Analysis of The Strangers

Analysis of Opening Sequence

The Strangers - (2008, Directed by Bryan Bertino)
Featuring - (Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman)

As the film starts, a black background emerges on the screen as a number of film companies, and other such credits are superimposed onto the screen, whilst this is being presented to the audience, a non-diegetic sound is played in the background. The sound is of a slow tempo, and brings suspence and drama. This is typical of horror films, and many films use this to create a feeling in the audience of suspence. It is also used to lead up to moments, and then relieve the tension by having a totally normal following scene. This is used to tease audiences in horror films. Shortly after the sound ends, a mans voice is heard, as he is reading out the font that is shown to the viewer. This is informing the audience of the storyline of the film being taken from a real life occurance. This will only bring more suspence and reality to the film. After this we are taken to a point of view shot, tracking out of a car window. This is showing the car going past a number of houses, before eventually the screen is darkened out. Following the darkened screen is a non diegetic sound of a phone call happening between a lady and a police officer. The lady appears to be very scared, confused and upset by what she has found. Whilst we here the conversation that is happening between them, and number of shots are taken, of a house. With the door open, and a number of objects inside. The camera shows a number of close ups, one most notably on a knife covered in blood, and another with blood smeered across a brightly coloured wall. This works in correspondence with the sound of the phone call, as the lady is describing the place being shown to the viewers whilst she is in a state of panic on the phone. After this, the screen appears to go black again, and in the same font as the other superimposed text that was on the screen previously, The Strangers (title of the film) comes onto the screen.

The viewers are not introduced to any main characters by image, but they are introduced to a lady by her voice on the phone. This asks questions to the viewer that they may want to find out. What the lady looks like? Where is she? Why and How did she get there? This is quite common in horror films, with giving small answers but asking more questions at the same time. The only other person we know about is the lady on the other end of the phone.

As the characters in the film have not been totally shown to the audience. It is hard to say how they are constructed by image. But the phone call that occurs shows the deep insecurity of the lady on the phone, and where she is. She sounds scared and upset. This makes the viewer want to get to know what has happened for her to be in this state. But it also shows that she is most probably under threat from something or someone close by. This could possibly lead to a dramatic scene.

The opening sequence doesnt reveal too much about the setting, but almost reveals enough for the viewer to understand that the setting is quite private and kept away from other houses. The house seems quite a big house for whoever lives there. But with the blood and other objects that are covered in blood lying around. The house is shown to have had something bad happen inside it.

The only real editing used in the opening sequence was the superimposed text that was inserted into the film. This is done well and is used efficiently to introduce the film name, and a number of actors and directors involved in making the film. This is also used in telling the audience the backstory of the film. So they can easily understand the circumstances of the characters, therefore understanding the characters and the reason they are who they are.

The sound used in the starting sequence of the film is typical of a horror film, with very tense and nervous music that leads up to the credits being shown at the start of the film. Also in the film start a narrators voice is used to talk about the situation the people find themselves in. The voice used is quite a stern and could come across as a scary voice. This is used to build up tension in the audience.

The opening credits in the film are presented quite quickly, but are simple enough to understand as the film is promoting it's directors and main actors. This is all presented in the same font and on a black background, which is a simple but professional way to do so. The transitions in the opening credits doesn't speed up, or slow down. It maintains a steady pace.

The films start overall, is pretty balanced and typically what a horror film's opening sequence should be like. Not to many clues are given, a lot of questions are asked , and tense sounds and other small techniques to make the audience nervous are used. This is a solid opening sequence to a horror film.

This is the first 10 minutes from "The Strangers," it shows the opening sequence for you all to take a look at.