Opening to a Horror Story Essay - 1073 Words

Opening to a Horror Story They told him the house was haunted. They told him the house was strange. Five families had moved in, and never made it out. Alive anyway. He had already survived two days with his family. His second night in his new home, what could possibly happen? A whispered name. The boy stirs in his sleep. A pale, vaporous moon lights the room. Shadows are deep. He twists his head, turning towards the window so that his face becomes a soft mask, unblemished, colourless. But the boy’s dream is troubled; beneath his lids, his eyes dart to and fro. The whispered name: ‘Daniel†¦.’ Its sound is distant. The boy frowns; yet the voice is within his own slumber, a†¦show more content†¦He stands at the door, as if fearing to touch. But he is puzzled. More- he is curious. He twists the handle, the metal’s coldness leaping along his arm like iced energy released from a source. The shock is mild against the damp chill of his own body. He pulls the door open and the darkness beyond is more dense; it seems to swell into the bedroom, a waxing shadow. He shrinks away, reluctant to allow contact with this fresh darkness. His vision adjusts, and the inkiness scatters as if weakened by its own sudden growth. He advances again, passing through the doorway to stand shivering on the landing overlooking the staircase. To descend this would be like sinking into the blackest of all pits, for darkness down there appears final. Still the hushed whisper urges: ‘†¦Daniel†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He listens for a moment more, perhaps wishing that the minor voice would also rouse his sleeping parents. There is no sound from their room; grief has exhausted their bodies as well as their spirit. He stares into the centre of the darkness below, terribly compelled to descend. The fingers of one hand slide against the wall, as he does so, their tips rippling over the textured wall paper. Disbelief mingles with the fascination and the fear. Small lights – caught from who knows where? At the foot ofShow MoreRelatedEvaluation of the Opening of The Ring Essay698 Words   |  3 PagesEvaluation of the Opening of The Ring The opening sequence of The Ring is very typical of a horror film, even though we later discover the film is more of a supernatural genre. The camera angles, music, sound, tension building techniques and visual effects such as lighting help set the scene. These factors sub-consciously show us it is a horror film and help us understand the main storyline, without giving too much away. It keeps us constantly guessing. By examiningRead MoreAnalysis Of The Opening Scene Of Insidious1272 Words   |  6 Pagesis the opening scene of the 2010 film Insidious. The purpose of an opening scene in a movie is to make clear what the genre is and to establish the setting and key characters. Horror movie cliches are clear in the opening scene. 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