The Mise-En-Scene in the opening sequence is quite dim and desolate - this film also fits the classic convention of a character being on his/her own in a secluded place in her house.
Iconography is used from the beginning of the sequence to generate feelings of angst and a feeling of tenseness for example when Casey is on the phone she innocently plays with a knife whilst talking to scream, this could be a visual signifier of the danger and violence set to come, Also, by ‘Scream’ using a knife as his chosen weapon it seems much more personal and gory than just shooting a gun- this fits yet another classic code of the horror genre of blood and gore.
This opening sequence uses the element of surprise effectively. A way that It works well in affecting the audience is by using only diegetic sounds until a chilling moment about seven minutes into the piece. By keeping the narrative fairly innocent on the phone Casey is quite relaxed and chatty until ‘Scream’ says ‘’Because I want to know who I’m looking at’’. At this point None-diegetic music is added to the scene and this is effective in instantly changing the mood of the text to on edge and tense.
After the None-diegetic music plays the whole sequences mood changes and Casey realises that something is wrong- after this point lots of establishing shots are used to involve the audience in ‘where they are’. Firstly, she turns on the patio lights (This shot also works well because it confirms that it is night-time- fitting yet another typical horror convention of darkness i.e. it shrouds and conceals whatever may be hiding.)
When Casey finally realises that ‘Scream’ is actually outside her house Casey’s character changes to show vunerability and innocence- this is highlighted by the camera trailing behind her when she is told to turn on the patio lights again- and she sees her boyfriend inevitably about to die and vunerability is once again highlighted when she runs around the house trying to lock/ bolt all doors and windows.
This beginning section of the film in my opinion is more psychologically than visually scary because although it does feature scenes of gore and blood etc-the film relies mainly on building up intensity and expectancy of waiting for something to happen, therefore keeping the audience in a terrified on the edge feeling. Psychological elements are involved in the sequence, like when Scream drags out the murders of her boyfriend and later herself by giving Casey a sense of false hope of living- it really involves the audience in the sense of maliciousness and cruelty.
Also as the sequence is shot from Casey’s Point Of View, it almost bonds her with the audience as they see it from her perspective and empathise with her unlike when the boyfriend is murdered the audience don’t empathise with enough because there is very little hope that he will survive.
Scream is dressed in a mask- this is effective and has been seen before in other films of this genre (i.e. the Hannibal films). Because it interests the audience to find out who/what the monster/person is, and it gives a good narrative to the film by adding ‘the element of surprise’. It is also made aware to the audience that ‘Scream’ is not just a random psychopath who has decided to target Casey- I am made to think this because he knows about Casey’s boyfriend and where she lives, her phone number etc.
At the end section of this sequence when Casey has been stabbed she reaches up and lifts ‘Screams’ mask the text then switches to a reaction shot of Casey- informing the audience that Casey knew him. By using this effect of it being a planned attack it makes the audience want to continue watching the film because they now know that ‘Scream’ has a reason for these killings and it adds elements of malice and avengence.
