Opening sequence analysis - The shining

Opening Sequence Analysis : The Shining.

I have chosen to analyse The Shining as it is a film I have previously watched and also one of the same genre to what I am planning my opening sequence to be.

In the opening sequence for this film I feel that it has been deliberately made to cast a sense of foreboding about things we should expect to come in the rest of the film. For example, the only shots included in this sequence are high angle. Suggesting that those in the car are not superior, also leaving the mystery of who they are and what they're doing.

The sequence shows us an isolated area, we can see from the high angle shots that there does not appear to be anyone around the area other than those in the car. The sense of isolation further emphasises the foreboding as it gives us the idea of them not being able to get help or escape from anything that may harm them, as we are already aware that the film is a horror.

The music in the sequence is very contradictory of the shots. The shots show us lots of different views of pretty scenery, contradicted by the slow scary music that has been deliberately played in order to scare us, with the slow pace and the low pitch beat coming every so often. As well as this there is some kind of mysterious noise that appears to be somebody screaming, and perhaps somebody laughing - although we cannot be certain what the actual noises are, this also gives us the sense of foreboding without giving anything immediately away about the plot.

The scene goes on for a long time without anything actually happening. It isn't until 1:35 that we see titles appear, and before that all we can see is mysterious scenery with the creepy music playing. Giving us as an audience a sense of curiosity - Who's in the car, where are they going? Etc.