Analysis of Horror film opening- The Shining
Analysis of a thriller film opening The Shining
It begins with an establishing shot of the location and the camera slowly zooms in on the location which looks completely isolated. The camera goes onto a canted angle which builds up the suspense and tension. The next shot is a birds eye view where we are looking down on a winding road, the camera angle then changes again as we see the car travelling along the road. The beggining seems very isolated which we later learn becomes a main theme in the film. The colours are mostly greys and dark colours which portays the atmosphere of the film.
The Title of the film is The Shining and it is directed by Stanley Kubrick, it is based on the book by Stephen King and the genre of the film would be seen as a Horror/Thriller, the film had five nominations and won 1 award.
Plot of the film: A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotels past using a telepathic gift known as The Shining. The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotels ghost. After being convinced by a waiter’s ghost to correct the family, Jack goes completely insane. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is The Shining.
Enigma codes: In the first 2 – 5 mins you don’t really know much because they are acting normal as a family but you do get the slight idea that something is going to happen. The isolation is the only clues you are really presented with. You are thinking who are the suspects and who the villain will be.
Camera work, effects, sound: The use of camera work was good as there was a lot of use of close ups when it came to the most dramatic moments. This showed how the character was feeling and made you feel more suspense. There was a lot of use of silence and loud building up music this helped to build a suspense to the audience.
Editing: In the film they used cuts in most of the opening scene. There were a few dissolves but most of the editing techniques were cuts and this was used well and I couldn’t notice any jump cuts.
Genre characteristics: It is set in a mansion that looks to be in the middle of nowhere. Which suggests that already to the audience that something stange is going to happen and gives the impression of being alone.
The chararacters at the beggining all appear to be normal and an average family, the dad however does seem to act quite suspicious. I think the opening gives us a blank idea of what is going to happen but it leaves us in suspense for the rest of the film.
Titles: The titles are presented at the start of the film this shows who acts, and the director and film crew. The names are brought in fast and catchy. Font, colour and positioning of titles:
- The font is bold and is clearly read.
- The positioning of titles is mostly in the centre of the screen.
- The colour is used very well to suit the film because it is quite a dark film, its not bright. The opening is very dull and it makes you feel like it’s a winters day.
It also provides us with Ideas for own opening sequence such as:
- We can use the dull lighting that is stressed in this film for ours because ours in intending to be thriller/horror and we want it at night so the use of lighting could have an affect.
- The use of suspense between each shots and the ideas given which has given me a clear idea how to go about making our thriller/horror opening.