SLEEPY HOLLOW

The music we are introduced to is a foreboding and compelling sound with a combination of deep angelic voices and soprano choir, accompanied by a powerful string orchestra. Danny Elfman is one of my favourite composers, his music is distinctive and captivating and I would most defiantly consider this soundtrack whilst searching for/creating my own.



I like the idea of simple opening credits. These credits appear on a black background with smoky white text. Simple but effective, combined with the eerie music this is a subtle way of creating tension



Symbolism is effective during the opening of a film as the subtle details foreshadow the themes of the film and give indication as to what to expect. Here for instance the technique of wax sealing represents blood whilst providing expository detail as wax sealing would have more likely been used by upper class people in the early 1900's

Letters and photographs are typical features of the Thriller convention. This shot creates tension; the character Peter Van Garret, for the moment is a name without a face, this is an enigmatic technique and creates suspense. Furthermore the parchment and calligraphy give further indication to the time period the film is set in

I like this shot as it displays a sense of comfort. Here the viewer presumes some kind of jeopardy within their relationship as they cling to each other for a sense of security. This deems these two characters as vulnerable and indicates trouble in their lives and perhaps foreshadows depature/separation

There are aspects of this image I like; the head protruding from the carriage foreshadows decapitation (decapitation being the form of the infamous murderous rampage) However personally I'm not too keen on the concept of jumping straight into the chaos. The gore begins a mere 3 minutes into the film. I prefer the rise of tension/build up to the action; for example in Cape Fear we are provided with hints of violence and death, a rise and fall of tension. I find this method more compelling and thought-provoking, therefore am more likely to apply it to my own work

This shot stood out to me as the camera angle is extremely successful in evoking/thrilling the viewer. At this point a man is fleeing through a corn field in terror, this shot is from the man's point of view, which puts the viewer in the midst of the action and panic

The pumpkin is a symbol of Halloween/terror. Here the pumpkin is used as a scarecrow which serves as a warning. Pathetic fallacy is key within the opening title sequence of Sleepy Hollow; dark, lightning, it's foggy (suggesting secrecy/concealed truth) Pathetic fallacy is a key concept of the thriller convention; a necessity, as it helps to sustain the foreboding ambience