Textual analysisHalloween

Halloween• The first title slide to be shown is the production company’s logo in orange. This

colour reinforces the setting of ‘Halloween’, as pumpkins and autumn leaves are orange. The typeface also matches the film’s logo. The fact that it is set during autumn/Halloween adds to the convention of a horror film.

• The producer’s name is the second title slide to be shown in this film opening. Again, the font and colour are the same as the film’s logo, adding to the continuity of the already established colour and typeface.

• Interestingly, before we even see what the film is called, we see the name of one of the actors in the film. This unconventional approach could signify that this actor is well-known and accredited, and (if this actor is already known to the audience) it also allows somewhat of an instant judgement of the acting quality in this film. Again, the typeface and colour is orange, continuing the continuity.

• The film’s name and logo is the next to appear. The stand-alone image of a pumpkin reinforces the convention of a horror film set at Halloween.

• The writer and director is credited above the film’s name, again allowing those who are familiar with his work to give a pre-judgement of the quality of this film, before even seeing it.

• After establishing who produced/wrote the film and what it’s title is, the continued list of actors staring in this film are show. What is rather unconventional, but not rare, is the fact that both the actor and their character names are shown. Usually, just the name of the actor is shown.

• This continues to fit in with the orange theme, adding to the continuity, and the striking image of a stand-alone pumpkin is still present. This pumpkin keeps getting larger as the opening carries on and more actors names are shown, until finally, the pumpkin fades away, and around the 2 minute mark, the setting is established.