Title Research: Terrified...

Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog. Today we are researching opening sequences to movies. As you know our genre is horror….so let’s get into it!!! The movie I’ll be looking at is “Terrified”. A film made in 1963 by Paul Julian, it is known as one of the most ambiguous and haunting title sequences of his time. By being apart of the golden age of American film productions. Let’s dig deeper into its conventions.

1. What titles are displayed during the opening sequence?

During the opening sequence, the names of the actors were displayed as well as the different characters and directors/ producers were recognized. After the moments of terror, it framed the main title card and subsequent credits. The way the letters were added to the genre. It looked kind of broken like similar to structure of bones. 

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

In the opening sequence, there were a lot of spooky things. We see a man drowning in an open grave. They displayed pictures of tombstones and a masked villain. The opening mainly focused on the actors bloodshot eyes to bring in the title card and other credits. 

3. How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outside? 

The film established the feeling of the genre because it stayed true to its conventions. The way the actor reacted to his situation and his situation it self actually made it terrifying. Also, the other things we see in the opening such as the ghost town, overgrown graveyard, unknown creatures lurking around, and a masked villain. These are kind of typical things you would see in a horror film along with the tension and anxiousness of the actors being portrayed. The opening sequence definitely did a great job establishing that feeling of horror for viewers. 

P.S. This is the website I used... Art of the Title

Thanks for reading!,  

- Mariajose :)