American Horror Story: Murder House Opening Credits Explored

Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story is progressively growing popularity, now in its fifth season. The series kickstarted with ‘Murder House’, when a small family move into a house where many murders were committed during the early 20th century, the haunted house holds many offer residence whom the family are greeted by. The opening has been shot on a hand help camera, with very low-key lighting occasional intense flashes to cohere with the sound of the quirky, crescendoing non-diegetic track. This has been cleverly done from a point of view perspective, immediately immersing the audience within the narrative, allowing them to become apart of the story. Its change in pace also adds an extra dynamic, from the quick rush of movement within a basement to a free flowing dress, in slow motion. The white dress latches on to the idea that all hope of innocence has been lost, as we have the association of these angelic qualities and the colour white. The dress is falling down into a foreboding doom, giving audiences an idea of what to expect from the series. Another important factor Murphy has chosen to depict is the use of extreme close ups, of what appears to be young children, once again emulating this sense of hope being banished. It also digs into some of the background information from the serie,

which we can infer being the victims of previous families who lived in the house and were brutally murdered. This is highlighted through the use of overlaid fire conveying the pain which still is ever present within the house.