CODES AND

CONVENTIONS OPENING
SEQUENCE HORROR
FILM INSTITUTIONS

 First thing to be shown are the logos of the production companies

 It tells the audience what they can expect in relation to the budget and quality
of the film

 In some films the director or the main actors are mentioned

 After that the film title is shown with special effects and a fond which gives
hints to the theme and topic of the film
STORY

 After a short/ or a bit longer black gab establishing shots are used to set the
setting and date for the audience
 In the first moments the key characters and setting is introduced such as a big
forest or a haunted mansion
 Themes are introduced via dialogue and links to pre plot are made without
giving too much information
MUSIC

 Music is a strong convention used in the opening credits. Music intrigues

people and interests the audience to keep watching
 It also works well to build tension or create a mood to go with the start of the
film
 Commonly in horror films music of non-diagetic sound is used to start to
unease its audience
 Pace is built and credits and titles are presented in time with the music
 The film usually starts with the equilibrium

 Those are the most important things you will expect when you watch a horror
opening sequence, but there are some films that stray away from those
 They show us what we would not expect
 eg. long, black gaps and no companies or film directors