Title Research: The Reaping

This blog another research blog focused on how a movie's entirety can be seen within minutes of the beginning. This is done, of course, through the use of titles and images edited to fit the idea the film's creator is trying to bring across to those watching.  The movie I chose to analyze is The Reaping. The movie comes from the website called "Watch the Titles" and focuses on an event where mankind is contaminated by several plagues similar to the one in the Bible. To help me examine the opening sequences I have been given seven questions that will be answered in full sentences and understand what the creator(s) were trying to portray.

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?

The opening sequences for the film, The Reaping, contain 24 titles.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

Images prioritized in the opening sequence are those of different plagues such as insects, frogs, and blood. All of these were apart of ten plagues mentioned in the Bible.

3. What connotations do the images carry?

Connotations that the images carry are sufferation, darkness, and fear. 

4. How is the genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The genre is reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset by the camerawork and music because the extreme close up shots of the bugs makes it look as if they're being examined by the viewer under an actual microscope and the music builds up the suspense of something bad happening. This shows the use of advanced technology and the race to save mankind which is found in typical sci-fi films.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

The film establishes an enigma from the beginning by the quick flashes between different factors such as when it flashes from drops of blood to cells of an insect. 

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

Strategies used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience are the use of dark lighting and observation to appeal to people who like the dark parts of science where things might affect society on a large scale. An example of this is the close up the flies that are going to soon affect the human race later on in the film. 

7. How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.

The technology has been used effectively because the camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques make it clear that horrific events are going to unfold in the film based on how the titles are red which represents blood, the different creatures shown under microscope lenses. The flashes happening between the titles and the various living things reveal the concept of how quickly events are going to go bad which seems to be something the creator(s) intended on conveying to the audience. Thus, technology has been used effectively.