Before the First Kill: Film Openings

 Before I even think about storyboarding or scripting this opening, I need to find some inspirations to accurately develop the psychological horror genre tone I want to achieve. Let's analyze some film openings that can help me...

1. 

The opening of Midsommar (2019) focuses on the protagonist, Dani's, grief, using slow pacing, sad visuals, and little to no sound to make her emotions/pain more evident at first glance. This establishes her suffering as the root the story's punitive fantasy as this sequence shows how the violence and rituals later in the film act kind of as symbolic consequences for neglect, loss, and injustice, creating the tension that will just continue to build up throughout the film.  It also shows how horror can be psychological or moral and not just physical, It can arise from emotional or moral dilemmas. I would like to emphasize that in my opening as well, using symbolic inspiration by representing our protagonist, the serial killer's, punishment through psychological elements, this shows that he's experiencing the consequences of his actions on a deeper, mental level. 

Link to this opening: TheOncomingStorm (2019, Oct 18,). Midsommar- Opening Titles [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Rn3ucq_h9xY

2. 

The opening of Hereditary (2018) Immediately establishes the theme of inescapable lack of control, and psychological entrapment through the use of a mini dollhouse, which is an exact replica of the main family's real-life house. This visual metaphor symbolizes the characters' feelings of feeling trapped in their circumstances, which is the first sign of the theme of inherited trauma and unfortunately inevitable fates. The seemingly calm environment contrasts heavily with the underlying sense of doom, showing that horror can come from even the most familiar, "safe" spaces. And when it comes to punitive fantasy, this, again, shows that punishments can be not just physical threats, but psychological as the characters must face consequences that are unavoidable and mostly unjust. Using elements like repeating patterns, skewed perspectives, or symbolic objects can represent confinement that I can also take inspiration from. 

Link to this opening: Hereditary (2018) – Opening Scene [Video]. (2020, January 7). YouTube. https://youtu.be/qi072RFPJUc

3. 

The opening of The Shining (1980) conveys themes of isolation, vulnerability, and impending psychological tension/ultimate collapse through its use of large, empty landscapes and little to no dialogue. By introducing its characters in a vast, deserted environment, it emphasizes how insignificant they seem and the power outstanding forces have on them. The slow pacing, use of sound manipulation (to create eerie vibe), and broad visuals create a mental tension, yet another example of horror coming from ones mind and their environment. In context of punitive fantasy, it can be seen how punishment can be immersive and unavoidable, forcing characters to face their weaknesses, secrets, and fears. Techniques in this film such as distorted sound and long takes can communicate a strong mental and emotional weight, and I'd love to play around with different ways of conveying psychological entrapment, so I'll experiment and see what makes the most sense within the 2 minute time frame. 

Link to this opening: The Shining • first scene 1080p [Video]. (n.d.). YouTube. https://youtu.be/kiV3J_e977

We'll experiment and figure that out together...

K Blog, byeeee!!!