'Ghost Ship' Deconstruction- Typography and Sound

The opening sequence of 'Ghost Ship' begins with a display of the title of the film (right) in a calligraphic font, made to look hand written, in a pink colour as the shot tilts upwards from the sea to bring the ship into view. The fact that the title of the film is visually presented in a positive and vibrant manner contrasts greatly to the negative and bleak connotations and horror elements which the title of the film, 'Ghost Ship', holds. While the visual title of the film is displayed on-screen, a jolly and upbeat almost Christmas-like diegetic music plays in the background (later on in the sequence, the audience is made aware that this opening background music is being played by a mini orchestra on the ship accompanied by a female singer). Although this background music is parallel with the positive visual of the nicely-lit and inviting ship, where a formal party or similar festive event is taking place, it, like the vibrant typography, seems contrapuntal to the connotations that the title of the film holds.

Later in the sequence, the same typography is again displayed in the centre of the screen, displaying the names of various cast and crew members. This shot shows the ballroom of the Italian ship, or ocean liner, (the Antonia Graza) with the names of the producers of the film displayed in the centre of the shot. Part of the credits later on in the sequence, like this example, use different types/fonts of typography. Part of the credit uses the same calligraphic font as seen at the beginning of the sequence which is parallel to the formal and wealthy setting of the ocean liner. The typography in this shot is also slightly different as the text of "Produced by" is displayed in a computer typed font. The same diegetic sound continues to play with the band, along with the singer (singing Senza Fine) visible in the background. Both the music and the typography create a very relaxing and inviting atmosphere which is emphasised by the grand and formal setting of both the exterior and interior of the ship.

In the latter part of the sequence when the horrific and gruesome part of the scene takes place, many uses of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used. This scene takes place after the typography is finished being displayed on screen. The mysterious character pushes a lever in the Bridge of the ocean liner (the operating room of the ship) to unravel wires which will ultimately cause horrific fatalities of most on the outdoor deck of the ship. As the mysterious individual does this, the diegetic sound of the lever being pushed is emphasised which causes the audience to realise that this act will have negative outcomes. The diegetic sound of the wires unraveling as a result of the lever being pushed also emphasises the fact that something mysteriously unusual is being alluded to. The diegetic background music which continues to be played by the on-board band and singer is muffled and a high pitched non-diegetic drone is played over the background music. This high pitched drone is an audible technique commonly used in horror films to build tension of what is about to happen on-screen. This non-diegetic sound becomes the dominant sound over the background music which is parallel to the almost sinister visuals of the wires unraveling on-screen and draws the audience's attention to the unusual and sinister visuals of this part of the sequence. As the visuals of the wires and parts of the boat quickens to outline and emphasise the mysterious upcoming events, unnatural sped-up, non-diegetic sounds are used to accompany these quickened visuals to make the mysterious events and the anticipation the audience feels in those moments more effective.

Again, the non-diegetic high pitched droning sound is used to emphasise the anticipation and mystery of certain objects which come into view which are obviously key to the upcoming horrific events such as a lethal-looking long cable. As the wires/cables unravel at an increasing and alarming pace, the diegetic sounds of these are made louder to keep the audience's attention and anticipation and also to build suspense. These alarming diegetic sounds are parallel to the similarly alarming visuals of the wires unraveling at a frightening pace. The diegetic sound of the single horizontal wire as it sweeps the deck and cuts almost everyone on board in half (and subsequently kills them) is made the primary sound to accompany the primary visual. As the wire comes to an abrupt halt and a close-up shot reveals the blood it has collected, diegetic sound of the wire vibrating can be heard and creates an eerie audible effect which reverberates in a sinister fashion to connote a strong sense of horror. Other high pitched diegetic sounds such as the wires scraping and squeaking as they slowly scrape on metal in the otherwise strong silence adds to the eerie effect caught both audibly and visually within the scene. Emphasised diegetic sounds of the bodies of the passengers aboard the ship gruesomely falling to the ground can be heard along with a similar non-diegetic sinister drone. These sounds, especially when combined, create an ominous atmosphere and feeling within the scene which are parallel to the gruesome visuals of the sequence. Diegetic human sounds after the passengers have been lethally cut by the wire, such as gasping for air, also add to the creepy and eerie atmosphere of the scene. Lastly, the piercing diegetic sound of the scream of the little girl draws an end to the opening sequence in a very hostile and eerie manner to lead on to the main part of the film.

The opening sequence of 'Ghost Ship' can be viewed below