Textual Analysis of Opening Scene - By Richard Morelli

The clip opens ups on some minor keyed music playing with a heavy single note bass line creating a suspenseful intro immediately. As soon as the graphic of the umbrella logo enters the screen with a computer generated looking red background we know as an audience we are supposed to be concentrating on a computer. The sound effect of steam being, heavy spiralling and petite electronic squeaks we are introduced to what the film may surround. The narrator’s dialogue plays as the words he says appear as graphics on the screen, he’s describing how the infection started; we know to listen to him as he seems to know the facts and details. There is still a kind of drained warp synth sound layering the background, this gives the illusion that order has been lost; the structuring of the music has been broken, as has Raccoon city. The film title zooms out to the mid-right of the screen with decrescendo bass giving it power and build, giving it more than just a two dimensional feel. The title is introduced quite early which is conforming to the codes and conventions of the modern horror film. For around 10 seconds directly after this we see a blue filmed image zooming in to us very slowly – it’s of a man in a lab moving tubes around with the T virus inside, and the antidote. We identify with this character, and watch as he carefully manoeuvres the dangerous substances from their sockets to his brief case; we are as an audience anticipating disaster (via him dropping one or something) by the use of close ups, slow motion and vast attention to the tubes themselves. As we do not see the character’s face, our assumption is that he is a protagonist working for the Umbrella Corporation – when in fact, he is the main antagonist when we see him smash the T virus and let the fumes go through the ventilation system.

In conclusion, the introductory two minutes is focussing entirely on how the infection started and informing the audience of what Umbrella Corporation is; we can only imagine this company will be the centre of the plot’s drive. This differs from most horror films who want to identify who the supernatural creature or creatures are/is almost immediately, yet still creating suspense and nervousness within the audience.