3 Horror Film Openings

 My group and I have leaned more towards horror so Im going to discuss 3 openings form that Genre. 

The beginning of "Hereditary" is a real master class in building suspense and preparing the audience for the unease to come into the atmosphere. An extreme close-up focuses on the miniature house, gliding seamlessly onto the actual Graham home a theme of manipulation and control, insinuating that lives are in the presence of unknown forces. With the quiet and eerie atmosphere comes distinct visuals along with a subtly off-putting soundtrack, creating some sort of impending sense of dread. This intro subtly suggests certain key plot points, such as the family losing control and their matriarch, Ellen, dominating the family, which comes subtly through these miniatures. We also know the character Peter, who acts quite detached and thereby foreshadows his sad demise. Emphasis on the replica house strengthens the theme of heredity: traumatic inheritance, the idea of preordained fates, all contribute to the themes of burdens inherited and disturbing secrets kept by the family. 

Another opening I would like to mention is a film I really enjoyed, "Talk To Me."  This chaotic and somewhat unnerving opening immediately takes viewers into the movie's world as it shows one house party full of disorientation, just as shaky camera movements and dialogues that intertwine create this sense of confusion among teenagers acting mindless without any realization of risk. Notice how casually this central object of supernatural power is introduced the embalmed hand and hints that it has quite a different character in this storyline. This party setting, together with casual use of social media, finally grounds the film in contemporary Gen Z culture. The horror becomes more visible. The opening is a foreshadowing of important themes that are touched upon throughout the movie: the dangers of playing with forces beyond one's control, an appeal for escaping reality, events getting out of hand, and a hint toward deeper emotional issues in the lives of the main characters. Ultimately, through this seemingly harmless opening, there is a setting of high stakes and possible consequences to the teens' actions that their games with the hand might prove deadly. 

And lastly the film that still slightly haunts me, "Long Legs." The opening immediately shows the isolation of Lee Harker in a large, remote house instills vulnerability and unease, the scale of the house accentuating her exposure to threats unseen. As she explores, tension builds through subtle sound design, camera angles, and shadows, hinting at an unseen presence. Longlegs is shown in a gradual, mysterious way, his obscurity and glimpses adding to the fear factor. The suspense is heightened with shifting perspectives of Lee's view and what seems to be Longlegs' point of view. The sequence then culminates in a shocking, though not graphic, violent act that confirms the audience's fears and tees up an unsettling narrative throughout the film. The camera focusing in on certain elements like the house Harker chose to investigate, adding an unsettling feeling with the veiwers. This effective opening relies on atmosphere, suspense, and subtle detail to play upon the audience's imagination, making a powerful impression of dread. It sets an eerie tone in the film as the viewers then become eager to unravel the mystery surrounding Longlegs and his association with Lee.