WB Technical Analysis of 'Insidious' Opening

Analysed up to minute 2:30
         

	Camera Techniques	Duration	Mise-en-scene	Sound & FX
1.	Titles - fade in and out	6 seconds	Black background with red writing appearing. A grey cloud of smoke appearing over the writing, fading both in after the writing and fading out before. The fact that it is in black connotes blood and the smoke creates a sense of suspense.	A loud high pitch note is played throughout along with church bells being played, conventional horror music anchoring the writing.
2.	Close up - turning 180 degrees	23 seconds	Titles appear within a cream ball that appears on the screen. Whilst titles appear within and around the ball it slowly begins to turn 180 degrees. Once the ball is fully turned we realise that it is a light and the titles disappear.	The same music as within the first shot and then when the light begins to turn a long misty sound is played.
3.	Extreme long shot – panning down	6 seconds	From the light, slowly the camera pan’s down and we are introduced to a little boy sleeping in his bed. We are positioned in the narrative to see him as the protagonist that is in danger.	The long note played in the shot before continues creating a tense atmosphere.
4.	A tracking shot	16 seconds	Going from the bed along past items within his bedroom such as a lamp and desk. It continues tracking to the right and we go out of the bedroom through to the hallway.	The same sounds continue into this shot, enhancing the tension already created.
5.	POV - handicam	9 seconds	The angle of the shot changes and we begin to move forwards towards a curtain which has a shady figure behind it. This then continues into the hallway. This part of the action begins to give a POV feel even though the camera is steady.	A loud high-pitched sound anchors the visuals as the frequency gets higher and lower to match the action. This is played in a fast chromatic fashion creating suspense.
6.	Extreme long shot tracking into close-up	8 seconds	Whilst going down the dark hallway we see a light and as we get closer to that light we become aware that there is a figure standing there.	The high-pitched noises continue at a similar rate.
7.	Title – ‘Insidious’	8 seconds	The title of the film ‘Insidious’ appears in red like the earlier credits. It flashes throughout before fading out.	A loud high-pitched noise is played whilst the title appears. The frequency of the noises gets higher and lower in synchronization with the flashes.
8.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. A house is shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	A slightly quieter high pitched noise is played with the frequency increasing and decreasing only when the credit appears.
9.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. A bedroom shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before
10.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. A living room filled with empty boxes - shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before
11.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. An empty staircase shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before
12.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. An empty staircase is shown from a bird’s eye view shot in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before
13.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. The top of the empty staircase is shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before with some orchestral music played on top.
14.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. An empty bathroom with a wonky picture frame on the wall - shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before with some orchestral music played on top.
15.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. An empty bedroom shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before with some orchestral music played on top.
16.	Panning slowly	6 seconds	Fade from black. A view of a window and curtains – shown in black and white and then the credit appears in red slowly turning into a gray smoke that comes off it. Fades to black.	Same as before with some orchestral music played on top.

Through this analysis I have gained a lot of knowledge of what shots will be useful to use within our opening piece. The use of tracking through the hallways I felt was very effective and created a great deal of suspense. Therefore, we have used a similar shot within our piece. Moreover, the use of sound within this opening clip is very effective. An ambient sound is played to anchor the visuals throughout this opening and are planning to use a similar backing track within our production.