Opening Title Analysis - The Woman in Black

Opening Title Analysis - The Woman in Black

At first all you see is an extreme close up on some toy dolls that are being played with what appears to be little girls. This is also paired with some really eerie music that gives it that creepy edge.Then the camera switches to a long shot that lasts for 5 seconds, giving us a glimpse of three young girls sitting together on the floor in a bedroom. The shot is then quickly changed back to an extreme close up of the dolls again.

The camera then switches to a close up of two of the girls who seem to be smiling towards the third girl which then cues the camera to switch to a close up of the third girl. Suddenly the camera goes back to a long shot however this time the angle is coming from towards the door and as this happens, all three girls turn towards that angle. They hold the stare for about 5 seconds and it looks like they're listening to someone but then they all turn their heads towards their left.

The camera then switches to a zooming in shot of the window, making it the point of interest for this shot and also giving the audience an idea of what is about to happen.

All three girls rise off the floor together and then the camera shows an extreme close up of one of the girl's hands dropping one of the toy cups. Then as they walk the editing cut pace speeds a little bit and shows extreme closeups of the girls treading on the teapot, breaking it and on one of the dolls heads, breaking it and there is some faint diegetic sound that links with that.

The camera then shows a mid shot of all three girls walking towards the camera (also the window). This shot enables the audience to see the blank facial expressions on the girls therefore making the audience nervous.

The girls simultaneously open the three windows and step onto the ledge. As they step onto the ledge the non diegetic sound is faded out and as they jump a louder, harsher sound is played, making the audience feel scared. The non diegetic sound is then faded out for half a second before you hear the non diegetic screaming of what audience members can assume is their mum. As you hear the scream, the camera quickly cuts to an extreme close up shot of the doll that was broken however it is now back together......

We then see a long shot of the bedroom and as the camera is zooming out, you can see a glimpse of a women whose head is covered by a black veil in the right side of the shot.

This opening sequence obviously holds an important event which instantly gains the viewers attention and makes them want to watch on.