Horror Genre Opening Analysis: ‘Sinister’

Opening Analysis: ‘Sinister’

Introduction – Having explored around the Internet for some of the most captivating horror opening scenes I could find, I decided to select this opening scene. Its simplicity intrigued me, and having heard rumours that the film itself is a mixture of crime drama, horror, supernatural thriller and murder mystery, I was captivated as to how a film that sounds so complicated could be introduced so modestly.

My Analysis – After 6 seconds of diegetic, off-screen sounds of a tape player crackling, a visual appears suddenly on screen. This crackling noise makes the audience feel uneasy and creates an enigma code as to why it is relevant. It also puts an idea into the audience’s mind of a personal, un-professional filming of what is about to be viewed. This sensation makes the viewers feel like they have the potential to be involved in a story such as the one that they are about to watch, as it almost comes across like a home movie.

When the visual appears on the screen, the lack of quality of the footage emphasis’ this home videotape idea. The general view in this current shot is persistent throughout the whole minute and eleven second opening. This wide angle shot which focuses on a leafless tree demonstrates it’s importance. The significance of using a leafless tree has connotations to death, and a typical convention of the horror genre, which enforces a creepy feeling. There also appears to be a sort of mist behind the tree, which naturally creates this feeling of unknown as it disguises appearance. Bad weather is also a typical convention of horror, as we don’t normally imagine a murder to happen on a lovely sunny day.

Looking more obviously at the aspects of horror in this opening, there are four people with their arms tied behind their backs, with bags on their heads and ropes looped around their neck. If that doesn’t suggest death and murder, then what does? The casual, everyday clothing of these victims shows that they are normal people, potentially making the audience feel like they could be in their position. The use of hanging someone for death shows that the killer wants to make him or her suffer. There are other methods of death, which would be much easier and less painful. This makes the audience aware that this killer is obviously quite sinister, or potentially possessed by something that is.

The only movement that is happening throughout the first twenty-five seconds is that of a saw or other tool cutting through a large tree trunk. The audience are left questioning who it is, or what it is that is responsible for sawing through it? There is a mechanism involved, which links to the four victims, allowing them to be hung when the trunk is fully cut through. The effect of using a saw suggests danger and has typical links to horror movie deaths thanks to films such as ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. The consequence of using a ‘mechanism’ shows that thought has gone in behind the deaths of these people, and demonstrates that there is more depth to the story than a random killing, which intrigues the audience and makes them want to watch more.

When it is eventually cut through, the people are dragged upwards to a suspension in the air where there legs swing and wiggle out of hope for rescue or survival. This movement shows their helplessness. The lack of sound along with the footage adds a sense of curiosity for the audience, as we cannot hear the victims attempting to shout out. The sound of the tape playing increases in volume at the point that the tree is cut through and the suspension begins. An almost unnoticeable movement suddenly makes the tool used to cut through the tree fall down onto the ground. Its individual movement shows that it had a key role as attention is drawn to it, making it stick as a key moment in the audiences mind and asks questions such as ‘why is it being disposed of?’ and 'what is the significance of this object?'.

There is then a dramatic change as the title appears on the screen in a disorganised form of handwriting. This shows a lack of care, potentially shown by the murderer, but also an eerie feeling is created for the audience.