Sinister Opening Sequence Analysis

  In the opening scene of sinister the camera is placed in one position of the screen, they use the tree to separate the screen into the people which are being killed and the saw which is cutting the branch. Because there isn't a person on the right side of the tree it shows that it is a horror and build up tension within the scene. The saw is still moving without someone being there which would suggest it’s a spirit or something, which could suggest the sub genre of the film. Also because there is a family being hung suggest to the audience that the theme of death runs throughout the film. The shot is a wide shot, this would establish the setting, and genre of the film. The sound which is in the opening sequence is the noise of the tape playing, as if someone is watching the tape rather than us seeing what is happening as it happens. This links to the themes and storyline of the film, because there is no other sound when this is playing it makes you pay more attention or worry that something else is going to happen, although you can clearly see that they are going to die. The killer is unknown because you can’t see them, this adds suspicion and tension in the film, therefore adding to the thriller genre. because there is no one cutting the tree you also wonder who has recorded the film as the killer can’t be in two places. The lighting in the opening sequence is all using natural daylight; this could be to show that it is set in the past because they didn’t have any other light. Also the lighting would also suggest that it is set in the early morning, the way that the trees etc. hide most of the light except the light which is on the main people which shows that this is what you’re supposed to be looking at. The setting would suggest that it is in the garden because the grass and bushes etc. are all tamed and cut, this could suggest that the family is being killed in their garden at home which makes the audience question if the killer is an insider or family member.