WB "Halloween" (Carpenter, 1978)

Genre:
The general audience expectations seem to be fulfilled within this opening sequence. Conventional effects, sounds, camera positions and mise-en-scene are quite clear within this clip. They all seem to fit the horror genre with the use of handicam and the tense generic horror soundtrack.

Form and style of opening:
It is quite a conventional horror opening. It is clear that death is quite likely within this sequence due to shots of Michael's sister being prominent at the start and then being followed up by a shot of Michael himself getting a knife out of the cupboard. The title of this film instantly connotes horror due to Halloween being the time of year when everyone gets dressed up in order to fright people. Moreover it suggests the time of year that the film will be set in as Halloween is a distinct holiday.

Film language - telling the story:
Mise-en-scene is crucial within this sequence as it straight away within the first five seconds shows you the time of year that the film is set in. You see a pumpkin which indicates that it is Halloween and thus connotes the likelihood that this is a horror film.
The use of a handicam throughout this sequence creates a sense of mystery as we are unaware of the figure/force that we are in the position of. We become aware that the figure we are positioned with is human and either a child or a female due to the hand of the figure when pulling out a knife from the cupboard.
The use of sound is extremely effective throughout this clip. The use of the conventional chromatic sustained strings anchors the clip and creates a sense of tension building up to the stabbing.
As a group we could take many ideas from the clip. Firstly the use of the handicam created a very tense atmosphere as their was a sense of mystery throughout right until the end. Moreover the sound really anchored the use of the handicam as the conventional music made the clip have that horror vibe with it.

Narrative:
We are first introduced to the antagonist who watches the victim for a brief spell before stabbing her with a knife. The narrative positions us with the antagonist throughout this opening sequence due to the use of the handicam. The narrative doesn't really introduce us to the teen victim and all that is revealed that she knows the antagonist as she calls him Michael. The narrative only shows antagonist at the end of the sequence and we realise that he is only a kid and then assume that he killed his sister whilst the people beside him are his parents. The sense of mystery really helps to create and sustain tension throughout the clip. Moreover, the positioning of everything within the narrative really gives off that horror vibe and thus creates a very tense atmosphere.

Representation and ideology:
Teenagers and a young child are shown through this clip. A dominant ideological discourse is present throughout this sequence as the teenage girl is the victim and a little child is the antagonist. This is a prominent theme in horror films, having a possessed or insane child as the antagonist.

Media Audiences:
The target audience for this film is most likely the age ranges of 15-28 as they are the ages where most people enjoy horror. Thus the use of teenage girls and boys makes it more scary due to the fact that you are of the same age and therefore it could be you. The preferred reading of this text is that the child is either evil or possessed and therefore the girl is innocent and targeted. An oppositional reading would be where the viewer sympathises with the child as she brought it upon herself from her actions.


Age
Ideologically loaded
Residual ideology