Detailed Analysis of The Shining

The Shining opening is assisted by a sombre toned deep trumpet sound, it is slow therefore immediately creating a tense atmosphere which contributes to the feelings of suspense in the clip. The sound is rather repititive and suggests it is leading to something, straight away arousing suspense through patience as we become eager to see what will happen.

The frame is filled with landscape of mountains and sea, as the camera slowly zooms in and pans the scene, the tall mountains share connotations of power and strength and help to create a sense of fear. More sea and sky is visible, it looks desolate and iscolated, and integrates a fear within the audiences perceptions as we are imagining what it would be like to be in similiar surroundings. Although it may suggest calm and relaxed feelings, the music and the slow paced camera movement undermines this making us feel tense and anxious.
The slow fade transition exposes an aerial shot of trees, a long road and a car. The car becomes the main focal point in the shot and this makes it seem as if it is a prey to the audience. We become eager to see where it goes, as our eyes follow the it. The fact that the yellow car is the only car on the road, immediately creates a sense of vulnerability and seems iscolated, therefore increase levels of suspense as the audience wonder in deep anticipation.

The fact that these surroundings seem deserted suggests it is not a place were people often go, implying some kind of warning. The camera zooms closer to the car, as it follows. The car goes down a long road, on the edge of a mountain, increasing anxiety levels. A high pitched bird like sound plays, with 'creepy' connotations, this immediately mixes with the frame and work together to form suspense. There are several roads in which the car follows down, it uses ellipsis cut to show the car in different areas, suggesting it has travelled a long journey and also leaves the audience pondering.
The car is now driving down another long road, in between hills of trees, it seems overshadowed by this. Negative connotations are held with shadows, of ghosts and general fear, foreshadowing that this is leading to something bad.
It leads in to a dark tunnel, this is where anxiety levels reach a climax, and we are fearful for the car as well as ourselves. Although more cars are apparent in the frame now, we are still focusing on the yellow car being followed. This whole concept of following contributes to ratings of suspense.

The final shot within the clip is of a large house, suggesting a link between the car and the house. The thought that the clip leaves us in, helps to create suspense as the audience do not know what is going to happen. Many cars are parked outside, and this attempts to arouse different audience perceptions of the situation. The bird like sound becomes louder here suggesting a significance about the house, it almost sounds human like and therfore we as the audience, feel fearful and confused.

The opening to The Shining: