Thriller film title sequences

Title sequence for 'Se7en'


The sound used in this title sequence adds an essence of creepiness to the sequence as a whole. The creaking of chairs and clocks ticking, sound like something that would come from an abandoned house. The most effective use of sound in the is title sequence is the sound of a VCR tape being wound back, the pitch has been changed and it sounds like a woman screaming, adding mystery and suspense.

The semiology gives the viewers a mental image of what the antagonist is like. He does thongs methodically and keeps track of things in a ledger. This shows that the man is intelligent, but is using it for the wrong reasons. To emphasise the danger the antagonist beholds, the pages of his ledger quiver as he runs his hand over it, signalling to the audience that they should be afraid of him. The antagonist is constantly preoccupied with his hands, suggesting and obsession with things or holding things, this is supported when a pair of disfigured and dismembered hands are shown on his desk. This shows that he is gruesome and dangerous. The antagonist is seen shaving his finger tips which could indicate that he is going to be breaking into to a property and does not want to be traced, this also shows how dedicated to committing crimes. The man takes numerous trimmings of the word god, and removes all words that connote anti catholic beliefs i.e. blacking out words like 'sexual' and 'transexual'

Editing in this title sequence emphasises the killers movements, the transitions start by slowly switching from one scene to another to imitate the killers careful planning, but the transitions speed up to emphasise that he is executing his plans. This raises the tension that the content of the sequence has already built up.

Title sequence for 'Alien'


The sounds in this title sequence is very basic and slow, it supports the environment in which the sequence is set. Soundtrack in this title sequence is based around monotone, but features the sort of sounds you might hear in a jungle. An eerie flute like instrument plays and the jungle sounds get more intense as if the flute is exciting the jungle. The music gradually get higher in pitch and reaches a sharp climax as the music ends in a high pitched and faced paced tone, accompanied by the sounds of the jungle.

The semiology in this sequence is in harmony with the music. The actual title of the movie appears in sections of each letter, this is used to support the idea that the aliens in this film are intelligent and methodical, or that it is set in a very advanced time frame. When the title of the film is fully formed the music speeds up and the amount of drum beats increase. The only thing that the title sequence gives away is the environment, it shows outer space with a large planet that is gradually fully shown, this builds up suspense and mystery as to what significance the planet has.

The editing of this title sequence is minimal and it is one continuous camera movement across an area of outer space. The gradual construction of the title through parts of each letter in the word 'Alien' creates a sense of mystery and suspense.

Title sequence for 'Momento'


The soundtrack in this title sequence is very slow and is based around string instruments like violins and cellos. The sound of Polaroid pictures being shaken can be heard throughout. The violins pace does not increase but stays at the same monotonous tempo, however the pitch slightly increases just as the sound of a picture going back into a camera, followed by the sound of a gun and then a scream from a man.



The semiology in this title sequence is in reverse, this hold the connotations that the antagonist wants to turn back the clock. the antagonists hands can be seen with Polaroid pictures of a dead body, the man then draws out the camera where the picture slides back inside. The camera angle then focuses on the antagonist's face, he looks scared and angry, this could be because he has a hatred for his victim or because he is angry at what he did, or because he is scared he will get caught by the police. A close-up of some blood and the antagonist staring at it, this could show that he is proud of his work however his body language does not look like someone who is proud. A close-up of an empty bullet shell is a clear indicator of death and is followed by a close-up of a bloodstained wall with a pair of blood splattered glasses, this adds emphasis to the bullet and indicates to the audience that they are going to be showed death. As this is in rewind, the antagonist's gun is returned to him after being thrown on the ground, followed by this is the victim, a man who is lying in the corner of a bare concrete room, this emphasises the man's vulnerability, the antagonist then picks up the empty bullet shell after killing the vulnerable victim.

The editing in this title sequence are used to emphasize the killers thoughts or motives, it is shown in reverse which could connote that the antagonist regrets his doings, or that he wants to turn back the clock to undo them.