JP: Conventions of a Film Opening
The Amityville Horror (Douglas, 2005)
(Link to opening sequence)


What generic conventions are there in this clip?

• The most noticeable thing about the extract is the flashing lights from the lightning. The darkness in between the lightning flashes are used to let the character move around, making it feel like jump cuts are being used when they aren't. This creates an uneasy feel to the clip, not knowing what the antagonist will do next.

• The props used in the clip are typical of horror films; the gun, the television left on but not playing anything, the teddy bear (creates a sense of innocence about the young girl), and the alarm set to a certain time that is iconic within the film.

• The footsteps around the house are amplified to exaggerate the silence in the house because the family are asleep. The only sounds in the house are the ones that he makes, and this is reinforced when he fires the gunshots.

• The static, freeze frame shots after he shoots the people in their bed gives the impression that this event happened in the past, and the photographs are those of a detective investigating the scene. A sepia-toned look reinforces this idea of the events occurring in the past.

• The use of a caption saying "based on a true story" is very common in horror films, as films are considered to be more scary if they really happened. 

• Extreme close ups are used on the antagonist's eyes and feet, very common viewpoints on bad characters in horror films, as the eyes show the emotions he is feeling, and the feet give a sense of what's to come. He is given character exposition through shots like these and long takes on his face.

• Montage editing and stills are used to speed up the process of what he is doing, creating the idea that he wants to get it over and done with, like he doesn't want to do it, and this is reinforced when he is crying and tells the young girl he loves her before killing her.

• An enigma is created at the beginning as to what has happened to the antagonist, as we see a picture of him at his graduation where he looks clean and happy, but we are introduced to him as unshaven with long hair, staring at obscure shapes on a blank television and reading books about evil and religion.

• The young girl is presented as a symbol of innocence, very common in horror films as it juxtaposes the horror of the situation, and makes the audience more emotionally attached because it is not just adults he is killing, but young girls with teddy bears too.