Film Opening Research 2 - Scream

 Welcome back movie lovers!

In this blog post I will be answering questions about the first few minutes of the movie Scream. For context, check out my last two blog posts: My Film Opening Project and Film Opening Research 1 - A Nightmare on Elm Street

--Here's the video I watched for this assignment--

Without further ado,

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

- The "Scream" title is displayed in two different colors. 

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

- The main character's phone is an image which gets prioritized in the opening sequence. She uses it multiple times within the first few minutes of the movie, and it acts as an introduction to the killer. The popcorn is also emphasized, as it shows what the main character is trying to do to prepare her night, and the effect that the caller has on her, as she forgets about the popcorn when she becomes scared. A point is also made to show the locks on the doors, as the main character runs from door to door to lock them and secure herself inside the house, where she hopes the caller won't get to her. Although it isn't a repeated action, the main character is also shown pulling a knife out of the knife block absentmindedly, and this not only goes hand-in-hand with the sound from the title, but also foreshadows the intentions of the person she is on the call with.

3. What connotations do the images carry?

- Without context, the phone would carry no meaning other than it being a way to communicate with people. In this scene, however, the phone is used as a means to instill fear. It keeps the caller's identity anonymous while he says frightening things to the main character, making the phone seem to be a scary and almost evil object. The locks on the doors create a sense of security for the character, even though she is still frightened. This contrasts with the fear that she is feeling at not knowing where the caller is, but the audience can still feel unsettled, because all of the doors were unlocked previously and it is possible that the caller is already in the house, creating a false sense of security for the character. 

4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

- When the movie title is shown, the flashing red behind the white is done in time with a heartbeat, followed by the sound of a knife leading into the text color change to red. This reinforces the genre because it represents the blood involved with murder, as seen in slasher films. Additionally, the character is initially presented as put-together and innocent, which is shown through the organized house, her outfit and neat hair, and the way she answers the phone and responds to the caller. Often in these kinds of films, the main character isn't the brightest, but is pretty and innocent. The main character fits this description, which sets up expectation for the audience about what may happen to the character, and these expectations are furthered when the main character's reactions to the caller's threats are shown.

5. How does the film establish an enigma [mystery] from the outset?

- Viewers want to know who is calling. The audience is kept in suspense wondering who is calling the main character and why, especially since the caller's speech is vague and unsettling. Additionally, the audience only knows what the main character knows, so viewers are very limited in the knowledge that they have.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

- The audience is kept in suspense, and only learns information as the main character is learning it. Viewers don't know who the caller is, and don't learn why he is calling until the main character does. The audience also cannot see the caller, where he is, or what he is doing. This makes viewers want to know what will happen next, and the implication that something bad will happen builds suspense and instills fear in the audience, which is generally what people who watch this kind of film are looking for.

7. How has technology been used effectively?

- The sound of the phone ringing is carried over from the title sequence to the first scene of the movie. Combining the ringing with screaming and sounds of a knife creates an unsettling feeling for the phone ring, foreshadowing that it may represent something bad. It also makes for a good transition into the movie itself. Following the main character away from the phone implies that she doesn't expect a second phone call, so viewer expectations are that the audience will be following the main character to a second location to do something else. This is cut short by the phone ringing again, but the continued slow movement towards the character also helps emphasize her surprise. Moving forward to show the character's face when the caller says "I want to know who I'm looking at" helps to emphasize her expression and emotions, and following with a POV shot makes the audience feel unsettled, as viewers can see just how little the main character knows about what's going on. This adds to the audience's connection to the character, effectively adding to the unease and fear that the movie aims to establish.

To be continued...