Title sequence analysis - Jack

Psycho

Sound:

• The sound used in the opening sequence is non-diegetic, parallel sound, in which is a high pitched string piece, carrying a very inconsistent rhythm and therefore straight from the very beginning of the film does not let the viewer settle down, and the viewer does not exactly know what is happening. In fact, even the music seems to have no idea where it's going - there are sharply plucked strings one moment and then very low pitched the next; it is very wild and unpredictable. This as a result somewhat disorientates the viewer straight away as they do not know what is happening, furthermore creating enigma throughout.
• The sound is going at a very fast pace which could be being used in parallel to what is going to be happening at the start of the thriller, suggesting urgency or fright. This in turn, creates enigma as the viewer perhaps doesn't full understand why or what is happening, or could also be guessing what could be happening in moments to come. E.g. 'Has something bad happened?'
• The sound finishes on one long suspended note. This again, could be parallel to what is happening in the opening. E.g. what is happening has climaxed (someone has been killed) - therefore creating suspense as it fades into the opening of the film, as the viewers want to know if anything has happened or not. 

Graphics:

• Although in the link above, the lines used are green, the traditional and original credits actually used grey/white bars. It may look like it, but the bars in fact never break formation or intersect - they come from different areas of the screen. Likewise, the way the lines move about helps contribute to the meaning of the narrative - every object has a path from which it does not deviate. This therefore makes the viewer have more of an understanding of the narrative unconsciously, which further gives a greater effect and shock when it comes to the main events of the thriller. 

• Some of the titles cut apart during the sequence which can also connote some of the narrative, for example a cutting/stabbing action. It can also simply be used to disorientate the viewer and to keep up the tension. If the title were just still it would not have a very fast pace to it, so therefore a splitting of the word has been used back and forth to maintain the fast pace and for it to be in parallel with the music. This therefore creates a tense mood and atmosphere for the viewer just through the graphics. 

• The way the transitions come together could also be argued that they reflect the narrative. For example, lots of different pieces of information are put together to finally reveal an answer, in which is what we see graphically in the titles. Throughout these titles, the way they transition is repeated e.g. the lines coming in but in a different direction - the use of repetition of the same thing is a common feature of psychological thrillers. 
• The colours used are black and grey which connotes a dark atmosphere and a tense mood, as well as connoting death and possibly entrapment as it is suggesting there is no hope. 

These credits were created by Saul Bass.

Fight Club

• Non-diegetic, parallel sound has been used throughout this sequence. It is a variety of a mix of sounds including sirens (which could connote what's to come) and with a very fast pace to it. The fast pace has been used to create anxiety and tension throughout the audience and to straight away fix the viewer into a tense atmosphere, and further enhancing the unpleasant experience for the viewer.  Here is the soundtrack:

• The opening sequence starts off with an CGI sequence of what looks like to be the inside of a humans body, which we can see through the molecules inside the body and the bands of sweat dripping. At the end of this sequence it eventually zooms out to the human/protagonist's face which reveals that it was his skin/insides that the sequence was focusing on. This therefore creates enigma as it makes the audience think why he is in that state of sweating heavily. 

• The graphics we see in this sequence seem to be particles, veins, tissue and cells - these are suggested but not clearly identifiable and these are being used to connote ideas about the physical structure of the body.

 

• The focus on what is happening inside the protagonist's head/body construct subtle references to themes of identity, deception and psychical and psychological instabilities, that the he could be suffering, further connoting what could happen later on in the narrative, therefore creating enigma. 
• The theme of threat to the human body is further suggested as we see him with a swollen black eye and a gun pointed into his mouth.
• As well as this, the text can also be seen to construct/connote themes of identity - the cast and crew's identity is displayed to the spectator in the form of titles, however the appearance and movement of these titles can be seen to connote strong ideas of not only identity but more specifically, hidden and fractured identity, which is putting emphasis on the physical inabilities that the characters may be suffering. This is being shown without even one character having been introduced yet. 

Cast member title

• The titles are also displayed for a very short duration (around 2 seconds) before it disintegrates into a dust/powder or vapour. This connotes ideas of what is to happen in the narrative, for example, as the viewer is  not given a lot of time to read the information it connotes the idea and concept of illusive identity, which could be apparent later on in the narrative, and again creating enigma and a mysterious atmosphere, as identity is very hidden. 
• We can see throughout this sequence that some of the titles, there seems to be missing chunks from some of the letters, where lines of text are overlapping each other and the top line of the text moves further behind the more prominent, and this again is just emphasising the concept of hidden themes of identity as if themes names/titles do not want to be seen. 

• Also apparent throughout this sequence there are random appearances of white flashes. This can parallel to what is happening in the narrative, for example it can connote subliminal flashes of the character or that possibly maybe he is dead and that is him trying to force himself to stay alive. These flashes are of very short duration (less than a second) - this can be suggesting his presence in the film and further constructing the idea of the hidden identities. 
• Additionally, only black and blue colours have been used; they have been used to create a dark/tense atmosphere.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

• The sound used is non-diegetic and parallel to the sequence; there is a slow build of of pace with the sound, as well as what's happening in the sequence and then it carries on to having a fast pace, in which it also does in the actions of the sequence. This helps to build tension and give a tense atmosphere to the audience. 
• On top of the music, there are also additional noises used such as subtle screams and just random noises. The screams are being used to connote what may happen in the narrative and is giving hints to what may happen to 'the girl' - further raising the enigma throughout the audience. 
• When the main title appears - 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' it seems to get wrapped/engulfed in the 'goo-like'/ink substance which could connote ideas to what is to happen in the narrative. Possibly the girl's tattoo could turn to engulf/torture her?

• In addition to this there are also many close ups of the 'ink' seeping out/around objects or certain features of the body, which is suggesting that this 'tattoo' could somewhat have its own life to it, and this is creating enigma throughout the audience as they are given subtle clues to what has already happened but it is not being made so clear. This is creating an anxious atmosphere and tense mood. 

• The titles are composited very small, at the left or right hand side of the frame which is possibly suggesting that they want the viewers focus to be on what is actually happening in the frame and that is can be very important to the narrative meaning. 
• Whenever a human is seen present throughout this opening, it is presented in a tattoo form. For example, it is full of ink as if it has been over taken by the tattoo - this is being used to show the 'tattoos' importance for the film and is leaving clues to what may happen in the narrative: Will the tattoos come to live? Will they overtake everyones life? Why is there such focus on the girl with the tattoo?

• The sound fades away at the end as it fades in to the opening of the film which means that even before the film has really started, the viewer has an idea of what is going to happen throughout the narrative, however with the use of music and fast/not so clear imagery it is still creating an anxious and tense atmosphere.