Typography and Production Companies

As with most films in all genres, films of the horror genre use specific styles of typography during the opening credits. The video below shows the opening title sequence from the 2004 horror movie Saw. Unlike in films of other genres such as action or comedy, title sequences in horror films usually are not super-imposed onto the visuals or moving sequences and are rather shown before the visuals of the opening sequence start, usually on a plain background.

• In this opening sequence for Saw, after the production company logo is shown on screen, the titles are shown on a plain black background. This lack of visuals accompanying the titles creates a more ominous feeling and doesn't draw the audiences attention to multiple things at the same time. 

• The titles themselves, which show the production company name, the director's name and the title of the film, are blue. This choice of colour is different to a colour which conforms more to the horror genre such as red or orange. The reason this blue was chosen was to match the main colour of the visual of the following part of the opening sequence. The production company 'Twisted Pictures' was chosen to distribute this film as they specialise in films of the horror genre and subsequently understand the audience and demographics that the film appeals to. 

 

• The titles also have a slight shadow effect which further conform them to the horror genre as it creates an eerie effect. Although it only creates a slight change to plain text, it adds eeriness to the sequence and is effective to the audience.

• The titles also distort slowly as if they are melting which, like the slight shadow, also adds an eerie and ominous effect and effectively conveys the supernatural horror genre through on-screen visual effects.