Credit Sequences

 Credit Sequences

Psycho

    The credit sequence of Psycho (1960) utilizes animated 'lines' that guide the titles into place. Before any of the credits are displayed, the use of a sudden burst of suspenseful music is used to emphasize a chilling tone. The titles are very minimalistic, but create an effect that seamlessly matches with the tone of the film. As the lines begin to be displayed, before the director, Alfred Hitchcock's name is displayed, the music seems to sync with the lines as they make their first entrance, reflecting the attention to detail of this credit sequence. The names seem to be built piece by piece to form the entirety of the words, maintaining the mystery of the film, in the way that each piece comes together slowly. The lines that repeatedly enter in and out of the screen are directed in a way that they have an established place to go, humanizing the lines. As the title, Psycho, is displayed, it is formed fully, then it is distorted, emphasizing elements of mystery that persist in the film as well as sudden change in plot. . The credit sequences of Psycho achieve the introduction of the tone that persists in the film.

Signs

    In the credit sequence of Signs (2002) the entrance and exit of a light is used to imitate heightening tension. As the titles enter and exit, a simultaneous 'blinking' effect of the circular silhouette of a light occurs. The music elements taking form as mysterious, sync to the brightening and fading of the light as well, heightening the tense tone . The circular shape of the light puts reflection on the extraterrestrial sense-- as an element in the film is 'crop circles'- a sign of outside life. Emphasis is placed when the title, Signs enters the screen. The music elements tone upward while the light shines brighter, as the circular shape of the light is broken, symbolizing not only title emphasis, differentiating from the rest of the credits, but also following the tension of the tone. After the title is displayed, the music is intensified, having a quicker pacing, increasing the tension. In the credit sequence for Signs, suspense resonates with the audience, even before the film has begun, highlighting the attention to detail in the process of development for Signs.

Halloween

    The credit sequence of Halloween (1978) effectively resonates with the film's theme surrounding the Halloween holiday. The jack-o-lantern serves as a symbol of the Halloween holiday, but also correlating to the 'masked' killer within the film, Michael Myers. With the flickering light inside the jack-o-lantern, an unsettling and natural tone is set. The color scheme used, surrounding orange and black reinforces that eeriness that is being developed. The sense of classic thriller is created with the use of the plain, unembellished font, putting emphasis on the nostalgic nature of the film. For the music elements within the sequence, the simple, repetitive, high pitched notes outline the same nature of a racing heartbeat, contributing to the thrilling tone of the film. Contrasted to many classic thrillers, Halloween's approach to thriller conventions utilizes the slow, anticipating unease rather than a shock and jumpscare. The camera movement in Halloween's credit sequence plays a role in the development as it mimics creeping in the slow approach toward the jack-o-lantern, mirroring Michael Myers' approach to his victims.

Psycho. (n.d.). https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/psycho/

Signs. (n.d.). https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/signs/

Halloween. (n.d.). https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/halloween-1978/