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Opening Sequence Opening Sequence Analysis – Analysis – Sweeney ToddSweeney Todd

Directed By Tim BurtonDirected By Tim Burton

The Opening title sequence to Sweeney Todd immediately gives the audience an insight into the films main theme of blood.

It is cleverly made and uniquely directed by Tim Burton who is widely known for his quirky edge. He and the title designer Richard Morrison immediately set the tone of the film as the horror/thriller that it is, shown in the animated blood and the crescendo of dramatic music.

The camera follows a dripping trail of blood from Sweeney Todd's chair, down to the basement where the pies are made and into the sewer, in one very long framed shot.

In my opinion, this is one of the more well-made opening sequences to a horror/thriller, as it experiments with a range of shots and editing techniques.

OverviewOverview

The introduction of the running blood The introduction of the running blood and dark lighting immediately and dark lighting immediately enforces the horror genr, due to the enforces the horror genr, due to the connotations of murder. This is one of connotations of murder. This is one of the main themes in the film and the the main themes in the film and the audience is made aware of this, audience is made aware of this, achieving the aims of an opening achieving the aims of an opening sequence.sequence.

The opening sequence is cartoon like The opening sequence is cartoon like which gives it a less serious tone, which gives it a less serious tone, fitting with the musical element of the fitting with the musical element of the film.film.

We also see Victorian pictures We also see Victorian pictures covered in blood which introduces the covered in blood which introduces the era of the film and another element of era of the film and another element of the genre.the genre.

The title of the film also highlights the The title of the film also highlights the horror genre as blood falls through horror genre as blood falls through trap door to form the title.trap door to form the title.

Because of these horror elements, it Because of these horror elements, it Is likely to be aimed at a target Is likely to be aimed at a target audience of young adults.audience of young adults.

The editing uses jump cuts and The editing uses jump cuts and sudden movement which shocks the sudden movement which shocks the audience, putting them on edge, and audience, putting them on edge, and enforcing the thriller genre.enforcing the thriller genre.

GenreGenre

The institutions that were The institutions that were involved in Sweeney Todd are involved in Sweeney Todd are widely known companies, widely known companies, which is something I have which is something I have found for the last two title found for the last two title sequences I have looked at.sequences I have looked at.

This shows that if I am to base This shows that if I am to base my final piece on a my final piece on a horror/thriller, it is most likely horror/thriller, it is most likely to be produced by a big to be produced by a big company.company.

InstitutionsInstitutions

Narrative Enigma Narrative Enigma through Mise en scenethrough Mise en scene

• The opening sequence clearly links to the events of the film through the shots of blood, meat and pies. This allows narrative enigma because the audience is aware of who Sweeney Todd is and the significance of the pies.

• This creates a more chilling atmosphere for the audience and creating the desired effect for a horror/thriller.

• In the beginning of the title sequence it begins to rain, but these droplets then turn into red blood droplets, connoting death and violence.

• We also see Victorian pictures in the mise en scene that are covered in blood which introduces the era of the film and another element of the genre of period.

Themes and Themes and TypographyTypography

• The title designer Richard Morrison explores the theme of blood and the horror genre in his typography through the red writing that is formed from falling blood.

• Sweeney Todd is highlighted in this red writing compared to the other white writing. This reflects how he is the guilty character and this makes the audience immediately cautious of him.

• The white writing has a Victorian style, fitting with the films era.

• The colours chosen in the opening sequence are dark and dimly lit, creating the mood and atmosphere fit for a thriller/horror.

The non-diegetic Victorian style music begins fast paced but The non-diegetic Victorian style music begins fast paced but quietly and as the camera pans to Sweeney Todd’s barbers it quietly and as the camera pans to Sweeney Todd’s barbers it build to a crescendo as more instruments are added. This build to a crescendo as more instruments are added. This warns the audience of a danger associated with this place, warns the audience of a danger associated with this place, then reinforced by the splashes of blood against the window.then reinforced by the splashes of blood against the window.

As the blood enters the frame a high pitched sound begins on As the blood enters the frame a high pitched sound begins on the track, making the effect on the audience more intense. the track, making the effect on the audience more intense.

As the meat is being turned into pies the music begins to As the meat is being turned into pies the music begins to become much faster paced, informing the reader of the dark become much faster paced, informing the reader of the dark horror associated with those pies.horror associated with those pies.

Music by Stephen Music by Stephen SondheimSondheim

EditingEditingThe first 40 seconds of the clip appears to all be one continuous shot as the camera follows the trail of blood into the sewer. This then fades into a black shot and then the screen is filled with fire. All of these elements being on screen constantly makes the audience feel on edge and in suspense as though they cannot get away from the connotations of death. This fits with the horror genre well and adds excitement for the audience. Special effects have been used, especially on the blood moving through the pipes, as this would be unable to happen naturally.As the pace of the music quickens, so does the speed of the frames, and there are more jump cuts, such as the door suddenly shutting and making a bang. This creates suspense and tension for the reader, creating the horror/thriller genre.

The high angle shot used on The high angle shot used on the barber’s chair highlights the barber’s chair highlights its importance in the story, its importance in the story, as this is where most of the as this is where most of the murders take place.murders take place.

There are many close-ups There are many close-ups used in the continuous pan used in the continuous pan in the opening sequence, in the opening sequence, which highlight the mise en which highlight the mise en scene such as blood.scene such as blood.

Close-ups are effective at Close-ups are effective at adding tension and adding to adding tension and adding to the horror genre, as the the horror genre, as the audience is limited to what audience is limited to what they are seeing, making they are seeing, making them cautious.them cautious.

Camera WorkCamera Work

The opening sequence is unlike others from the The opening sequence is unlike others from the horror genre as it waits before anything scary such as horror genre as it waits before anything scary such as a murder happens or any characters are introduced.a murder happens or any characters are introduced.

This adds a sense of mystery about the killer, making This adds a sense of mystery about the killer, making the film more appealing and tense for an audience.the film more appealing and tense for an audience.

This makes the audience focus on the main themes of This makes the audience focus on the main themes of the film and the horror genre, and have to wait to the film and the horror genre, and have to wait to learn more about the alleged killer.learn more about the alleged killer.

CharactersCharacters

The titles do not move or fly onto the screen they simply fade in and fade out. The speed at which the titles appear on the screen increases as it progresses and the position of the titles depends on the importance. For example Tim Burton’s credit appears in the centre of the screen whilst less important people, like the Director Of Photography Dariusz Wolski, appears to the left of the screen. 

I believe watching and analysing this opening sequence has helped me understand what I need to include in mine because I now have a better knowledge of what credits to include to make mine more authentic and believable.

CreditsCredits

This title sequence is effective at using a range of This title sequence is effective at using a range of camera shots and movement similar to those I plan to camera shots and movement similar to those I plan to use in my final piece.use in my final piece.

The Tim Burton animation style is a key feature in this The Tim Burton animation style is a key feature in this opening sequence, however with the resources I have opening sequence, however with the resources I have access to I will mainly use camera work and editing access to I will mainly use camera work and editing effects.effects.

The use of building suspense by not introducing The use of building suspense by not introducing characters until later on in the sequence is effective, characters until later on in the sequence is effective, and I will use something similar in my own.and I will use something similar in my own.

The soundtrack used in this sequence is also effective The soundtrack used in this sequence is also effective at creating tension and adding suspense, due to the at creating tension and adding suspense, due to the crescendo. To achieve the thriller genre in my own crescendo. To achieve the thriller genre in my own sequence I will build the instruments to form a sequence I will build the instruments to form a crescendo similarly to this.crescendo similarly to this.

My Final PieceMy Final Piece