The Haunting Opening Deconstruction

THE HAUNTING OPENING 2 MINUTE DE-CONSTRUCTION

Score The score in the opening 2 minutes of “The Haunting” consists of mainly a narrator speaking. The narrator tells us the legends of “Hill House,” and we immediately are made aware that it is a house that was “born bad”. The music in the background, however, starts quietly, mysteriously, and when we see the horses and carriage it becomes quite menacing. When the horses rear up in a panic the music becomes

quite erratic, and merges in with what is happening on screen very well. The music is ever present through out the opening 2 minutes, carrying along with it its eerie feel. Whenever something shocking happens on the screen as the narrator’s legends are visualised, the music becomes erratic again and fits in with what is happening. For example, when the woman falls down the stairs from the presence of a ghost, the music fits the even well.

This point of view shot is from when the horses panic and fall to the ground, and seems to be in the point of view of the horses.

Glum sky, bland setting in contrast with the house itself.

Very dark, connoting that this film is full of dark secrets and happenings.

Point of view shot effective in showing the horse has fallen down.

The house is very poorly lit, emphasizing its dark nature

We are made aware in the opening 2 minutes, that there is a ghostly presence in the house, as we see this door opening seemingly by itself.

Summary

The opening 2 minutes to the film are very revealing, and the main plot of the film is told straight to us by the narrator – About “Hill House,” a house that was “born bad.”

It consists of legends being visualised, and a ghostly presence influencing bad happenings and deaths.

There is no production splash or opening credits shown in the opening 2 minutes of the film.