15. Crimson Peak Opening Sequence Analysis

Crimson Peak Title Sequence

A title sequence is the opening introduction to a film giving us an idea of what may be in the film or give us any clues as to what may or may not happen.

Link to title sequence: https://vimeo.com/142574561 

Ingredient	Purpose
Production and Cast Credits	Telling us the companies, directors, actors etc. that are involved with the film.
Overview of the whole setting of the film.	Giving us a very brief overview of the theme and what may happen in the film. This particular one is showing us the whole house where the film is set. But it is showing it without giving away too much to the audience.
Genre	Giving us an idea of what the film is about and the kind of things that may happen
Mood or atmosphere	This adds to the genre in that we see whether the there is any conflict or anything significant between the characters.
Animals/Insects	This is if any significant animals or insects appear repeatedly in the opening showing that they have some significance in the film. For example in this film opening moths reoccur several times which suggests they are a big part of the film.
Music	This also gives the audience a glimpse of the time period by the instruments and the tension in the film etc.

The opening sequence for this film Crimson Peak starts with a credit sequence which introduces the director Guillermo Del Toro and the main characters played by Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston. It also introduces the additional cast, the writers, the producers, the executive producers, director of photography, production designer, film editor,  costume designer, music director etc. 

The transition of the text is that they fade in and out and it is presented in a white font in capital letters. The white connotes or suggests light, purity, good, innocence and purity which could mean this applies to a certain part or character in the film as the representation of white is the opposite to a horror film.  Also in the background of the text fading in are moths wings focused in on which suggests they play a big part in this film in that they have a meaning in the film. 

The mood of the title sequence is created by the non-diegetic sound which adds to the atmosphere of the opening. The music in this opening sequence is continuous as it is emotional,  intense, sorrowful, dramatic, terrifying and a haunting tune. The music gives the audience more of an idea of what to expect in the film and the music adds to the tension and mood of the film.

In this opening sequence the audience is not made aware of the characters yet. However we see that one of the characters has written a book in which the film is based on as the title of the book is tied in with the actual title of the film.  There are different objects in this opening sequence that can tie in with the rest of the film and what kind of characters we are going to see in the film. There are very old portraits along a wall of previous people which could connect to the characters pasts. Also in one part of the sequence the camera focuses on a specific ruby red ring and a set of keys which could play a part in the film. It also indicates the presence of ghosts in the film as the door is opened but not by a human hand as there is nothing there. Also the hankie covered in blood and the tea set seem significant but what is more intriguing is that more than once there was shown a moth pinned down by a pin used for sewing or knitting which seems quite significant for the film.