A Genre Analysis of a Film Sequence Harvey Molesworth 04/05/2023

Genre analysis essay – How Scream uses Sound to establish genre and create tension in the
opening sequence

For my genre analysis, I will be looking at the opening sequence to Scream (1994), and the way
genre codes and conventions are used to give meaning and generate audience expectations for the
events of the scene.
The music in the scene is directly linked to the actions and dialogue of the characters. For example,
the first time we hear creepy piano notes, it’s at the point where the girl first starts to get uneasy
(cued in by the line “that’s not what you said”). Another, even creepier layer is added as she picks
up the following phone call, in the form of strings. This increasingly ominous progression informs
the audience that the scene is leading towards a payoff, in which something horrifying occurs.
The first horrifying event takes place when the girl witnesses her boyfriend tied up outside. The
soundtrack directly informs the horror of this scene by using an orchestral hit.
Overall, the steady progression and growing volume of the soundtrack during this sequence informs
the audience that they are watching a slasher film. They will be aware from the soundtrack that
horrifying events are going to occur, and that they are only going to build up as the scene continues.

The use of location is also key to the scene. As an audience member, we see the character in the
safety of their home, with that safety then breached. Craven uses extended tracking shots to ensure
that we only see one side of the room at any one time; this increases tension, as the audience is
unaware of what the camera cannot see. These ideas are reflected in this quote by J. Holmes: “the
female character perfectly maps out the space of her widescreen home for us…hinting at every
single corner where any manner of creep could jump out of…hinting at the gruesome unknown.”.

As the scene progresses, the character actively takes measures to secure their property, locking
doors as they move through the house. However, an audience member is aware that in a slasher
film, there is no protection against the villain. Watching the scene, we relate to the character’s need
to protect herself, but understand that her actions are ultimately futile. The theme of an unknown
evil intruding upon the character’s familiar home is key to slasher films. An audience will be
disturbed and horrified at the idea of someone’s safe space being intruded upon, thus establishing
the film in the slasher genre.

References:

Holmes, J. (2022) - “How Scream Perfected the Art of the Cold Open”, [online], Accessed: 04 May 2009,
Available: https://movieweb.com/scream-perfect-cold-open/

Wordcount: 446 words, 408 words excluding captions, references