Title Design Research: Random Acts of Violence

 How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones?

There were 19 types of titles in this opening sequence. Production companies, director, actors, casting director, music directors, costume designer, editor, additional editor, production designer, director of photography, supervising producer, co-producer, co-executive producers, executive producers, producers, the novel that inspired the movie, the illustrator, writers, and director are the titles shown.

What connotations do the images carry?

These oversaturated images make your skin crawl with how unnatural they are in color and how your mind would subtly connect the images. For example, you can see in the background of the words a picture of two men laughing and following soon after is the image of a skull. Seeing the skull after the group of friends implies that the men committed the murder.

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

There is substantial mystery in the lack of information. It is difficult to tell when the world gets too dark and angsty. The horror of seeing someone attack another person is left up to interpretation, as well as what could have gotten a human skull to the point of just bare bones. However, this mystery caused significant intrigue and the skull gives a twinge of horror.

What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The lighting highlights the dangerous parts of people's faces, like the teeth, and gives audience members an edge-of-their-seat feeling. Plus the frantic and uneven way images went under the text and the color alone overstimulated the audience.