JN: Film Opening 1 - The Grudge (Shimizu, 2004)

Genre

• The Grudge is a 2004 American horror film
• The opening shows the credits ,this immediately with a typical sinister red background which could connote blood ,with what resembles a young girls hair flowing through it ,also the thin black writing set over the red and black background seemingly coming from the blood red shows a sinister plot too come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Kjg6jLgQ8

Film language:

• Low key lighting is used to give an eerie effect such as when the girl goes into the attic it makes the space she is in seem smaller and therefore gives the effect of an inescabable atmosphere.
• The main prop used by the girl is a lighter this is used to connotes a light in a dark place and gives the sense of why there is light she is reasonably safe ,yet with the encroaching darkness she seems set to have a scare.
• The set design shows a very simple family like home ,a design which horror films seem to use more than most other genres ,the family home is meant to be a safe heaven from the outside world and its the fear of the doubt we have at this that makes the family home all the more scary place to set a horror film.