Researching Horror Film Openings

The Shining Opening - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw23KM3-Ry8 

There are many ideas which we could take from this opening scene. These ideas are:

1. Mysterious, glum music for the introduction
2. Fades from 1 shot to another shot
3. Different angles to make the sequence that little bit more interesting
4. Using a deserted/quiet setting
5. More OSS, to create the feeling as though someone/something is following the victim
6. Scary sound effects to create an atmosphere
7. Title sequence going up the screen

Sixth Sense Opening - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44VRhcFxFF4 

The ideas which we could take from this film opening are:

1. Production name at the very beginning
2. Slow, deep music for the introduction
3. Black Out (editing technique)
4. Title sequence fading in on to the screen
5. Dark background
6. Gothic readable font
   
7. Heightened sound on sound effects to intimidate the audience
8. Close up of a particular object 
9. Camera behind an object (like something is watching someone without them knowing from behind a shelf?)
10. Shadows and dull lighting which create silhouettes of a character on a wall
11. Candle light (creates an airy feeling to the scene)
12. Old pictures
13. Long shot of setting showing character in a different room through the door
14. Things moving on their own
15. Things smashed up although they have not been touched
16. Shadows of somebody moving along the wall although nothing is present
17. Camera shot looking into a lit bathroom

Insideous Opening-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxntX0Ay62Q&feature=related

The ideas that we could take from this opening scene are:

1. Heightened sound on sound effects to make the audience jump
2. Sound effect as if somebody is screaming/whiney noises
3. Quick black and white shots of the most scary parts of the film
4. Close up of character
5. Blue lighting (creates a cool, airy touch to the scene)
6. Dull, ticking of a clock-counting down to death?
7. Black outs
8. Fading in of title sequences (different fonts)
9. Establishing shot of house with voice overs
10. Extreme close ups of character
11. Screaming  and screaching of the character with quick shots
    

By watching the openings to some very successful horror films from our subgenre we were able to get further ideas about our own title sequence and opening scenes. These gave us a better idea of what to include as i think we were thinking a bit too much on the action rather than how we are going to introduce the character, setting and threat which is crucial to the opening of the film and creating fear.