A Stranger Calls & Psycho Opening Scene Analysis

Today I watched two opening scenes from horror films.

When A Stranger Calls

• The scene starts with just a black screen with a voiceover. Making the film not reveal much at all.
• The first shot reveals to what I believe the house of the main character, partially setting the scene.
• The shots do not match the editing and soundtrack making it contrast creating a sense mystery and confusion. The happy children playing at the fairground does not fit with the darkness either.
• The crime scene sets the scene. We don't see much in detail. We know there is a murder by the dialogue and we know its horrific by the facial expressions and reaction by the policeman.

Psycho

• The first scene is very different from anything expected within a horror film. You could not tell its a horror film by the first scene.
• The opening scene cleverly pinpoints exactly where the film is set location and date wise. On the establishing shot you are told the location. On the more zoomed in shot you are told the date and then the shot of the hotel you are told the exact time by then the camera moves into the hotel room.