Opening Title Sequence Analysis - Passengers Seat

The sequence establishes an ominous and foreboding atmosphere extremely quickly through the use of the lighting and sound. The low-key lighting utilized throughout the beginning of the sequence positions the audience to question what is happening and pay more attention to the scene, making their own assumptions about the action. It also aids the building of tension as the audience can tell that it is night time which is often associated with danger. The shot of just the headlights in the dark and rainy night is reminiscent of the idiom "a deer in the headlights" which perhaps places the audience in a vulnerable position in order to reflect the protagonists feelings, catalyzing sympathy from the audience. The long shot length in the exposition of the sequence reflects the amount of time the girl spent in the car, worrying for her life, it also further builds the tension as the audience are anticipating the climax. 

The non-diegetic soundtrack introduces elements of a flashback or dream due to the short, high pitched pulses of sound which produce a melancholic or nightmarish atmosphere. As the title of the sequence appears on screen, the "seat" in "passengers seat" is bold, the variation of font perhaps suggests to the audience that there is more to the story than what meets the eye. The use of close-ups entices the audience due to the mystery of what is around the shot, what is going on that the audience can't see? This sense of mystery alludes to the genre (as well as the lighting) being a thriller as they are key components of a sequence of that genre. This is enhanced by the use of semiotic codes through the police tape - immediately the audience know what it means, a crime scene, but it is enticing as people often want to know the whole story, how did she end up there? As the sequence develops the shot length gets shorter, this may have been used to mimic a racing heartbeat or the speed at which the mind works when it's under pressure, being powered by adrenaline in a fight or flight situation.