Analysis of Human Factor

The fact that the opening sequence of Human Factor is animated gives it a sense that it may not be as intense as other thrillers that Saul Bass has created, such as Vertigo. There is a black for a longer period of time than usual which creates a sense of mystery in the way that the music is playing but as there are no graphics or images on the screen you do not know what is going on.

When the images on the screen do appear the background is continuously red, this gives us a sense of danger. The sense of danger and mystery is added to when the image of a phone hanging off the hook appears. As the viewer you feel on edge as you do not know why the phone is hanging off the hook, but as the background is red it immediately makes you think that something bad has happened or is about to occur.

The musical score is in a way jolly music as it is a guitar, often in conventional thrillers more orchestral music is played as this usually adds to the tension. But because this contrasts this convention it still gives the same affect because the red background and the phone hanging off the hook makes you know as the viewer that something may be wrong, making the music not so happy after all.

As the title sequence comes to end you see that the other end of the phone is also off the hook, this almost confirms to the viewer that something is not right. The images used in this title sequence are all very negative. The extreme close up of the phone at the start of the title sequence adds to the atmosphere of mystery as you do not even know what the object is, as the image becomes clear you feel more relaxed as it is just a phone, but the camera focuses on the phone chord for most of the opening sequence making it clear that no-one is on the phone, and as it is off the hook something is not right perhaps.