Psychological Horror Research: 

American Horror Story opening sequence

In the opening sequence to American Horror story, season 1 (0secs-1:00), the genre of it being a psychological-horror programme is quickly established at the beginning and is reinforced throughout the opening sequences entirety through conventions and the use of lighting and sound for effect on the audience.

Immediately we see the Artificial lighting and use of technicolor to establish to the audience that this programme is set in the past- presumably the 1950's and 60's. The black and white, and sepia filters reflect a post-modern setting so the audience are immediately drawn into the fact that its coming from a different time. Being set in the past is a typical convention of a psychological-horror due to the stigma and presumptions around the 'creepiness' of that time period. These filters are edited onto the film footage in order to create the '50's horror film' look and make the audience feel like what they're watching is really set in the past. 

We then see props such as old photographs and medical equipment: both which are typical props used in psychological-horrors as they both reveal a different side to this genre. The use of these props allow the audience to establish the codes and conventions of the film, as well as being able to create a subconscious set of expectations for the rest of the series, which is an audience theory suggested by Neale. 

A very famous part of the American Horror Story opening sequences is the spooky background music which plays throughout the entire thing. The fact this soundtrack is the only sound which plays through the opening sequence and there is no dialogue or other non-diagetic sounds in it adds to the audiences nerves and feeling of suspense when leading up to watch each episode of the series as they wont know that to expect.

The audience will create an association to this soundtrack and the rest of the horror conventions within the series: every time they hear this soundtrack they will automatically associate it with a psychological-horror. Additionally, the fame of the soundtrack adds to the franchise of the TV series. 

There is then a low angle shot of someone quickly running down the stairs which is used purposely to scare the audience as it is another convention of horror films. This shot of the feet running from a low angle create the image of someone hiding or planning an attack on the person running. This is a typical way to create tension in a horror film/series.