AS Media "American Horror Story: Murder House" Title Sequence Deconstruction

Deconstruction Of "American Horror Story: Murder House" Title Sequence

Brief

The opening credits I will be deconstructing is from series one of the popular TV programme "American Horror Story". Season one is titled "Murder House" and its title sequence can be watched below:

Genre

As presented in the actual title, "American Horror Story" is a horror. Despite, the name, the opening credits use similar techniques to "SE7EN"'s title sequence which convey the genre of horror. This could be because the creator of the TV show's iconic opening credits, Kyle Cooper, also produced the opening scene for "SE7EN". Either way, both openings are incredible effective and successful at portraying horror through the use of:

• Eerie soundtrack/score.

• Flickering unsettling, relevant images.

• A recognisable, creepy font.

Here are some other reasons to justify the identification of this genre specifically in "American Horror Story: Murder House":

The use of old-fashioned photos similar to those taken of recently deceased children are repeatedly shown. The fact these are used as jump scares and to build tension makes it obvious that they are supposed to be scary, and so, are significant.When they appear on screen, some are edited to show the negative of the photo. This develops the creepiness of the photos and even makes it seem paranormal.

In supernatural and possession horrors, there usually are references to the gothic Victorian era through props like porcelain dolls, vintage nightdresses and old family portraits. This is commonly used alongside the possession of children by 'ghosts' and 'demons' of the haunting past family. A child's white Victorian nightdress is also shown supporting this, and the way it floats due to the slow paced editing adds eeriness due to the juxtaposition of fast cuts and this slow paced shot in the montage.

Above: Montage cuts including extreme close up shot of photo and slow paced close up of nightdress floating.

The use of children can also show the antagonist's obsession, as we can gather from the glimpses of the potential antagonist wielding a hedge trimmer, that the antagonist is not a child. Therefore, we query the reasoning and intentions behind all of the child clothes and images. Showing the antagonist has an immoral obsession or neglected childhood conforms to conventions of psychological horrors.

Above: High angle long shot.

However, some of the photos are of older ladies and perhaps, linking with the children, mothers. These are less blatant and almost seem tucked away. This is evident by one shown to be concealed behind jars. There also are a few shots of a smashed picture of an older lady. This 'hate crime' along with the intentional concealing of the motherly figures could support the antagonist's obsession with children. This idea is incredibly chilling and presents the character as having a complex motive. This is a common convention of psychological horrors.

This complex motive is also displayed in the medical tools and jars of anatomy. This suggests that the character is dissecting things for research and a plan for perhaps future murders. To connect the idea of mothers and their children, the medical equipment could suggest an abortion doctor.

The complicated and precise medical tools contrast to the brutal weapon of the hedge trimmer. The prop of bloody hedge trimmers conveys a very gruesome and inhumane method for murdering. This would usually be seen in 'slashers', where the killer is insensitive and carelessly violent.

However, the character with these trimmers appears and disappears in brief flashes. After the character vanishes, the hedge trimmers are shown to be bloody. This supernatural disappearance and addition of blood is unexplainable. As it is unexplainable, the character shown could be a convention of paranormal horrors that was conformed to by seeming not human.

Above: Zoomed in shot of the previous long shot above this screenshot.

The setting is an abandoned room or building, which we assume is the "Murder House". This choice of location is also predominantly used in horrors. "American Horror Story: Murder House", therefore, conforms to this convention. The strong implication that a murder will occur here allows us to further understand that the show is a horror.

Above: Long, establishing shots.

Production

We seem to initially be guided around the abandoned room. The room looks like some kind of basement due to props we usually expect to hide or store away, these range from: tools, photos, jars of anatomy, mannequins, boxes, broken cupboards and other items hidden under plastic sheets. The shots of this location are cold and dark. The low lighting makes it hard for the audience to determine what is hidden, creating a unsettling effect due to the ambiguity.

This is not helped with the tension of the flickering gore and vintage negative photos of deceased children. These flicker almost like when a TV screen glitches. As this is a TV show, the flickers add a sense of realism for the audience and increase the chilling suspense.

We follow the camera down through a hole with the use of a point of view shot, which again adds realism by making the audience feel like they are really there. This leaves us querying what is below. This suspense is broken by the almost jump scare of more frequent images.

The images appear to be in stark contrast to the cold room and uses warm colours to further catch us off guard. Later, it is shown that actually the images are being burned. Further suggesting the antagonist's complete lack of respect for people and property and perhaps even symbolising deaths.

Above: Extreme close up shot of photo.

As we are guided through we also see mannequins under cover and chains and tools hanging. As this is only a title sequence we are unsure of the significance of these props, which intrigues the viewer and develops their curiosity. We are fed specific props like the jars of anatomy, which allows us to understand the use of the tools and chains, to manipulate our theories and filtering them into the worst possible outcome like a brutal murder. When we see brief flashes of a faceless character appearing and disappearing with a bloody hedge trimmer, this evolves our suspicions, and consequently, plays with the audience's thoughts about the show, hence increasing their fears.

Post-production

The show uses an iconic soundtrack. The non diegetic sound is like a rhythmic radio feedback or 'pssh' sounds similar to whispering. These are very distinct and can change in volume or tempo with the more deeper, low digital bass sounds.

• At 00:00 - The non-diegetic sound begins muffled and is like a deep hum which fades in and out with the images of the room. This is interrupted by crackles of mechanical buzzing, which parallels the disruption and shock of the flashing images.

• At 00:28 - Louder buzz like white noise. This links to the flickering TV idea, where it uses a sound similar to an error with the TV and addresses the audience. This increases realism, and therefore, tension.

• At 00:38 - When the white Victorian nightdress is slowly falling, the music becomes quieter, more muffled and almost tranquil portraying a false sense of security, as it then becomes interrupted.

• At 00:45 - Crackle sounds breaks up the rhythm and then is introduced once more with the title "JESSICA LANGE". This absence of sound and then a loud crackle scares the audience. After this fairly climatic bit, there is a more prominent metronome sound. This louder and seemingly faster ticking noise plays with our trust. This is because it is like counting down to a next jump scare. Furthermore, the absence of the rhythmic 'pshh' sounds becomes just loud crackles instead, catching us off guard. This also makes the credits seem to come to a conclusion. A mechanical lawn mower sound plays until finally it ends with the title and silence.

Like the soundtrack, the font has now become distinct as "American Horror Story"'s font. Although, it was actually designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is identified as the font "Willow", used in his "Willow Tearooms".

The font is unusual and due to the dots and extra lines in characters, it reminded me of font used in 'tarot cards', 'ouija boards' and other designs used in paranormal things.

However, sometimes the usual font is disrupted as it looks like ink is spilling or when fire spreads through paper. This links with the burning images and can relate the actors' characters to death.