We are first introduced to the movie with an eerie non diegetic soundtrack with a close up shot of children playing with tea cups and dolls. The dolls and tea cups as well as the rest of the mise-en-scéne indicate to the audience that the movie is set before electricity was invented. The creepy, eerie music is slow and calm and keeps the audience on edge as well as giving the notions of death which gives them an uncomfortable feeling.

 

We then see a medium shot of three girls sitting on the floor all staring in the same direction. We cannot see what they are staring at which creates mystery and tension as well as suspense because it leaves us wondering what they are looking at. It leads us to think that there is going to be a character that is going to be introduced within the narrative or possibly the basis of the film plot. The shot creates the feeling of paranormal activity as they all turn their head slowly like they are following a ghost, in addition to this the music is starting to get louder which anticipates the audiences as they think something bad is going to happen.

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The next few shots show the three girls getting up and walk towards the window. We see the girls stepping on their beloved toys, which again suggests the idea of paranormal activity, showcasing the ideas of ghosts as they were careful with them a few shots before but are overcome by an evil force, making them break their toys. As they are walking they are all look at something, which intrigues the audience as to what It could be. We are able to see a gormless expression on the three girls faces, which portrays the idea that the life has been sucked out of them – they are possessed.

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We then see the girls jump out of the widow, an act that children which do not usually peruse. This again reinforces the idea that they are possessed by an evil spirit. Because of this, the audience are given a clear idea of the narrative; the idea that the ghost will be the antagonist throughout the film. The audience is given the idea that the ghost will be killing characters throughout, which leaves the audience intrigued as to why and what is the reason for it. The music then cuts out and we hear scream shouting ‘my baby’ presumably the mother of the children. 

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In the last few seconds of the opening scene, we can see a woman dressed in all black, what looks to be a funeral outfit. This not only connotes ideas of death and mortality to the audience but portrays ideas to the audience that this is the antagonist within the film as the woman seen matches the title ‘The Woman In Black’.

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The title sequence has an eerie feel due to the ghostly atmosphere created by the non diegetic soundtrack and aesthetics.