Title Research: Panic Room

 

Opening sequence found on www.artofthetitle.com

What titles are displayed during the opening sequences? 

    The opening sequence starts of with the name of the studio (Columbia Pictures) followed by the name of the production company (Hofflund/Polone). Then the opening sequence shows the names of the popular actors in the film, in this case being Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto. The camera then pans to reveal the title of the film, “Panic Room”, followed by the names of four other actors in the film. After this, credits for casting, costume design, music, editing, production design, photography directors, production, writing, and the director are displayed. “Directed by” is the last title displayed in the opening sequence. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

    Throughout this opening sequence, the main images that are prioritized are that of urban buildings. A variety of different shots of a dense, urban environment make up the entirety of the opening sequence. These shots prioritize elements such as the roofs of buildings, advertisements, and dense city streets. 

How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset? 

    A variety of factors in this opening sequence create a feeling of a thriller film. Most notably, suspenseful music plays a large role in setting the mood. The overpowering, dissonant bass melody immediately creates a tense mood from the start. This is later paired with higher pitched shrills, and rhythmic percussion. Additionally, diegetic ambient sound of the cityscape such as cars honking further adds to the tense mood. Together, these auditory elements create an uneasy and tense atmosphere, a staple of thriller films.