Implementing Crooked Letters

In one of my previous posts about The Silence of the Lambs opening sequence, I learned how filmmakers intentionally use crooked letters in the title sequence to create an unsettling atmosphere right from the opening. The skewed font sets the tone for the entire film, signaling to the audience that something is off. This visual combined with sound design can be used to greatly elevate the tension that will unfold in the story. After analyzing this technique, we realized it was something we could use in Missing Eva.

My editor was the one who implemented the cooked letters in the opening sequence. He included us in the decision-making process to make sure it aligned with our vision for the film. We all agreed that incorporating this technique could hint that something was wrong without directly showing it. The title itself, like in The Silence of the Lambs, would appear with letters that are intentionally skewed.

An excerpt from our title sequence

In Missing Eva, our storyline revolves around suspense and mystery, so the opening credits need to reflect that (even though this is shown more towards the end). By integrating this idea into our opening sequence, we've prepared for the suspenseful and unpredictable story that will unfold. The lesson I learned from The Silence of the Lambs and its intentional use of crooked letters has found its way into Missing Eva, due to successful collaboration with my group.