2. Score
The score in the opening 2 minutes of
“The Haunting” consists of mainly a
narrator speaking. The narrator tells us
the legends of “Hill House,” and we
immediately are made aware that it is a
house that was “born bad”. The music
in the background, however, starts
quietly, mysteriously, and when we see
the horses and carriage it becomes
quite menacing. When the horses rear
up in a panic the music becomes
quite erratic, and merges in with what is happening on screen very well. The
music is ever present through out the opening 2 minutes, carrying along with it
its eerie feel. Whenever something shocking happens on the screen as the
narrator’s legends are visualised, the music becomes erratic again and fits in
with what is happening. For example, when the woman falls down the stairs from
the presence of a ghost, the music fits the even well.
3. This point of view
shot is from when Point of
the horses panic and view shot
fall to the effective in
ground, and seems showing the
to be in the point of horse has
view of the horses. fallen down.
Very
Glum sky, bland dark, connotin
setting in g that this film
contrast with the is full of dark
house itself. secrets and
happenings.
4. The house is very poorly lit, We are made aware in the opening
emphasizing its dark nature 2 minutes, that there is a ghostly
presence in the house, as we see
this door opening seemingly by
itself.
5. Summary
The opening 2 minutes to the film are very
revealing, and the main plot of the film is told
straight to us by the narrator – About “Hill
House,” a house that was “born bad.”
It consists of legends being visualised, and a
ghostly presence influencing bad happenings
and deaths.
There is no production splash or opening
credits shown in the opening 2 minutes of the
film.
