Analysis Of 9 Shots from Halloween Sequences

In my media group, we watched the title sequence of the the 1978 phsycological/horror film Halloween. As well as directing and writing the film, John Carpenter also did the opening title sequence so he can build up the atmoshpere.

It starts of with a musical score of a piano playing in low keys. The fact that it's played without any other instrument gives a sinister atmosphere from the start. Then a static title of the production company- Compass International pictures alongside it's logo underneath appears on a black background. The text is in capital letters in clear font. It's in a bright orange colour that glows to represent the lit pumpkin that come in later in the sequence.


After, the title of the producer Moustapha Akkard appears by itself in a bigger sized text. This emphasis it's importance of the producer. The sound of the piano playing plays into a much deeper key when the pumpkin appears on the screen to make it seen more dramitic while it's running it's titles.

Donald Pleasence name appears alongside the pumpkin to show he is one of the key actors as it is he's name which appears first out of the actors. This dissolves and then the title Halloween appears with the director's name on top of it in a much smaller size.


The fact the title of John Carpenters name appears on the screen the same time as the title of the film reinforces the importance of John Carpenter. The title of John Carpenter dissolves and straight after the title of the film dissolves, leaving the pumpkin by it's self for a few seconds. The title of another producers name- Debra Hill appears which follows more titles of actors and actress's names on the screen.

We are able to differentiate the actors importance by the Que of the actors name as well as the way it is written on the screen. The title of the actor John Carpenter doesn't follow with the rest of the actors names. As i wrote earlier, the title of the film is next as usually actors names are listed one after another. Also the title is written as 'Donald Pleasence in' whereas the other actors are written as 'Introducing Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie'.


From the point of the actors listed in the sequence, the camera zooms into the pumpkin slowly while titles are coming on the screen. This ends up with just the corner of the pumpkins 'eye' left on the screen while a repeat title appearance of Debra Hill and John Carpenters name.


Before John Carpenters name appears, the pumpkin's light stops as if someone blew the candle inside it which leaves just the title of the directors name on the screen.

It dissolves which then appears white text in a much smaller size on a black screen. The title is of the location of the film-Haddonfield,Illinois. This demonstrates to the audience that the film has now started through the change of colour in the text. The sound of the piano melody descends while a louder diegetic sound of children singing a Halloween song starts to play.

The next title appears, which is the title of the day the scene is which is Halloween night, 1963. The effect of titles to show the time and place of the film is a good effect as it gives awareness of a little information of the film before it has even started to play. Also the use of the diegetic sound of the children singing also gives the audience information of the scene of the film.

In addition, the opening sequence was very effective even though it didn't need any use of intricate programmes in order to make it. The opening credit of Halloween looked very easy to do as my media group can be able to make our opening sequence as effective as this. It built up suspense as well as awareness of the film before it even started. Which is why the opening sequence was so successful.