Sixth Sense

Camerawork:

Throughout the opening sequence of Sixth sense camerawork was used to create an array of meanings. For example, starting from the start of the sequence, there was a close up of Malcom and his wife conveying their emotions of joy onto the screen. However this is contrasted later in the sequence when things take a turn for the worst, leading to an escalated stop to the opening sequence. Moreover, when Malcom confronted the distressed man there was a slight shaking of the camera, showing his fear towards the situation he was in. It could also demonstrate how unstable the man was standing in front of Malcom. The use of focus was used later in the sequence when Malcom was looking at his notes. The camera only came into focus on the parts the director wanted you to read, the rest of the writing was slightly out of focus.











Mise-en-scene

The typography in the credits themselves set the seriousness of the film, before the first scene you had the impression that the film would not be a light hearted family film. The initial scene at the begging of the sequence, when Malcom's wife went down into the cellar was when you thought something bad was going to happen, if anything happens at all due to the spooky look of the set. The cellar was also very dark with low key lighting emphasising the scary, creepy feel of the set. The use of props helps et the scene from the start of the sequence, as the award he won showed his profession (child psychiatrist) and his location (Philadelphia).

Editing

In the credits the effect used on the text fading in and out further indicates the sinister feel of the film, and setting the eerie theme from the start. When Malcom gets shot by the crazed man, the film starts playing In slow motion showing the seriousness of the attack, demonstrating his life is in danger. Soon after he gets shot, the image fades into black, then the text "Next fall" fades in. Showing the change in time, to around a year after Malcom got shot.

Sound

During the opening credits there are multiple eerie sound effects to create the creepy serious mood, a certain effect which stands out the most, is the 'sting' during the title of the film. These effects make you feel uneasy and quite uncomfortable in fact. Additionally the backing music in the credits was creepy as well. Throughout the opening sequence there was non diegetic music, apart from the silence the occurred one Malcom and  his wife realised there was an intruder in their house. The effect of the silence was to create tension and keep the audience on the edge of there seat.

All things considered I would say that this opening sequence was successful at luring in the audience and setting the mood of the film.