What are the main ingredients of an opening of a horror film?

The opening of any film should set the tone for what is to come during the duration of the rest of the film. It should entice the viewer, catching their attention and making them intrigued about the plot and the story. The opening of a horror film has to be mysterious, giving the viewer only a small taste of the story's plot. In doing this, the audience find themselves unable to stop watching, and leaves them desperate to find out what will happen over the course of the film. In order to enhance this mystery, the director will usually avoid introducing the main characters until the end of the opening sequence. The sequence should also create an atmosphere of unease and fear that would remain throughout the film.

Horror movies usually begin in a traditional horror location such as a large, old, isolated house. The opening sequence also normally takes place at night. The use of a traditional horror location and time would generate a feeling of excitement and anticipation for the audience as they will recognise these strong horror film conventions.

The directors and producers may also use the opening titles to build up the suspense and atmosphere by using a bold, sinsiter font which is generally white or red in colour against a black or dark backhground in order to make the title stand out and catch the audience's attention. It also adds to the atmospheric fear and the feeling of unease. The title is usually accompained by music which is either eerie and quiet or loud and dangerous.

The opening of a horror film usually contains an unsuspecting, and seemingly innocent victim who dies at the end of the sequence. They generally die as a result of a violent act performed by either a killer, ghost or another paranormal phenomenon. The phenomenon is normally showns as a shadow/masked person in order to keep the mystery in the film and to allow a shocking 'big reveal' that would frighten the audience later on in the film. The death caused by this phenomenon usually starts off the chain of events that take place during the rest of the film and would therefore be recognised as the preliminary event.

   

The opening sequence of a horror film should also include suspenseful music in order to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, anticipating a scare of jump of some sort. However, most horror films do not contain a jumpscare in the opening sequence as the director aims to keep the audience waiting in suspense and in a state of unease.