Textual Analysis of the Opening Title Sequence from the film, 'Sleuth'

The film, 'Sleuth' is in the murder mystery genre. This is shown through the choice of images, typography, cuts and the background music used.

There are few images used in the opening title sequence, however, the ones that are used are bold. It starts with a black screen with the sound of type writing (we can assume that this would be diegetic sound), then small, thin white writing appears in the corner. This would connote that the it is quite emotionless film, the characters are cold hearted and there is not a lot in there life anymore. This relates the murder mystery genre, as the opening titles would symbolise the murder.

The next image is in a dark room with the silhouette of a man staring at a computer screen with surveillance recordings on the screen. At this point, the non - diegetic, background music starts. The music is quite a sad orchestral sound. This, again, could connote the emptiness of the characters life; he is spending his life in a dark room watching surveillance footage of, what we assume is his house, which appears to be very grand. This can relate to the murder mystery genre because, the character may have killed in revenge, of a previous incident, which has left their life empty.

The cuts used are very slow and soft transitions. This could also relate the the character in the film, connoting the emptiness in his life.