This opening sequence uses various film techniques and symbolic representations to establish characters and set the dark, mysterious tone of a psychological horror film. Shots of an isolated house introduce themes of secrecy and isolation. Reflections, lines, and circles symbolize feelings of being trapped. Lighting, colors, and camera angles are used to denote good/evil. Foreshadowing clues about the characters and their relationships are provided. Intertextual references to other psychological horror films develop genre conventions. The sequence ends with a shot symbolic of the characters' twisted states of mind and engulfed in darkness, with only the flickering of fire representing Hell. Overall, the sequence sets the scene and tone for revelations about demonic influences and religious beliefs driving

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?

2. This Establishing Shot delineates the setting and environment of the film due to the house
presented in the middle of the shot. The shot communicates the isolation of the house and thus
denotes aspects the characters themselves as they are separate from society. The time period is
also shown due to the old fashioned style. The frame is portrayed behind tree branches in order to
connote someone hiding or the characters themselves having something to hide as the conventions
of a psychological horror includes lines in which are used to symbolize this. The diagonal lines of the
branches also have a connotation, this being that something is off kilter and not quite right. These
symbolic representations illuminates a secret and thus creates a sense of mystery for the target
audience and lures them into watching the film. Pathetic Fallacy is another convention of the genre
and the dark lighting of the frame; developing this as black contains connotations of mystery and
death, and the gloomy atmosphere has further connotations of the upcoming storyline and
foreshadowing the deaths that are yet to come. The text within the shot is placed in the center in
order for it to be clear as this is the first title that is to appear; demonstrating a convention of an
opening sequence as the production company etc. is always shown first. However, the text is placed
lower down in order for the text not to cancel out anything within the shot. The font of the title was
called “the typing of a maniac” and was chosen as it appears similar to a child’s writing with a
crayon; representing the importance of children within the film. This is also illuminated through the
colour of white used for the title as this has connotations of innocents and purity.

3. Another shot we did was a Superimposition shot demonstrating the bars of the gate and an image of
the children’s father. Lines within psychological horrors do not only represent the feel of someone
hiding but also connotes the feeling of being trapped to the audience as the gate is a reminder of bars
used in a prison cell. This also delineates how the characters, specifically the protagonist feels as they
were responsible for the fathers death and have little control of their actions. The black colour of the
bars adds to this as it symbolizes that it is something dark that is the cause of the character being
trapped. This contrasts the picture of the father as he is wearing white whihcb has connotations of
innocents. The image of the father also shows a flickering light effect which demonstrates the colour
of orange and the idea of fire which both have connotations of death and hell. Hell has a large
involvement within our plotline as later in the film the audience discover that the little girl is
possessed and her exorcism occurs at the end of the film. Therefore the idea of the devil and hell is
very significant in our film and is clearly delineated within this shot and is a subliminal clue to the
psychological aspect of the film. The flickering light effect used also communicates intertextuality of
‘The Others’ as within their opening sequence they use this effect of show images from a story book;
showing the importance of the children, and is also used to delineate the idea of death as the end of
the psychological horror demonstrates that the protagonists are in fact dead themselves. We decided
to make this media reference as the film had a large influence upon ours and also to stay with the
conventions of the genre. The weather presented in the shot is another example of Pathetic Fallacy as
it is raining which symbolizes danger and fear.

4. This shot is another Establishing Shot of the house and communicates a further isolation as the
house is presented once again. The house is presented as much as possible in order to
demonstrate the importance of those living inside. Despite the isolation we aimed to
communicate a normal old fashioned family setting with a house and a children’s play area,
however this is shot to create a sinister atmosphere and was chosen in order to make the setting
more relatable for the target audience and to denote how the events in which occur within the
film could happen to any normal family. The frame shows various lines and chains in which
further communicates the feeling of being trapped to the audience. As this is a shot showing the
children’s play area this also delineates the significance of the children and their involvement in
the matter. The shot also delineates a tyre and thus demonstrates a circle which is another
convention of our genre as circle are used to symbolize what goes around comes around and the
never ending circle of events. The chain delineates various circles linked together which was
shown to symbolize how everything is linked together and there is no way out; linking towards
the idea of being trapped which is represented by the lines. The font presented is another
convention of an opening sequence as it is the production company that is one of the first things
shown.

5. Another frame we did was a long low angle shot delineating the child in the tree house. This was the
first presentation of the protagonist; as the title appears. The font used for this denotes crosses through
the two t’s, showing alliteration. This symbolizes the importance of religion within the film and
demonstrates the characters within the family being very religious. The position of the title is situated in
the center of the frame in order to communicate its importance and the significance of the character of
the twin herself. A full stop is also demonstrated in the title. This was to symbolize how she ends
characters lives and how in the conclusion of the film her life also ends; it is a symbolic representation
of foreshadowing the end of the film and how it will be the end of her. The cross within the full stop
however symbolizes how although it is the end of her it is not the end of the story or the doll as she is
what possesses the child. Within the film, both twins are presented as main characters however the
title of ‘The Twin’ shows how the focus is only on one of them.
The position of the twin is placed directly under the title as she is engulfed and surrounded by
darkness, symbolizing the bad things she has done. This contrasts the protagonists appearance as she is
wearing a white dress and has blonde hair, which is seen to be pure and innocent. The girl is also giving
the audience direct address in order to further connect with the audience and show how the events
that occur in the film could also happen to them.
Having the title being situated within the middle of the sequence is another convention of an opening
sequence as this was done in the majority of past opening sequences in which we looked upon.

6. This shot is a mid shot and presents the character of the twin who is situated in the middle. The
shot delineates the twins reflection as she is supposedly mourning her fathers death. Reflections
is another convention of the psychological horror genre and is used to symbolize a split
personality in which further shows the girls involvement in the deaths and is also another
subliminal clue as to who the murderer is. The reflection of the twin presents a darker lighting
which contrasts to the actual setting. Using light and dark to symbolize good and evil is another
convention of the genre and as the reflection shows a darker lighting it symbolizes how she has
another darker side to her characterisation. The pond itself was a full circle and as her reflection
is positioned in the middle of this it further connotes her being trapped in the never ending circle
of events and how she has no way out. Another convention is also shown as this shot continues
as the camera pans up. Once this happens the audience sees her sad facial expressions as she is
‘mourning’ her father. This lures in the target audience as the twin appears to be in a conflicting
state; they are left to decide for themselves whether the character is sad because of her fathers
death or because she is at fault.
This shot is also presented closer to the house and is beginning to give an insight of the
characters lifestyle and the characters themselves and to the audience as the twins character has
been established. Throughout our opening sequence we vary from using the shots of the setting
for creating a sinister atmosphere and mood to establishing further aspects of the character.

7. This frame is a long high angle shot. This shot is a further insight to the characters as more are
shown within the frame. The other twin is presented and is positioned next to her mother who is
dressed in all black as she is mourning her husbands death. The lighting used presents the two
characters placed in the light which symbolizes the goodness of them and their innocents. The
other twin however is situated in the dark in which further connotes her guilty conscience. As she
is separate from the other characters the far proxemics of the characters show how she does not
have a close relationship with her mother or her sister which links towards her actions as this is
what she wishes to gain. The chain above the chandelier is coiled by a twisted line which
challenges the conventions of the genre as normally only straight lines are used; adding towards
the twisted connotations and representing the girls current state of mind.
There is another subliminal clue to the murderer in this shot as the shadowed image on the
newspaper in which delineates the mystery of the killer reflects the angle and position of the girl;
further connoting her split personality and responsibility for the death. All circles, lines and
reflection references within the shot communicates the danger in the room and contributes to
the dark atmosphere.
The use of the newspaper in this shot adds further realism to the story as many murder incidents
are published in newspapers which thus makes this more relatable to the target audience.

8. This is a long POV (point of view), high angle shot. This shot gives the audience a further insight
to the protagonist of the film as the entire shot is done in her point of view. This was done not
only to involve the audience as they see the scene from the girls eyes but also to add a sense of
mystery to the atmosphere. Through this shot a new convention of a psychological horror is
delineated as the floor shows patterns. Patterns connote the repetition of events and the
characters current state of mind. Within the frame more lines are also present which allows the
audience to acknowledge the characters trapped psychological state. Seeing the house empty
through the characters point of view also allows the audience to visually see the characters
isolation from other characters and how she doesn’t have close relationships with them. The
position of the two chairs is another foreshadowing aspect as only two characters appear to
survive at the end of the film; luring in the target audience further as they aim to know which
characters this will be. This shot is another media reference to ‘The Others’ as various banister
shots were used within the film.
The colours portrayed within the frame also were used to represent the current feelings,
emotions and mood of the opening sequence. This includes the blue furniture as blue connotes
sadness, the black banister bars as black connotes death and mystery and the red within the floor
tiles as this connotes blood and hell.

9. This shot was delineated towards the end of our opening sequence. Having the director
situated at the end of the sequence is a convention of an opening sequence and is done in
all opening sequences that we analysed and that influenced ours. The director was normally
placed towards the end of the sequence in order to communicate their importance and
significance.
The frame itself portrays a Superimposition of a newspaper article showing the case of their
fathers ‘suicide’ and an image of the house. This image of the house is another POV shot of
the girl as she is up in the tree house; communicating the importance of the innocents of
children and thus further symbolizes her involvement in his death. The nature shown
behind the newspaper adds to the realism of the sequence as suicide and death are daily
occurences and the setting placed behind is an image of a normal family home and thus has
a higher relation to the current audience. The frame also delineates the various lines of the
tree branches and from the tree house in which further denotes the off kilter and trapped
connotations.

10. The final shot is a mid shot of both of the twins. The frame delineates the connotation of
reflections and the symbolism of a split personality. Having them both portrayed in the mirror
also illuminates their importance in the film as they are in the center of the shot. Both of the girls
are views from an over the shoulder shot in which is a new psychological genre convention and
symbolizes the characters having something to hide in which links towards the secret that is
between them.
The twin shown on the left is the innocent one and has been forced into secrecy however is
situated in the dark due to her agreement of the keeping the events that have occured to herself.
This is represented through her holding the candle closer to her as there is more light presented
on her character to connote her innocents. The plats of the twins are also presented in the shot.
This is a symbolic representation of the twisted and confused state of mind of the protagonist.
The only colour shown in this shot is the flickering colours from the candle and the darkness of
the room. This symbolizes how the characters are trapped and engulfed in darkness and the
flickering fire effect give the impression of Hell. Hell is very important in our sequence as the
characters have a strict catholic religious belief and the reason behind the characters actions is
demonic and therefore communicates the importance of the devil in our plot.