of mystery to the film, this can be seen as the film becomes more intense for the viewer when Michael puts the mask on. The mask takes away the identity of the killer and is not obvious that the killer is a child until the blonde female victim says his name.This is typical of the thriller genre as it takes away personally of the killer and makes them feel to the audience more violent.
Cinematography
In the opening of Halloween there are only two different camera angles which are used throughout the the whole of the opening scene. The first camera angle is Point of View, which is conventional to the genre because it used used to display the characters vision which the audience can empathized and also show the body language of the character as well. This camera angles is used to show what the child/killer is seeing and his side of the scene. We see him creeping around the outside of the house and what he does all the way up to the end of the scene. (Picking up the knife, putting on the mask and killing his sister.) This camera angle is typical of the thriller genre as it shows the true sight of the character and also the characters thoughts and feelings. Although this one of the conventional angles it is most commonly used on the victim and not the killer as the killer is usually hiding away from the sight of the victim. The last camera angle is the High Angle which zooms out, this is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the characters look smaller and more vulnerable to the audience. As everything is still while this is taking place it has a dramatic effect on the audience as it creates an emotional distance with the character also this is typical of the thriller genre as shows a large amount of the background to give the audience clues about the following events of the film. The cinematography used in this film is very conventional as high angle and close ups which are very convential in the other thriller films that I have seen as the high angle shows vunerablity and the close up shows facial expressions which are a key element of mise-en-scene.
In the opening of Halloween there are only two different camera angles which are used throughout the the whole of the opening scene. The first camera angle is Point of View, which is conventional to the genre because it used used to display the characters vision which the audience can empathized and also show the body language of the character as well. This camera angles is used to show what the child/killer is seeing and his side of the scene. We see him creeping around the outside of the house and what he does all the way up to the end of the scene. (Picking up the knife, putting on the mask and killing his sister.) This camera angle is typical of the thriller genre as it shows the true sight of the character and also the characters thoughts and feelings. Although this one of the conventional angles it is most commonly used on the victim and not the killer as the killer is usually hiding away from the sight of the victim. The last camera angle is the High Angle which zooms out, this is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the characters look smaller and more vulnerable to the audience. As everything is still while this is taking place it has a dramatic effect on the audience as it creates an emotional distance with the character also this is typical of the thriller genre as shows a large amount of the background to give the audience clues about the following events of the film. The cinematography used in this film is very conventional as high angle and close ups which are very convential in the other thriller films that I have seen as the high angle shows vunerablity and the close up shows facial expressions which are a key element of mise-en-scene.
Sound
In the opening scene there are a mixture of familiar and sounds aimed at the audience for the purpose to engage them and to create a connection with character. One of the first sounds that engages the viewer is high pitched, which is conventional to the thriller genre as it gives the audience a sudden rush of feelings, the sound takes place when the teenagers go upstairs and turn the light out. This is a non-diegetic sound as it is not part of the film and is only there for the purpose of the effect on the viewer, although off-screen it relates to the scene and makes sense. One of the sounds when the killer is making his way up the stairs is the sound of the clock. This sound could be seen as conventional if it has been interpreted by the audience as foreshadowing the events of the girl's death will take place soon. The sound is diegetic as it is meant to be part of the film although the source of the sound cannot be seen. One sound that is constant just before and after the killing is the soundtrack (Non-Diegetic) the soundtrack which is conventional as it resembles the emotions and the pace of a heartbeat which is relevant to the scene and thrillers, as a death occurs. It peaks at the killing becoming more high pitched and intense for the audience and is parallel sound as it matches the events that are taking place in the sense, hence the peak. The sounds are convential to the thriller genre as they are used to engage the audience in with what they are watching with pace, sudden shock of emotions, and sounds which are familiar with the audience so they can relate to the setting and characters.
In the opening scene there are a mixture of familiar and sounds aimed at the audience for the purpose to engage them and to create a connection with character. One of the first sounds that engages the viewer is high pitched, which is conventional to the thriller genre as it gives the audience a sudden rush of feelings, the sound takes place when the teenagers go upstairs and turn the light out. This is a non-diegetic sound as it is not part of the film and is only there for the purpose of the effect on the viewer, although off-screen it relates to the scene and makes sense. One of the sounds when the killer is making his way up the stairs is the sound of the clock. This sound could be seen as conventional if it has been interpreted by the audience as foreshadowing the events of the girl's death will take place soon. The sound is diegetic as it is meant to be part of the film although the source of the sound cannot be seen. One sound that is constant just before and after the killing is the soundtrack (Non-Diegetic) the soundtrack which is conventional as it resembles the emotions and the pace of a heartbeat which is relevant to the scene and thrillers, as a death occurs. It peaks at the killing becoming more high pitched and intense for the audience and is parallel sound as it matches the events that are taking place in the sense, hence the peak. The sounds are convential to the thriller genre as they are used to engage the audience in with what they are watching with pace, sudden shock of emotions, and sounds which are familiar with the audience so they can relate to the setting and characters.
Characters
There are a mixture of conventional characters in the opening scene. The list of characters are a child, teenagers and parents. The child who is the killer is typical walking around the house like he is planning out how he is going to kill his sister although to the audience he may seem like he is only trying to scare them until he pulls out the knife. He is a typical child on Halloween night in a scary costumes back home from collecting sweets which makes him seem harmless. The teenagers are also very stereotypical as they are in love cuddling and kissing on the sofa and then go upstairs. They are seen as being forgetful as they leave the back door opening allowing anyone access to the house. When the girl teenager is upstairs she has no protection as her boyfriend has gone home showing her vulnerability. Finally the last two characters are the parents witch are briefly seen at the end of the scene starring at the child as they can see what he has done. This is the typical average family as there are four apparent characters in the family and typical to the thriller genre as this is an average family (in most thriller films killer is after a group of people usually a family) which is vulnerable in a suburban area which they live. This is a conventional set of character in the thriller genre as the audience can easily relate to a family because the audience will have alike family members in the film. For example a younger brother.
There are a mixture of conventional characters in the opening scene. The list of characters are a child, teenagers and parents. The child who is the killer is typical walking around the house like he is planning out how he is going to kill his sister although to the audience he may seem like he is only trying to scare them until he pulls out the knife. He is a typical child on Halloween night in a scary costumes back home from collecting sweets which makes him seem harmless. The teenagers are also very stereotypical as they are in love cuddling and kissing on the sofa and then go upstairs. They are seen as being forgetful as they leave the back door opening allowing anyone access to the house. When the girl teenager is upstairs she has no protection as her boyfriend has gone home showing her vulnerability. Finally the last two characters are the parents witch are briefly seen at the end of the scene starring at the child as they can see what he has done. This is the typical average family as there are four apparent characters in the family and typical to the thriller genre as this is an average family (in most thriller films killer is after a group of people usually a family) which is vulnerable in a suburban area which they live. This is a conventional set of character in the thriller genre as the audience can easily relate to a family because the audience will have alike family members in the film. For example a younger brother.
Narrative
The narrative is set in a conventional setting as it can be easily related to by most individuals, is a suburban american neighborhood with an average family becoming split with a child killing his sister from his point of view and his parents coming home to find devastation. The narrative contains various conventions such a typical blonde female victim, which is naked when she is about be killed which increases her vulnerability even more than before adding to the fact she hasn't got the protection of her boyfriend anymore. She is killed by her brother and the scene ends with her parents coming home to discover the events which have taken place. This is a typical narrative which most of the audience can relate to in one way and relates to the thriller genre because most narratives of this genre are based on vulnerable families in suburban settings.
The narrative is set in a conventional setting as it can be easily related to by most individuals, is a suburban american neighborhood with an average family becoming split with a child killing his sister from his point of view and his parents coming home to find devastation. The narrative contains various conventions such a typical blonde female victim, which is naked when she is about be killed which increases her vulnerability even more than before adding to the fact she hasn't got the protection of her boyfriend anymore. She is killed by her brother and the scene ends with her parents coming home to discover the events which have taken place. This is a typical narrative which most of the audience can relate to in one way and relates to the thriller genre because most narratives of this genre are based on vulnerable families in suburban settings.
Editing
In the opening scene there are only a few editing techniques used as there are not a variety of camera angles used as it is mostly shot from one view. There is a use of continuity editing. Its the editing process at which shots between transitions run smoothly for effect as most films are edited in this way it also gives the impression that edits are motivated by the events in the reality on screen. Also the timing of the shots, some shots are either edited slower or quicker ,which is conventional as they are used to add emotional impact or to create suspense and change according to the events of the opening scene, which are the main elements of a film under the thriller genre. When the killer is killing the scene becomes more fast paced for effect on the audience as there feelings are at the same pace as the scene and slower when he pulls out the knife from the drawer as it apparent to the audience what is going to happen and so they clear see what the character is doing. These types of editing are typical to thrillers as they are used to create suspense and shock for the audience to feel.
In the opening scene there are only a few editing techniques used as there are not a variety of camera angles used as it is mostly shot from one view. There is a use of continuity editing. Its the editing process at which shots between transitions run smoothly for effect as most films are edited in this way it also gives the impression that edits are motivated by the events in the reality on screen. Also the timing of the shots, some shots are either edited slower or quicker ,which is conventional as they are used to add emotional impact or to create suspense and change according to the events of the opening scene, which are the main elements of a film under the thriller genre. When the killer is killing the scene becomes more fast paced for effect on the audience as there feelings are at the same pace as the scene and slower when he pulls out the knife from the drawer as it apparent to the audience what is going to happen and so they clear see what the character is doing. These types of editing are typical to thrillers as they are used to create suspense and shock for the audience to feel.
Conclusion
The opening sequence of the thriller inform the audience of the conventions of a thriller as it is slow paced it shows in detail in stages what the conventions are. The sequence starts off with a house in a suburban area and shows the audience the typical characters that would live in that setting. Then as the scene progresses we can see that the knife and mask are also conventions as they are highly focused on, the knife is slowly pulled out and the mask restricts the sight of the killer lastly the last convention seen is the blonde female victim which is highly focused on soon after the killers identity has been hidden with the conventional mask. The female is seen as a convention as she is alone all on her own without protection. Also the audience can see the typical camera angles they are expect to see in the thriller genre and the effect they have on themselves in relation to the character in addition the typical sounds they hear which suddenly are imposed with a wave of emotions. From these the audience can speculate what the conventional narrative of a thriller film would be.
The opening sequence of the thriller inform the audience of the conventions of a thriller as it is slow paced it shows in detail in stages what the conventions are. The sequence starts off with a house in a suburban area and shows the audience the typical characters that would live in that setting. Then as the scene progresses we can see that the knife and mask are also conventions as they are highly focused on, the knife is slowly pulled out and the mask restricts the sight of the killer lastly the last convention seen is the blonde female victim which is highly focused on soon after the killers identity has been hidden with the conventional mask. The female is seen as a convention as she is alone all on her own without protection. Also the audience can see the typical camera angles they are expect to see in the thriller genre and the effect they have on themselves in relation to the character in addition the typical sounds they hear which suddenly are imposed with a wave of emotions. From these the audience can speculate what the conventional narrative of a thriller film would be.
Summary
This analysis of the opening scene from Halloween will help me in planning my own thriller in the way that I have seen the main aspects of an opening scene and what typical conventions are in an opening and also the structure and follow of scene. I have also gained an idea of what camera angles I should start to take into consideration, characters, sounds and the narrative of my opening scene as well. I have a scene which I can take certain aspects and ideas from and change to suit my opening scene that I will be creating. Also I have gain from the research that I should use a typical setting that the audience can easily relate to such as a house and attempt to use the whole of the setting so that the audience are familiar with the setting of the film and can relate even further because of different aspects of the setting they see. In addition I can see the effects that eerie ,intense sounds have on the audience sending them into a sudden sense of shock and nerves as they are made sounds they will not recognize as they have been made and are really high pitched. Also I should consider using sounds that foreshadow the events of the film like the clock in the scene which shows that time is running out. I could use a heartbeat which could also foreshadow death of a character.
In addition I have also taken some inspiration for my thriller opening scene as I have seen the conventional character set of a thriller. I particularly like the idea of a child killer as it is different from other thrillers such as it is different from other thrillers such as Hannibal. This is as I find it more disturbing that a grown up killer.
Also I like the way that the audience doesn't know the killer is a child until the end of the scene when the camera is zooming out to display the child still looking into the distance. I would like to find a way to collaborate these two inspirations into my opening thriller scene.
The last inspiration that I have taken from this research is the used of the knife in this scene, I like the way it stands out and glimmers in the light and is used violently in the attack on the killers sister and I would also like to use this in my scene as the knife is a conventional weapon used across the whole of the genre.
This analysis of the opening scene from Halloween will help me in planning my own thriller in the way that I have seen the main aspects of an opening scene and what typical conventions are in an opening and also the structure and follow of scene. I have also gained an idea of what camera angles I should start to take into consideration, characters, sounds and the narrative of my opening scene as well. I have a scene which I can take certain aspects and ideas from and change to suit my opening scene that I will be creating. Also I have gain from the research that I should use a typical setting that the audience can easily relate to such as a house and attempt to use the whole of the setting so that the audience are familiar with the setting of the film and can relate even further because of different aspects of the setting they see. In addition I can see the effects that eerie ,intense sounds have on the audience sending them into a sudden sense of shock and nerves as they are made sounds they will not recognize as they have been made and are really high pitched. Also I should consider using sounds that foreshadow the events of the film like the clock in the scene which shows that time is running out. I could use a heartbeat which could also foreshadow death of a character.
In addition I have also taken some inspiration for my thriller opening scene as I have seen the conventional character set of a thriller. I particularly like the idea of a child killer as it is different from other thrillers such as it is different from other thrillers such as Hannibal. This is as I find it more disturbing that a grown up killer.
Also I like the way that the audience doesn't know the killer is a child until the end of the scene when the camera is zooming out to display the child still looking into the distance. I would like to find a way to collaborate these two inspirations into my opening thriller scene.
The last inspiration that I have taken from this research is the used of the knife in this scene, I like the way it stands out and glimmers in the light and is used violently in the attack on the killers sister and I would also like to use this in my scene as the knife is a conventional weapon used across the whole of the genre.
Your analysis of Halloween, demonstrates a good understanding, of how the opening sequence appeals to an audience. You have analysed the micro elements well and you have included a variety of examples, to support your points. Your analysis, also demonstrates an understanding of how the audience build a relationship with the characters, and this is through the points that you have included on the emotions that are created.
ReplyDeleteTo develop this post, you need to-
1) Relate your points back to the codes and conventions of a thriller film in further detail
2) Expand on the points that you have included within your summary and aim to discuss what ideas/inspirations you have gained from your research
You have considered my feedback well and now this post demonstrates an excellent understanding of how an opening sequence, informs the audience of the codes and conventions of a thriller.
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