Vertigo Title Opening

Vertigo Title Opening:

1) What clues does the sequence give you about the film? (micro+macro)

The title sequence starts with a close up of a woman. She looks scared and this carries the stereotype that the woman is vulnerable. By showing a shot of her, it also gives of the attitude that she will be involved in this movie. The colour red usually appears a lot throughout the sequence giving a sense of danger to the film.

There is then a close-up of the eye and this represents fear and confusion by continually twitching from side to side. The text Vertigo then appears out of the eye and at the point the music suddenly becomes loud and reaches its climax.

There are then a series of shapes which start off small and far away which creates the illusion that the viewer is at a high angle (linking in with the theme of the film). The shapes gradually spiral closer towards you. Making the viewer feel as if they are getting a sense of Vertigo and falling into the shape, like falling towards the ground.

Throughout the opening titles, the sound is very tense and dramatic. This is done by using various instruments, namely strings and synth. These create the forbidding atmosphere.

2) How does it conform to conventions of thrillers?

One way it conforms is that it uses the idea of the 'Achilles Heel', which is that the main character has a weakness of some description and this will disadvantage them throughout the film. In this film, it is clear that the main character will be scared of heights of have a case of Vertigo.

Also in the opening of Vertigo, the convention of having the female character objectified is strong. She is shown as being tense and nervous, even scared. This shows that she is most likely going to be the vulnerable victim throughout the duration of the film.