Title Research: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

Twenty nine. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

There are no specific images per se, there are more graphics than images. For the first minute and a half, it is primarily a black screen with red, dripping details. Some of the details look like grass or a forest. In the last 40 seconds, there are faces made out of the red detail and well as a clearer forest view. 

What connotations do the images carry? 

The abundance of grass and trees shows the viewers that the movie may take place in a forest or that forests play a large role in the film. 

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

The genre is enforced through codes through the use of color, sound, and imagery. The opening title with the name of the film has creepy, suspenseful music, but the rest of the sequence has a calm, pop-sounding but still menacing song. The colors are solely black red, colors always used in horror movies. The font also reflects horror technical codes by being in all capitals and "scary" font. The graphics are creepy, and dripping with blood. 

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

By showing characteristics of a forest, the viewers are lead to ask certain questions: What importance does the forest have? Is the movie set in the forest or a graveyard? What are the characters' connections? 

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

The menacing music entices people. The forestry theme prompts the audience to question things, making them want to watch more. The use of "scary" and "dark" implies that the movie will in fact be scary and dark, pulling people in. 

How has technology been used effectively? You want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

The transitions are fade and dissolves. The titles dissolve into one another, one name transforming into another. The graphics are the most important part, again with the forestry and blood dripping details.