aMERICAN HORROR Story - asylum
American Horror Story is an American horror television series, which has opening title sequences at the beginning of each episode. It was produced by ryan murphy and Brad Falchuk, each season is a mini-series which different topics. This opening title sequence is from the second season which is called Asylum. This storyline follows the stories of the patients and staff of an institution for the criminally insane and takes place in Massachusetts during 1964.
The American Horror Story OTS starts with a black screen which creates mystery and then quickly cuts to hospital beds and other objects that have connotations to mental hospitals. They have used many effects within the OTS such as lighting streaks going down the screen, fading transitions to make certain aspects of the clip more ghostly as well as cutting every clip small in order to make it fast past syncing the audience's heart rate. The clips used within it also have a very dark effect added to it further influencing the horror aspect. The music added is also very iconic to American Horror story as it has been used throughout all seasons but adapted differently to give it a different effect and fit the theme. This makes it easy for people to recognize an American Horror Story Episode. This is also the same with the font they use as people are instantly aware that it is from American Horror Story. |
INSIDIOUS
Insidious is an American-Canadian supernatural horror film that was created in 2010. It was directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, it has many famous actors starring in it including Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson and Barbara Hershey. There have been many instillments since with the first being released in theaters on April 2011, this was then followed by a sequel, chapter 2 and then two more prequels, chapter 3 and chapter 4. The story centres on a couple's son who enters a comatose state and becomes inhabited by ghosts in a different dimension in order for them to live once again.
This OTS is very effective as it starts off black then focuses on the simple shape of a light cover which reveals the name of the director. The focus is then changed on to a young boy in bed sleeping with minimal lighting in the room creating an uninviting atmosphere, this clip then carries on to use a track across to other points in the house. For example the camera is carried through what looks like a hallway, within this point some parts are pitch black or otherwise there is minimal lighting. As the clip is dark there appears to be a light which catches the audiences attention, when the image is closer it reveals an older looking women who is clearly another main character in the plot. This is effective as it allows the audience to see what characters they need to focus on. The music within this OTS is also very effective as it starts with a drone noise which continues to intensifies into more of a screeching high pitched noise as it gets closer to the female, with it quieting out after, this puts the audience on edge as they are expecting there to be a problem. After the black out and the noise quieting down the title appears and when that happens the music loudly plays again. |
woman in black
The Woman In Black is a supernatural period horror film directed by James Watkins and written by Jane Goldman, It is based in an English Village called Crythin Gifford in 1889. it is the second adaption of the book at it was previously filmed in 1989. The film was released in February 2012.
In this OTS it fades into a some tea sets, showing children having an imaginary tea party. Through out most of this the children's faces are not seen creating a more ghostly atmosphere. It then shows the children's faces innocently smiling however they seem in slow motion adding to the effect. There is then a view of the children sitting on the floor from a high view showing the power the audience has over them. As this happens the children slowly turn and stare at something that grabs their attention, this is not within the shot creating mystery for the audience. This is then followed by shots of them looking at the window before the gradually stand up and drop what they were playing with showing that they have lost their innocence. As they are walking towards the window they continue to break their toys by stepping on them with the camera being on the floor in a neutral view looking straight at it. The audience then sees the three girls jump out of the window however this is also left as a mystery as it does not show their bodies but instead gets closer to the window. The music sounds like a child's toy box, it gets louder and stronger as they look towards the object that if off the screen and as they jump the music becomes a deep drone sound followed by a women's scream. Most of the sound within this trailer is non-diegetic and it is kept quiet to enhance the effect. The diegetic sound within it has been used with caution with it only being the sound of the breaking toys and the lady's screen followed by the dialogue 'my babies' to signify what happened to the audience. |
the conjuring
The conjuring is an American supernatural horror film that is directed by James Wan and written by Chad and Carey Hayes. The first installment is about paranormal investigators and their cases of haunting. The warrens come to the assistants of the Perron family who are experiencing disturbing events in their farmhouse set in 1971.
This OTS has a more animated aspect, all the images get distorted towards the end they all also have the same effect on them which is a dark blue against a black background creating is horror like atmosphere. There are foot steps through out the OTS shots to make the audience feel as if someone is following them. The titles in this OTS fade in and are placed in different positions for every shot they are white so that they clearly show up against the background and flicker and fade out into the background making it seem as if something is effecting the image on the screen. There is a drone effect that starts as the first image appears on screen, it continuously increases as if something is getting closer before completely fading out when there is a clip of a women walking down the stairs before the title appears. This makes the film title standout more as there is less music/sound in the background contrasting it to the rest of the clip. |