Analysis - Dexter Opening Scene

Dexter – Opening Sequence

Dexter is not the opening of a film, but the opening titles of a TV show. However it done along the lines of the genre we wish to research into. The first piece of specific evidence relating to the genre is the showing of the actual title of the show, the typography of these title relates itself connotations of blood with the deep red colour and the small splatter just underneath the final letter almost making it seem as if it has been wrote and then spilled slightly or splashed. Instantly this lets the reader know what genre it is by the obvious connotations from the title. Again then when the names of the editors and producers are shown they are again in the block red styles writing which again connotes the idea of blood due to its colour. Also the extreme close ups which sow very little of the scene create tension because you don’t know who it is or what is going on, in a way spoon feeds the audience information ensuring that throughout they do not fully find out what is going on and so are left in a feeling of suspense and terror at being kept in the dark. Further more and extreme close up is shown when “Dexter” is shaving and he nicks himself with the razor, the shots shows blood slowly tickling down his neck, and then into the sink. This re-enforces the idea of the shows genre with it being a serial killer type “slasher” idea. The focus on the blood also emphasises the genre of the show. Prominently through the opening credits the colour red is shown consistently and repeatedly with its obvious connotations of blood and death. The clip shows a close up a knife being used to cut meat with the close up being so extreme it seems extremely ambiguous as to what is being cut up, linking to the idea of the genre being a mystery and the idea of the unknown and being afraid of that unknown. While the scene goes about making a breakfast, still it has very violent connotations, whereby when “Dexter” is eating the sandwich his bites seem very sharp and powerful, then when the beans are being grinded even the use of the grinder links to the representation the shows wishes to create. Primarily the representation is that the serial killer is just a normal person. Finally the blood orange which has dramatic connotations the representation that the guy being shown definitely is up to no good, straight away they want to let you know what he is actually doing and create a specific representation of him and his character the violent actions are immediately connoted to him and create his character effectively. Also not only just the images but the music in the background of the scene adds a very different atmosphere to the opening credits, the non-digetic music gives a "tongue and cheek" sort of atmosphere where it appears to be not completely serious, this combined with the images and connotations of the colours in the shots create a very misguided atmosphere. Its almost as if the viewer is not entirely sure what is actually going on or who the person actually is, the music could make it appear that indeed this character is not even a serial killer as the music would seem to give them aura but at the same time the things he is shown doing certainly seem to say the opposite creating that element of uncertainty that is important in the psychological horror genre. Overall the general representation shown in this clip is that of the character simply being a normal person, while yes they may be a murderer and a serial killer, but the way it is done seems to add an edge to the normal things a person would do. Such things as the blood orange, the way he fiercely ties the rope around all has very violent connotations but these are all things that normal people do which adds the element of human psyche that scares people that idea that anyone could be a serial killer they necessarily are crazy inhumane people, this is what truly scares the audience. The type of person watching this would certainly be someone who enjoys a bit of gore this is shown immediately by the blood at the beginning of the shot, not only this but they are certainly the type of person that seeks to be scared. Also generally this person would not frighten easily they will be use to this type of genre, being scared, being unsure what is actually happening in the scene. Hence why the audience watching this show would be very similar to those who would watch and enjoy such films as; The Shining, Seven, silence of the lambs, Hannibal and The Omen. Dexter is not an actual film it is in fact a cable drama this means that generally they can get away with twisting the codes and conventions slightly to achieve what they want. But overall it uses the codes and conventions of a psychological horror in the way it opens the show and scares the viewer by immediately creating an element of mystery and horror.