Opening Sequence Analysis( Ghost Ship)

Opening Sequence Analysis (Ghost Ship)

1. How does it establish genre?

It doesn't establish what type of genre is at the beginning, however the title of the film 'Ghost Ship' gives some indication to what type of genre it might be. At the beginning, it is quite deceiving, as it doesn't give much of the plot away, all you see are people dancing on a ship, the music is romantic, slow, then the sound changes, becomes more distorted, it starts to become more suspicious and more scary.

2. How does it introduce characters?

It shows the characters on a ship, setting the scene for 'Ghost Ship'. The costumes they wear also shows abundance of wealth. They look well-off, the type of music is also associated with the middle-class. The camera also shows a lot of the little girl which could signify her importance to the film. As the older characters aren't shown on camera as much as the little girl. The characters also are shown having a good time and oblivious to what is about to happen to them in the next scene.

3. How is narrative/or theme established?

The first bit shows the ignorance of the passengers on the ship as to what is going around them, only the audience know what is about to happen to them, together with the diegetic sound, it becomes tense for the audience and leaves them in suspense, because they know that something is about to happen, then it turns to a huge bloodbath, which sets the theme of the film, with more than normal gore and graphic violence than usual to reinforce the sheer brutality of the murders of most of the passengers on board this 'ship'.

4. What mood was created? How does this achieve this?

There is a stark contrast in mood from the beginning to the end, the mood at the beginning is lighter, more naive, then the diegetic sound gives a disorientated feel for the audience as the mood becomes darker by the end. They were laughing and dancing around then it changes to them being scared and fearing for their lives. The mood dramatically changes as it sets the story of how and why these passengers were murdered.

5. What is the enigma?

The enigma is why was the girl saved and for what purpose? Some could argue that it was because she was small enough for the wire to pass over her head, but throughout the scene, the camera was focused mainly on her, while the elder characters weren't given as much time shown on camera, this could also signify her importance to the film, giving the audience a sense of mystery and hopefully something that the audience will want to continue watching for.

6. Is there any interesting camera/ editing/ sound and MeS?

Editing- Slow-mo shows suspense.

Shallow focus onto wire foreshadows death. Fast-paced editing shows that its thrilling and exciting. As the camera goes through the characters, there is another shallow focus onto wire, filled with blood to reinforce that this wire brings death.

Cuts to intruments which are normally safe for people to use and be around becomes intrsuments of deaths and also becomes the passengers' demise. The sheer graphic violence shows that the killer showed no mercy, however unrealistic it actually is.

Sound- The sound turns from slow romantic music to distorted, which leaves the audience feeling anxious and uneasy as they don't know what is going to happen next.