Opening Sequences

For my Opening Sequence i have decided to pick the Film Dawn of the dead. I have decided to do this film as it is of similar genre to us. Both films are horror films. I like how Dawn of the dead is made because it is very 'jumpy' and scares the audience. I also like how the film makes it look like what is happening is real as it shows news clips reporting on what is happening. I also like the camera angle that is used when following the car because it shows you what the driver of the car can see so it uses a point of view shot.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr57GJgGxjQ

In this clip it shows a Nurse coming home from work, when she gets home everything is normal. But in the morning her daughter comes in covered in blood, this would confuse the audience because no one knows why she is covered in blood this would also keep the audience wanting to find out more. But you soon come to the conclusion she must have been bitten by a zombie. She then bites her dad who also turns into a zombie, blood and special effects make this scene very gory to scare the audience. Because so many people are ringing the police the lines are jammed this adds to the suspense for the audience. Then she gets out the house and there is a state of panic because people are running around and being chased by zombie's this would add tension and creates suspense because you don’t know who survives and who dies. The Main Character then gets into her car because her husband tries to kill her would add to the fear in the audience. She is then driving through a Town when a car crashes and explodes this is good use of special effects. She then tries to get her car stolen of her but she drives of but crashes whilst doing this. It shows her crash and then that it is for the opening. I personally feel it is a really good opening sequence because it contains lots of action and makes you want to carry on watching even though it is scary.

The lighting in this scene is very natural but in some scenes like when the daughter is in the hallway it uses low key lighting. There is some music when the Main character leaves the hospital to add tension because the audience thinks there maybe a zombie in the back of a ambulance but it is not and the music is just there to scare you. When the main Character turns her radio on the song have a nice day comes on which is using black humor because she gets attacked by zombies. There is also a element of irony when she says "see you tomorrow" to the girl because she doesn't. There is also music when the girl comes in the room and the door opens this adds tension and fear in the audience. When she steps through the door there is a loud noise to scare the audience and the loud music carries on until she is thrown out the room. When her husband comes to attack her the music is really fast to add to the tension. To create drama at one point the music goes silent and then the man comes through the door. This is really good at scaring you. I personally feel that the opening sequence is very typical of a horror film because it keeps you wanting more and is very scary. Overall i think that it is a really good opening scene and makes you want to carry on watching which is the main thing that a Opening sequence can do.
By Max Blanche