Codal Analysis

1. Codal Analysis
By Luke Sams

2. Codal Analysis
In the following codal analyses I will take three film openings of my genre – Horror and look at the
different codes and conventions for the film.
Visual
Audio
Technical
Narrative
Enigma
The three openings I have chosen are:
As Above, So Below
World War Z
Resident Evil: Apocalypse

3. World War Z

4. Visual Code
The titles in the opening are fairly simple with a black background and white text
although this is usually coupled with a partial shot of something, the dark colours
of the background are typically associated with Horror.
All throughout the clip there is mostly natural lighting used although it does have
a harsh quality to it, giving a slightly unnatural feel to it.
Most of the shots shown appear to depict normal life of people all over the
world, depicting the normal life of people before the crisis is something typical of
horror or thriller films.
A lot of the shots are slightly distorted and are composed of a miss-mash of
shapes splitting the screen, this breaks the norm for the horror genre and
suggests that something is not quite right.
The modern day setting gained through costumes and props make it more
unnerving as it is more relatable to audiences.

5. Audio Code
From the start of the clip there is some suspenseful, tense and kind of eerie, fairly
fast paced music playing. This is fairly common for horror film and is generally
used to build up to something going wrong.
About 30 seconds in a load of news reports start all stacked on top of each other
and played over the top of the backing track.

6. Technical Code
There are a lot of extreme long shots/establishing shots used showing different
cityscapes and scenery shots, this adds to the feeling that something is probably
going to go wrong.
There are also quite a few close-up/extreme close-up shots used to show various
things dying and/or being eaten by different animals and insects.

7. Narrative Code
The narrative is not really clearly defined in this opening to start of
with there is nothing really wrong it’s just normal everyday life but by
the end there is a definite hint that something has gone wrong but it
is not clear what it is.

8. Enigma Code
The music at the beginning of the opening sets a slightly mysterious
atmosphere and makes the audience want to continue watching to find out
what is going to happen next.
As well as this the jumbled up news reports all played at the same time creates
a mystery element that the audience want to find out what has happened or is
going to happen, so they keep watching.

9. As Above, So Below

10. Visual Code
From the trailer it appears that the film is set in modern day Paris due to the
people clothes and the cars and other things seen in the different shots.
Most of it takes place in the catacombs under Paris all of the shots there are dark
and mysterious with unnatural lighting used.
The start of the trailer seems to depict the normal-ish life of the main character a
young archaeologist thinking that she has found something amazing and
important.
About 30 seconds in things start to turn dark and eerie before finally becoming
creepy, mysterious and slightly super natural.

11. Audio Code
The audio starts of bright and cheery but with a subtle eerie backing track with a
hint of mystery.
The people start of talking like they are really excited and looking forward to this
little escapade but soon the mood flips and they sound a bit edgy and then
nearer the end completely scared.
Towards the end the backing track starts to pick up pace and becomes less subtle
and more eerie.

12. Technical Code
There are a lot of close-up shots used to show people’s reaction and facial
expressions these are typically used in horror films to show how terrified and
scared the characters are.
Some medium shots are used as they are close enough to see the person’s
expression but also show some of their surroundings sometimes so the audience
can see what the person is scared of.

13. Narrative Code
The story line is of a group of people at least one of them an
archaeologist believe they have found where the ‘Philosopher’s
stone’ is, buried underneath Paris.
They set out to try and retrieve it by going through Paris’s catacombs
and find something they really were not expecting, apparently the
entrance to hell.

14. Enigma Code
Throughout the trailer questions are raised about what this is all in aid of and
what is happening, as well as what is going to happen. These remain
unanswered so that the audience will want to see the whole film and find out
the entire story.
There are also a lot of partial clips of incidents that happen in the film but to
find out how it happened or exactly what is happening you have to watch the
whole thing.

15. Resident Evil

16. Visual Code
The first opening title is displayed on a simple black background and small white
text, this then cuts to a fancy animation mainly black and red both of this colours
are strongly associated to horror.
Some visual background story is given in the form of red text as part of the
animation. This creates some mystery and tension as the start of the text says
‘confidential report’ and red connotes danger.
This next cuts to a black screen with a small window of light in the centre which
zooms to fill the frame, the hazmat suit and sealed unit the person is looking into
states there is something potentially deadly their.

17. Audio Code
To start with there is no music only sound effects played alongside the animation
and a voice over speaking the text, the voice is a man’s and is fairly mysterious.
Some backing music is slowing introduced starting around 40 seconds in it starts
slow but the pace quickly builds. The music has elements of suspense and
mystery but is also fairly up beat, this is typical for horror films to add a dramatic
flair to it.
The music fades out when a vial of something is thrown and is proceeded only by
sound effects for the rest of the opening, creating suspense and marking a
significant point of the story.

18. Technical Code
Extreme close-up shots are used a lot to emphasise certain action or details that
happen during the scene of the person in the hazmat suit, this is typical of horror
films to create tension and suspense.
Tracking shots and extreme close-up shots of inanimate objects are used
seemingly to emphasise their importance within the story.
The harsh bright lighting used gives an almost clinical feel to it while retaining a
mysterious atmosphere.

19. Narrative Code
The narrative is not really set within the opening but some seemingly
important clues are given through the use of different shot types.
Some back story is also given which is assumedly also fairly important
to the story of this film.

20. Enigma Code
Nothing throughout the whole opening is really explained very well at all even
the back story is not given a place within the film, this leaves the audience with
an abundance of unanswered questions that they will want to continue
watching to find the answers.
Also the fact that most of the opening shots only show parts of things leaves
the identity of this first person as unknown and highlights the case of unknown
objects without giving any clues as to what it is.