Analysis of Opening Sequence: 'Jennifer's Body' and 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'

Jennifer's Body has low key, hard, high contrast lighting to emulate the horror cliché that 'evil things happen at night'. The long shot shows isolation, the character can't escape anywhere and she is alone. Sounds effects, such as the creaking, wind-chimes and occasional moaning, create tension and add to how isolated the setting is. The Slow camera movement also lends itself to the creation of tension. The shadows of trees are a contrast in light that adds to the horror atmosphere. Non-diagetic music sets the tone for the scene: that of mystery that its a staple of the genre.

Voyeuristic, high-angled shots create a sense of taboo as we look in at the character. Extreme close-ups of small things the character is doing highlight how nothing worth noting is happening except this (hair-chewing or scratching). It suggests a scene of boredom. The Soft light in this room adds to this slow feeling of calm. Inane chatter from the TV of an advert is add to the air of boredom.

A 'sound zing' lends emphasis to a moment that is supposed to shock the viewer. They are sudden to gain that effect. High contrast, chiaroscuro on the face at the window shows a paranormal link to this character.

A Nightmare On Elm Street has low key, hard light with high contrast coming from fires to not only give the film a horror cliché but also to give connotations of hell. Close up and mid shots close in on Fred putting his glove together are used to deliberately hide Freddie's face to create and air of mystery by directing the attention of the audience to these details. The close up panning shots give a claustrophobic view of the room and the girl's actions to give a feeling of entrapment, where. The close up of blades stabbing through cloth is to create a quick scare.

The non-diagetic music is added over the top to emphasise a sense of tension in the scene as Freddie pursues the girl and hints at the fact that this is a dream. However, the long shots of the pipework, with Freddie and the Girl running away suggest ideas of a maze, with Freddie hiding in the darkness like a predator. The low key lighting on Freddie and his foregrounded position compared to the Girls almost backgrounded position in the shots composition are used create the image of a predator stalking its pray. The High angle, looking down on the scene makes the Girl look much smaller to help this visual metaphor along. It makes this scene Nightmare-like. The close ups on the Girl's face are to show her fear of what is coming after her. The bright, hard-light that contrasts heavily with the rest of the wet corridor she runs down is to show a transition into Freddie's domain. Diagetic noises of Freddie laughing off camera are a horror cliché to show how close the 'monster' of the film is. The jumbled letters the opening credits are written in contrast with the rest of the film, with an child-like and messy arrangement, possibly to show innocence in this film.