Title Research: The Reaping

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

Throughout the opening sequence of the film, "The Reaping," a total of 23 titles appear. This titles portray the actors names, such as Hillary Swank, the major film studio, Warner Bros, and other subsidiaries, such as Dark Castle Entertainment.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The images that are prioritized in the opening sequence are very vague and confusing. For example things like leaves, pepper, salt, and frog legs were all shown. Although, these images are very vague they may mean something later on in the plot of the story.

What connotations do the images carry?

 The images that appear in the opening sequence of the movie, have a very mysterious and vague connotation. As mentioned, tiny objects like pepper, salt, leaves, and frog legs were shown, instead of your more traditional images. However, they still accomplished the same goal of establishing a mysterious and vague connotation.

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

Thriller is a genre of fiction, having numerous, often overlapping sub genres. Thrillers are characterized and defined by the moods they elicit, giving viewers heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. Conventions of thriller include suspenseful scenes, dynamic points of view, loud sound effects, and sharp edits (such as jumpcuts). The Reaping does not follow these conventions and codes precisely. To begin with, The Reaping uses mysterious objects such as salt, pepper, frog legs and leaves to establish a mysterious tone, rather than a suspenseful one. In addition, dynamic points of view are introduced between the objects rather than a protagonist/antagonist. Overall, the films decision to not follow the conventions of the thriller genre still accomplishes the same objectives, such as heightening the audiences emotions.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The opening sequence is able to establish an enigma from the very beginning when strange objects such as leaves, salt, pepper, and frog legs are shown. This mysterious objects may hint at the events in the plot that are come, however the audience is uncertain. The combination of the strange objects and not revealing details of the plot the opening sequence all contribute to establishing an enigma.

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

"The Reaping," is the first and only movie regarding the stories plot, suggesting that audiences may have not been familiar with the movie when it premiered in the box office. However, the untraditional elements used in the opening sequence suggests that thriller and horror fans alike may enjoy this movie. The opening sequence shifted from the colors black/red in a repeating fashion, and introduced strange objects such as salt, pepper, frog legs, and leaves. This created a mysterious and vague connotation to the opening sequence, exciting the audience as they are kept in the dark regarding the plot. Combined with the music, editing, and mis-en-scene, the movie The Reaping is able to ensure the film attracts its targeted audience.

How has technology been used effectively?

Technology has been used effectively through the development of an interesting sound track that provokes audiences emotions. Throughout the opening sequence, the song is played establishing a creepy and eerie tone. Another important aspect of how technology was used effectively, is the editing techniques used. The fade ins/outs from black to red contribute to the opening sequences already mysterious and vague tone. Finally, the use of camera angles, movements, and shots were a way technology was used effectively. Although the prioritized images weren't exactly revealing about the plot, low angles are mostly used to show the mysterious items. Overall, although this movie choose not to follow the conventions and codes of a thriller movie, it may prove very useful if I choose not to use them as well.