Dexter- Title/Opening Sequence Breakdown and Analysis

Title Sequence


Dexter





Dexter isn't a thriller film but it is a thriller TV show and I will be looking at the title sequence.
It starts with the Production company which is Showtime. It shows an insect on Dexter's arm, he then slaps it dead leaving a patch of blood on his arm. He then smiles. This denotes he enjoys killing things. 
Then the title comes up and it starts off written in a light red, a drop of blood lands next to the 'R' in Dexter. After this, a red liquid rushes through the 'DEXTER' written on the screen. This is done to symbolise blood and how Dexter is responsible for why it being there. On the 'X' the colour is smudged slightly as though water is cleansing it away.



The film then starts with the credits going over it but they are all written in red and are placed in places where you can see them but they aren't distracting from the sequence. While the first name appears it uses camera shots that are extreme close ups or normal close-ups of Dexter doing his morning routine. When the shots change to a different part of his routine, a different name of a cast member appears.


 The next scene is an extreme close-up of Dexter's beard. He wipes oil on it and proceeds to shaves. The next shot is of Dexter shaving. It is a close up of Dexter's beard and shaver running up his neck. The next shot is a extreme close-up of Dexter's neck and a magnified drop of blood running down. The next shot is of the drop of blood falling onto a sink. The blood is magnified to emphasise the theme of gore and danger within the TV Show. The next shot is of another drop of blood sliding down Dexter's neck with Dexter's hand slowly pushing a small piece of paper towards the blood. The next shot is connected with match on action and is an extreme close-up of a piece of tissue absorbing the drop of blood. This is again done to show how violence and gore is a key theme of the show while reinforcing the idea that Dexter is comfortable and knows how to deal with blood.


The next shot is a extreme close-up of a knife slicing through a piece of meat. This kind of shot happens three more times. The knife piercing the meat is emphasised, showing the audience that the meat symbolises someone's flesh. The next important shot is an extreme close up of an piece of toast going into Dexter's mouth. Dexter then bites off a piece of the toast and chews it. Having this shot as an extreme close-up makes the every day routine of eating a piece of toast look violent. The next shot is an extreme close up of an egg being cracked on a frying pan.


The next shot is a close up of the egg on the frying pan. The next shot is a close up of a knife slicing into the side of the egg. The next shot is a close up of the side of the egg with a drop of, what looks like ketchup falling onto the plate. The ketchup falling on to the plate is used to symbolise blood. This is done to show the audience that whatever Dexter does has blood/violence involved. The next shot is a close up of a knife running through the centre of the egg, ripping it apart. The next shot is a close up of a drop of sauce being flicked on the plate. Dexter then uses his spoon to wipe the egg over the sauce. This is done to make the egg look like a mopping, cleaning away blood. This is done to show how skilled dexter is at getting rid of the evidence of his crimes. The next shot is a close up of the knife being left on the plate with a final drop of ketchup landing on the knife.