Example of an opening sequence

A good example of an opening sequence that suits our chosen genre because prom night is a teen horror and is about a teacher from a high school that is obsessed with one of his students and ruins her life because he wants to be with her.



The opening sequence of this clip is very effective and it fits all the typical horror film elements. Low key lighting is used a lot when she enters her house and searches for her mum and dad, this adds to the tension because the audience know something is going to happen.
The editing when she is walking around the house if very slow which makes the tension arise even more but when she hears the stalker and her mum it becomes very quick because the tension has reached the climax and the action is happening.
This opening sequence introduces the main characters, we get a understanding of the girl's life and how it was ruined, also we learn who she lives with because of the situation in her life. We also get introduced to the stalking teacher because we learn that he is in love with this girl and he wants them to be together.
Different angle shots are used in this opening sequence, when the girl is searching round the house a mid shot is used so the audience knows what she is doing and get to see what is happening around her. The shot angle changes when she is led under the bed and is watching her mum being killed, the camera shot here is a close up on her face, this is to show the fear and emotion on her face so the audience feel for her and realise what she is going through.
The sound is very crucial in an opening sequence, in a horror film the sound is usually non-diegetic and its very tense, this is to set up a tense atmosphere. Also the tense sounds are used when something is going to happen, this gives the audience the impression that the film is building up to something.

Hayley