ART OF THE TITLE - THE CONJURING 2

The title sequence has smooth, faded cuts with varied angles and the lighting is mainly black and white with colours being brought in but they are have an old-fashioned tint. The first shot is a pan of a   cassette player which sets out for a film setting of the late 1970's and the characters clothing matched the expectation of that era. The plain black background with simple white text helps to build up tension and gives the audience the feeling that something sinister may be about to happen. There are no vibrant colours, only faded reds and black and white which sets a dark scene.

The next revealing shot we see is of a family named 'The Hodgsons' The audience get a clue that this may be the family which the film is based on. This is shown in a still, each picture has a white background which suggests it could be taken from a polaroid or an old camera. The next family that is shown in a still is 'The Warrens' which again suggests that the actors in the film will also be portraying these characters. This gives context to the film and reels in the audience as they are intrigued as to the meaning behind these people and why they are portrayed In such a sinister manner. 

Next there is a shot taken of a street; it looks abandoned, miserable and a place of poverty which depicts the family that was previously shown as not having much money. This causes the audience to wonder why they deserve such a sinister fate as suggested by the washed out filter and creepy music. Then, we see a close up of the unloved street which is generically named 'green street'.

We see a birds eye view shot of the back garden of a house, it looks cramped and a host to a family struggling to make ends meet. The continuation of the washed out grey colouring continues a melancholy theme which makes the audience feel sympathy for the family. 

The different shots that continue suggest that they will relate to key events in the film later, the transition between each picture becomes more sudden and includes flashing and going in and out of focus (focus pull). As if someone is manually changing the pictures and it is being displayed on a projector screen. 

The religious crosses shown in two of the pictures portrayed in a full shot gives the audience a clue that bad spirits will be present in the film or 'ghosts' who have not passed over and will haunt over the poor, vulnerable family. As the sinister music and audible groans from one of the antagonist characters being possessed, as the music begins to rise we see what resembles a nun in a close up shot which would frighten the audience in the form of a jump scare. The old fashioned late 1970's theme is kept up throughout the opening and is not modernised. Even when the official actors are introduced.

The uncleanliness of the house shown in the photos throughout and the destroyed bed in a wide shot towards the end creates a breeding ground for a house of horror. The gradual rise of each shot getting more and more frightening prepares the audience for the paranormal events to come.

My personal opinion on the opening is that it's very compelling in getting the audience to feel intrigued about the paranormal tragedy that is about to happen as it is not made clear what the pictures relate to until after you have watched the films which makes the audience wish for an answer.