Aliens: Analyzing the opening titles.

The opening title of Alien is used to set the mood and atmosphere for the audience, to keep them captivated for the rest of the film. The title sequence is very simple nothing dramatic happens visually. However there is a gradual showing of the title throughout. At the beginning of the titles the frame is very empty and dark. Nothing is shown apart from the name. The darkness and emptiness of the first frame could suggest that at the beginning of the film not much is given away, and then gradually throughout the film more and more is given to you, so you can piece things together. This is again shown within the opening titles as gradually the title is show through the progression of the frames. The use of non diagetic sound which covers the titles creates an eerie atmosphere, which adds to the mystery and subtlety of the rest of the movie. The non diagetic sounds also brings the audience into the atmosphere of the film and sets the mood for the rest of the film. The opening titles also connect to the genre of the film. The feeling of the unknown is a recurring theme within all sci-fi films and is very predominant within this film. This is suggested from the gradual showing of the title and the dark mysterious colours and music. Again the use of the aluminous blue colours connotate the underlying theme of the supernatural within the film, this is also reinforced through the title of the film ‘Aliens’.