Titling Research

8/2/2019 Titling Research

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Titling ResearchPsycho

Titles and graphics:

The film jumps straight into the titling sequence, to make the audiences jump this is significant and typical of the thriller genre. It

being shot straight away also helps to engage the audience, and to register immediately that the film is a thrillerand it successfully

thrills the audience. The effect of this is it makes audiences on edge, and creates tension and suspense, so that audiences are

anticipating what happens next which makes it satisfying and pleasurable as to what they expect/demand the fast-paced

motion of a film. The contrast of using black, white and grey font and backgrounds foreshadows Psychos plot of the split

personality, and the contrast between the fragmented personality of Norman Bates. The font being uneven and slashed also

signifies the theme of the film it appears as if it has been slashed through the middle, as the film has murder with slash scenes init. The black and white font becomes alienated, and it has a jagged edge this could symbolise the psyche of the character. This

gives it an uncomfortable atmosphere, making the audiences wonder why all the credits are disjointed and split. The font is quite

big, clear and bold, in capitals to define the frame and dominate the shot in the middle of the screen, to make it feel overpowering

which is also typical as to what a conventional psychological thriller aims to do. The grey and black lines fade out from the titling

all distorted and abstract which also hints as to what the film is about but without actually giving anything away. This sets a dark

and scary mood due to the use of distorted imagery and the rigid motion of the way the credits rollit isnt fluid and seems forced,

as if it has been slotted in and uncomfortable which shows that the storyline isnt going to be very straightforward, it will be

complex. This makes you pay attention due to its complications and complexity. The titling has a very tight structure: it doesnt

really flow which may hint that it is out of this world and uniformed. This is also generic of psychological thrillers. Psycho is on ablack screen with white and grey fonts; to connote the fact that its unnatural or supernatural, which is also a major motif/theme in

thrillers, especially of the psychological type.


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Soundtrack:

The musical number for Psycho is very fast-paced, which complements the titling sequence in making the

audiences feel uncomfortable and on the edge of their seats. It consists of classical music, with violins and

an orchestra-like feel. The use of the violins make you feel uncomfortable as they are very piercing, and

urgent sounding; which is useful in making the audiences become thrilled and the sound sticks in their

minds which is successful as a psychological thriller as it gets inside their heads. The notes are very

dissonant, which gives it a panicked atmosphere, very high strung and suspenseful almost sounding out

of tune. Audiences will interpret or feel that something bad is likely to happen, which is successfully

carried out in adhering to the subgenre of a psychological thriller. Audiences may associate violins with a

level of maturity, signaling to them that the film touches on a mature, serious subject matter, which is

successful in doing so, as the film is about psychological mental illness. The instrumental is very abrupt,

and high impact. It plays on audiences heartstrings and makes them nervous and agitated, which is typical

of the thriller genre: it shocks and horrifies but still makes people want to carry on watching it. The music

sets the mood of the audience, and gets people into the film, making them aware what genre it is bysimply only the music. It has connotations of being very deep, intense, and the music is very sharp

making people feel uneasy; especially the loud dramatic start, which makes audiences feel on edge. The

atmosphere is very tough and tense, which again is conventional of a psychological thriller.


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Panic Room

Panic Room starts off with an establishing shot of a city skyline overlooking the river which would portray

to the audiences that there is a sense of normality, as there is nothing that suggests anything is out of the

ordinary. This is done by the use of mise-en-scene of the river; in where audiences will connote that the

film is going to be very peaceful and natural. In the next few shots the frame is taken up by medium long

shots and long shots of buildings, billboards and traffic this hints towards the film being about or

surrounded by everyday life. This indicates to the audience that it may be a simple film, or a normal film

without being too deep.

However, we find out that this is not the case and that the plot is going to be very complex, and even

abnormal. Panic Rooms titling sequence has foreshadowed this by the use of the dark, sombre non-

diegetic music, in which its use is typical in the thriller genre, especially that of a psychological thriller. It

also has a sense of mystery, in which the audience may sense that something bad may happen, but they

are unclear on what. This is also generic of a psychological thriller, in the way that it takes some aspect

from the mystery thriller subgenre.


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The editing is successful in telling audiences what genre the film is by the use of lighting in Panic Room is

well-used: the buildings do symbolise everyday life and normality, but the dark shadows they create and

the hidden meanings they may have make the film seem obscure, vague and ambiguous very typical in a

conventional psychological thriller . This again takes aspect from the subgenre of a mystery thriller.

The titling of Panic Room also foreshadows what the film may possibly be about in the credits; the font isbold, and in capitals and it is silver, which could mean cold, and a clinical, or very deep; it is about a very

complex subject matter. This could also stand for ambiguity, as the colour is close to being transparent, but

it is still cloudy and hazed. The positioning of the credits is right in the middle of the frame, suspended by

nothing this could be significant as it keeps audiences on the edge of their seats and leaves them feeling

high-strung, with a sense of confusion as to what is going on. This is also key in the genre of a

psychological thriller.

The use of shots is also very important in the titling sequence of Panic Room, as it uses many panning

shots to fully show audiences all aspects of the frame, to give them a chance to take it all in, and to let

them know what it appears to be without actually indicating what is going on. This creates suspense and

tension in the audiences minds, which would automatically tell them they were watching a thriller, as this

is very common in thrillers. In successfully identifying the genre of the film, the audiences can connect and

are satisfied with what is shown on screen in all the uncomfortableness of watching a thriller, they know

now what type of film they are watching. This is pleasurable and appealing to the audience, just through

the titling sequence.


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Se7en

Se7en starts off with a close up of a book being opened and flicked through. This immediately throws theaudience as this literally could be any genre of film. This successfully uses a convention of a psychological thriller;of obscurity and vagueness. The shadows moving the mans hands indicates male dominance and masculinity,hinting towards some violence or physical struggle which is not usually apparent in psychological thrillers, but it isdone well in the sense that psychological thrillers are not usually what you expect and so this is unanticipated andunpredictable. They are also gnarly, and old this makes the audience feel uncomfortable as it looks scary andcreepy.

The character is portrayed as very methodical, which is generic of psychological thrillers in the way that there are

many books in the titling sequence, his condensed writing, and the cutting up, preparation and developing of hispictures shows that he is very patient and organised and has done his research towards his actions. This createstension and suspense in the audiences minds.

The audiences are made to feel uncomfortable by the use of ,mise-en-scene of bullets, machinery, blood,distorted faces and pictures, and images of acts of violence inflicted on people. There is a lot of smoke, haze andshadows clouding our view, so as we cannot really see what is going on. Se7en also makes the audiencesuncomfortable by the character scraping the skin off of his fingers, and later seeing them bandaged. This causesrestlessness as it foreshadows the plot of the film; if he can inflict pain on himself, he will also do it to others. Eventhe simple task of threading a needle causes discomfort in the audience as we know now what he is capable of, inthe pictures and his planning.

The mise-en-scene of him crossing out faces, eyes, and words in books also makes audiences question his motives,but we dont know fully what is going on, causing obscurity and not letting viewers in. it also shows his violentside; how he has such little regard for people. Typical in thrillers.


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The titling of Se7en is also key, it is white font on a black background with the titling constantly distorting

and flashing, this is key as it causes discomfort and ambiguity as to what is really going on to the audience.

The jumpiness may symbolise the psyche of the afflicted character, and this causes nervousness and

tension in the audience, making it pleasurable as they are fully aware they are watching a thriller. The

movement of it is also quite rapid and fluid, it suddenly appears on screen with no warning, hinting that

this is what the film will ne like also fast-paced.

The sound used in Se7en is also very significant as it is all without lyrics, except at the end of the titling

sequence, with the lyrics, you get me closer to God paired with the imagery of the man cutting out God

out of a bank note. This hints towards aspects of the religious mystery thriller genre. The way that it

sounds is also very frightening, with fast paced drums and electric guitar, the feel of it is very chilling,

which signifies to the audience it is a psychological thriller.

Titling Research

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