Title Sequence analysis: Thirteen Ghosts

As i could not get the proper opening scene from the film, I'm having to use the first part from the movie.
The title sequence finishes after 1 minute 20 seconds.

As my coursework's genre is supernatural horror i felt like i should study an opening with a similar genre. So i chose Thirteen Ghosts.
At the beginning of the opening there's the advertisement of the entertainment company's who have helped create this film - Columbia Picture entertainment, which was presented in black and white with an eery backing sound of a whistling wind. Which then leads on to the next entertainment company, Dark Castle Entertainment, which is ironic seeing how the way their advertisement is a scary gargoyle roaring that's on a dark scary castle will give the audience straight away feeling of a supernatural horror.
This then leads on the this opening scene:

This scene opens with the backing sound of thunder and straight away the audience see's this image. The fact that this scene is dark, foggy, lighting that emphasis's the atmosphere really gives the feel that something is going to happen that will make the viewers jump.

At the same time that the sound and the mise-en-scene is giving off this feel of something bad will happen, cinematography takes over with a jurky hand-held feel as the image moves slowly towards the car suspended in the air by the crane.

As soon the camera has crept closer to the car, the start of the title sequence begins with this lettering appearing with it looking like it's on fire.

The mise-en-scene is one of the bigger aspects used in this opening that shows the genre of this film. Even though it is difficult to see, prop's such as dead cars piled on top of each other really gives an 'off' feeling. Making the audience feel the realism. This is also due to the cinematography, how the camera still moves in a jurky way as if its hand held. To add to the effect wind is blowing. Old bits of torn ragged fabric have been used to emphasis this, and is high lighted above.

Also at this point, more sound's become more effective at this point with sound's of sounds like a gate either being opened and creaking or the wind blowing it. Again with added thunder sound effects.

After more camera movement the main title appears with editing it gives the audience the feel of certainty that it is going to be something along the lines of a supernatural horror. Along with the title appearing, the backing sound for it almost sounds like people but its distorted.

And then the title sequence ends with some action of a lorry driving through a pair of large gates.

In this opening sequence there is no music when there normally is but the opening to this film really sets the scene so creepy background sounds are used.The sounds that are used really show off the genre for this film. Sound's of strong winds blowing, gates creeking open and closed, thunder are used to open the scene, then the sound goes into a weird sounding wind that give's the feel that something is there or is about to happen. This strange sound is used with the cinematograpghy to create a strong atmosphere.

The use of mise-en-scene is very strong. Even though in the opening there are no characters, just the location of the first scene really gives the audience the idea of something 'eery'. Lighting is obviously important as this scene is set at night, so the use of flood lighting in the corners of this car junk yard really shows off how creepy the setting is. The prop's mainly used are these crushed or broken cars, along side the fog adds to the effect.

One of the most obvious techniques used to show off the genre is the cinematography. When the camera goes 'all over the place', as if it's following someone. Sort of a jurky hand held movement, along with the strange sound effects really give the audience the feel of realism.