Genres + openings: codes+ conventions

Horror genre:
From the films i have watched the codes and conventions of the openings are; to open with a section of self contained narrative which is either from the middle or the end of the fim and then switch back to the begining. This brings the film straight into the dis-equilibrium stage which has the effect of making the viewer instantly uncalm. This is used in these films:

• Cry Wolf

• Severance

Alternatively some films begin with a section of self contained narrative from the past and then begin the start of the film narrative. This is the case for the following films:

• Friday the 13th

• Halloween
• Van Helsing

In order to keep the audience interested in the film and feeling uneasy and tense, these self contained narrative sections in the openings often show a killing within the first few minutes, this occurs in films such as:

• Friday the 13th
• Club Dread
• Bride of Chucky
• Scream

Horror genre films do not tend to have the central protagonist on screen first as they often begin with a killing and a central protagonist would not be killed off in the first 5 minutes of a film.