Thriller title sequence/ fonts

Fight Club

 

In the opening title sequence of the thriller film Fight Club, the use of fonts convey that the actors and title sequence of the film are important and are almost forced to be looked at due to the bold, sans serif typeface. The typeface is static however, as the background of the title sequence is continuously moving,  the typeface has been directly placed in the center of the screen to reinforce the importance of the names; they’ve also composed the shots so that the typography does not clash with the dynamic fluidity of the background. The choice of a bright white colour for the typography stands out against the dark background which reassures that the text does not get lost in the chaotic background and helps guide the audience’s eyes to the text that wants to be viewed. The use of the white colour for the text contrasts with the background as well as the dark story of the film. The colour white is commonly used to suggest purity, innocence and goodness, which highly contrast with the storyline, which heavily focuses on violence and destruction.

 

The mood and atmosphere that is connoted by the title sequence suggests disorder and mayhem, it also forebodes that the film is going to be intense and unpredictable. This is due to the quick pace of the moving background and the quick fading of one text to the other. The choice of background intrigues the audience because it doesn’t become clear to what it is and what it relates to until the sequence is over, to where you see it’s a microscopic view of the cells and the nerves of the main character in the film. The predominantly dark, cold tones that are used in this title sequence reflect the films melancholic, dark story. 

 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The use of the serif font adds sophistication as well as being irratic, and almost unpredictable because there doesn’t seem to be any order to which letters are sans serif or serif. This may be used to foreshadow the plot of the film and to set the tone. This unpredictable, careless tone is also conveyed by the disjointed placing of the text, which is randomly positioned around the frame of the shot.

 

The choice of using a white coloured font is very effective as it contrasts against the bold, black moving background; therefore making the names read clearly and reinforcing their importance. The title of the film also has a lot of focus on it, even though the colour is no longer white but instead a grey toned which although does not contrast against the black background, the typography is in a bold, detailed 3D effect.  

 

In the opening title sequence, gothic and horror themes are explored suggested by the heavy use of black and dark tones. This is also conveyed by the choice of background, which shows quick flashes of discomforting, horror-esque images. This is used in order to grab the audience’s attention and to set the tone of the film.