Analysis of a Horror   Opening Titles (5)

The fifth film that I have decided to analyse is called "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Below is a video clip of the Opening sequence to this film:

Q.)How Does the title sequence establish genre, character and narrative?

When looking at this opening title of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" we can see that this is a horror genre of a Slasher film, a horror of death and gore. In this opening sequence we can see that it uses the colours of red which is representing the idea of blood, and the sign of danger and death. The Idea of flashing images with the black background could be representing the idea of mystery and slow death. When focusing on this opening we can see that it uses the idea of narration which is giving away the plot of what this film is going to be about right at the start of the film, when we also continue into the opening we are also seeing narration of a voice later on in the sequence maybe showing more ideas and clues for the audience of what the film is going to be about. When looking within the film we also straight away go into the idea of death because looking at this we can see a rotted away killed man with another person attached to him this could be showing us that this is what is going to happen to the people during the film and is introducing us to the gore already keeping us glued on to find out what happens later in the film and is there anymore deaths like this. Therefore already this is creating the genre if horror and slasher with the feature that have been included within this.

Q.) How does the title sequence attract an audience's interest?

When looking at this opening sequence we can see that this would create an interest for the audience because of how it is using narration at the beginning of the opening so people can see what the plot of this film is going to be about allowing the audience to decide if it is for them and if they would like to continue watching it. The idea of the death at the beginning of the film would create and effect because people would want to see how this person was killed or how other people are going to be killed during the film this is kind of giving us an idea of  what the film as in store for the people and the audience would want to find out what happens and how people are killed and because of including this type of horror it would make it more questionable for the audience creating their interest of watching the rest of the film and the plot in more of a watchable detail.

Q.) What do you consider to be the target audience of this film and why?

I believe that the target audience for this film would be at least aimed at 18 and over because of the violence and death scenes that are being shown because already within the opening we are seeing the graphic images that are being shown, creating the death scenes that are possibly not for eye views of the younger generation and this would be made for the older because of the death and violent scenes and they are like aged video games that need a certain age range for the viewing of the it. Therefore I would believe that this film would be more aimed at the age range of older adults because of weapons that could possibly be used in this because if they use violent weapons that parents would have around the house this could be teaching younger people what these weapons would be used for putting them in danger, so I would strongly believe this would be more suitable for the older generation from at least 18 and over.

Q.) Who are the producers of this film and why is it evident to the title sequence?

The producers of this film are Kim Henkel, Tobe Hooper, Jay Parsley and Richard Saenz. When looking at these producers we can see that these are mostly horror producers and we can see this because they have created this film. We can see that that this is evident within the title sequence because of how they have used the idea of narration to tell the plot in a simple way for people to know about it, the idea of showing danger already within the opening shows that this horror isn't going to be a happy film it is going to be a film of danger, tension building and the aspects of how these deaths could link together and making the audience wonder what these deaths have been caused by and why are they happening.