Researching 3 Credit Sequences From Horror

 Researching 3 Credit Sequences From Horror 

Director, lead actors, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors are some of the roles that are mentioned during a normal credit scene.

1. Se7en (1995): Opening Credits

Techniques Used:

• Handwritten, erratic typography that flickers and jitters, creating unease.
• Rapid, disorienting cuts of grotesque imagery (e.g., a man cutting off his fingertips, violent journal entries).
• Use of high-contrast, grainy film stock for a grimy, textured feel.
• Distorted and wierdly metallic screeching sounding score, reinforcing tension.

Why It Stands Out:

• Introduces the meticulous, obsessive mind of the serial killer John Doe without showing his face.
• Creates a psychological buildup, foreshadowing the film’s themes of sin and punishment.
  

2. Halloween (1978): Opening Credits

Techniques Used:

• Slow zoom-in on a flickering jack-o’-lantern against a black background.
• Eerie, repetitive piano score by John Carpenter, establishing dread.
• Minimalist, bold orange typography that fades in and out.
• Uses simplicity to create a hypnotic and tense effect, pulling the audience into the horror atmosphere.

Why It Stands Out:

• Uses minimalism to create tension before any action begins.
• The slow-moving credits mirror the stalking nature of Michael Myers.
• Establishes the iconic score that became synonymous with slasher horror.

3. Dawn of the Dead (2004): Opening Credits

Techniques Used:

• Distorted, glitchy text appears alongside quick-cut, found-footage-style clips of the zombie outbreak.
• Blood splashes and grotesque imagery hint at the violent chaos ahead.
• "The Man Comes Around” plays over the montage, giving an eerie contrast between calm music and violent imagery.
• Mixture of real-world news footage with fictional horror scenes, making the outbreak feel realistic.

Why It Stands Out:

• The music choice adds a haunting, apocalyptic feel unlike typical horror scores.
• The raw, documentary-like footage makes the zombie outbreak feel real and immediate.
• Establishes a modern horror style different from the feel of the original Dawn of the Dead.

What do I think?

Each of these credit sequences masterfully sets the tone for their films using distinct visual, auditory, and editory (editing?) techniques. Se7en (1995) immerses viewers in psychological horror through erratic imagery and sound design; Halloween (1978) builds a slow dread with its minimalist approach; and Dawn of the Dead (2004) shocks audiences with its chaotic, realistic portrayal of a zombie outbreak. These intros aren’t just credits; they act as mood initiators, putting audiences into the world of horror before the story even begins.

This really gives me insight into the development and approaches to making a credit sequence. And all of these seem very interesting to me. However, I think that making a minimalist credit sequence would be in my group's greatest interest as it can save time and also make it so we can put our energy into something that we can make as good as possible, rather than go big and it looks bad in the end. I think that the minimalist is the perfect mix between creativity and simplicity, since we can make it have a lot of meaning while still not being very time-consuming to incorporate or create for our film opening. 

Conclusion

That was all for today. I hope you enjoyed yet another blog post, and next time I will be blogging to you guys about the schedule me and my teammates have created to manage our time efficiently and precisely.