Many horror opening sequences leave the audience with many unanswered questions so they want to carry on watching to discover the answers. Also it creates mystery and tension which is a key concept that horror films need to include so it portrays a scary atmosphere. This opening sequence of film Se7en is a clear example of narrative enigma where the first 2 minutes keep you drawn into the film without giving to much away.
Introduction to Main Characters
So the audience can establish who the main characters or the most important character is in a film, they include them in the start of the opening sequence. This then gives the audience an idea into their personalities and traits they will bring to the film. In the film Beastly, the main character is in the first shot of the opening sequence and throughout the first 2 minutes, you see 2 other female characters appear more frequently than others who are also main characters in the film. As they are shown more in the opening scene the audience understands they are important in the film.
Opening Credits
The opening credits to the film are extremely important, this is because the audience need to identify with the actors/actresses that appear and also the directors, producers and writers. The audience then may be able to get an idea to what the films genre is because of the characters that appear. For example if they see Adam Sandler, they would instantly be able to tell the film is a comedy as this is the genre he always appears in. Also they can relate to their previous experiences of films they have seen that have been produced by the same person.
The other title that appears before the characters etc, is the production company. Similarly if the audience have watched films they have enjoyed by this company they are more likely to carry on watching. Highly recognised production companies have a lot of money, therefore suggesting to the audience that the film made has cost a lot of money to make and will want to carry on watching. For example Columbia is a well known recognisable production company.
Titles
The title of the film is a convention that is always present in the opening sequence so the audience can again get an idea into what the film may be about and the genre. For example, 'Angus thongs and perfect snogging' instantly tells the audience it's a film aimed at female teenagers and is a romantic comedy or chick flick. You can tell a lot from just 5 words, therefore the producers have to be very careful when choosing a film.
Hint to theme/genre
Many things can indicate what genre the film is and what we can expect. The things happening in the opening sequence give the audience a slight idea to what the film is about and epsecially the genre. In the first scene of Jaws we see a girl being killed in the water, the audience identify this film with being a thriller and know there is someone or something that will kill many people.
Sound
The sound in an opening sequence is also very important to create a atmosphere that the producer wants to specifically create. Fast paced, commercial 'pop' music will normally be used in romantic comedies or chick flicks. This instantly creates a happy feel to the sequence and the audience are able to establish this as a light hearted, fun movie. On the other hand, using high pitched, string music with a slowish pace will create an eery atmosphere that are normally used in horror/thriller movies.
The sound in the opening sequence of Harry Potter is high pitched and haunting, creating a magical atmosphere. Therefore the audience will have a clear indication that the film is to do with magic. This is a hint/signifer to the genre and what the film is about.
Type of Narrative
There are two types of narratives that are used in the opening sequence of films. Linear narrative shows the film in chronological order, for example in the chick flick 'wild child' you see the main character rebelling against her father and him sending her to boarding school in another country in the opneing sequence. The film then follows this to show her in boarding school, the events happen one after other showing her progression in her new life. In contrast, some films use non linear narrative where they show the main action of the movie that normally appears in the middle at the beginning. This will then make audiences want to know what caused this action and will want to watch more (narrative enigma)
The mis-en-scene of the opening sequence can tell a lot about the film, the story line and the genre especially. If the film starts in a dark eery setting like a old house, a dark alleyway or a forest will instantly suggest that something bad is going to happen and the genre is horror/thriller. One example of this is Halloween where the opening sequence is set in a dark house, creating a scary atmosphere.
On the other hand, a scene shown in high key lighting will instantly create a happy atmosphere and therefore the audience will think the film is light hearted and romantic comedy or family genre. The opening scene of the holiday is set in a large american house in the summer, this instanly suggests a happy fun film.
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