Individual Analysis of a Title Sequence

Masters of Horror: Title Sequence

The Masters of Horror title sequence begins with a black
background and credit text inserted in white. This is a clear
use of the Levi Strauss Binary Opposite theory in which
total opposites compliment each-other to suggest a certain
genre of film. The blood drips trickle down the screen in
a harsh red colour to symbolise blood. This clearly
emphasizes the gore horror genre. The motion in which the
blood trickles down the screen suggests a calm and almost
psychedelic touch. A clear use of the Barthes Enigma
Codes theory.  

For a split second the animation on screen pauses with a
violent shake/blur. This is matched with a distorted tone of
crashing audio. I feel this is method of building a remotely
secure environment for an audience to immerse into, to
then be destroyed with a harsh noise helps to establish
the genre of film on screen. 

At the end of 'blood stream' section of this title sequence
a cloud of blood covers the screen in almost an avalanche/
atomic bomb motion. This subconsciously suggests the
possibility of mass murder/death. The production label
'Masters of Horror' them submerges from this red cloud and
continues to expand in size until the text covers the screen
and we observe the transition to the next shot. 

The pentagram symbol with a crucified man then appears
on screen. This symbol has multiple religious and which
craft mythes surrounding the ideas that go back centuries.
This allows an audience to associate the pictures on screen
with the film they are about to watch. This method of
teasing an audience is also a form of Barthes Enigma Code
I feel we should use this technique in our films technique
The moon is also placed in the background. This suggests
the events that follow in the film will projected on a large
scale. 

A small boy who is involved in the film appears on screen
with black eyes. This opens up doors to entirely different
genres such as thriller, child abuse and psychological.
The boy also has other make-up powders on his face in
order to make him look more sinister. This contradicts the
qualities stereotypes for a boy his age such as innocent and
pure. He is made the antagonist instead. Note also the fiery
orange background; this I feel is symbol of death in the
hell fire. This is also commonly associated with the devil. 

This is the second time we observe as an audience the use
of the pentagram symbol. There is also a scarecrow is solid
black colour in the background. Scarecrows are traditionally
used as threatening objects farmers, used in fields to scare
away birds. However due to americanisms they are now a
commonly used as halloween costumes and so have seen
labelled as not only frightening to birds, but also something
we as humans are frightened of. The text written in the sky
also glows the same way text from the bible shines in films.
This suggests that the text is from the bible and therefore
adds aspects of religion to the title sequence. 

A hand is seen through POV shot emerging from the soil
beneath the forest. There is also an effect added in the
editing process. This confirms our idea of murder we have
seen from previous shots/animations. The POV shot shakes
rapidly, suggesting panic and chaos. All common
components of a psychological horror.  

Clowns have only relatively recently become iconic
figures of fear. Here is why The clown appears to be
blowing a blue coloured smoke form a cigarette. As clowns
are traditionally symbols of fun, this idea has being
reversed and they are now feared all over the world. Similar
to the scarecrow. This is a clear example of how modern
cinema has influenced traditional ideas.

This shot is purposely difficult to make out. The Antagonist
character appears to be walking down a corridor. I would
like to take inspiration from the clothing he wears.