Dexter title sequence analysis

Although this is a TV analysis it  helped us to get ideas.

The main theme throughout the title sequence is the idea of death and this is shown through the use of blood itself and other related objects.  This represents Dexter as the T.V program reflects him as a cold, gruesome killer who is living a double life as both villain and hero.

Settings and props

The title sequence is set in what seems to be his own apartment, the opening scene takes place in his bedroom where he is sleeping until disturbed by the first representation of blood, a mosquito, a blood sucking pest. That is until he squats it dead with precision. This shows that he is an accurate and perhaps an unexpected killer. The sequence then takes to the kitchen where we see a blood orange almost being ‘gutted’ in the juicer, followed by at first what seems to be flesh being cut into pieces with a big knife, which we later realize it was a thick piece of bacon. The final scene inside the apartment takes place in the bathroom where we see shaving his beard; he manages to cut himself which causes blood to drip from his face onto the contrasting white sink. The way he was holding his neck whilst shaving connotes strangulation as he secured his hand around his neck. Whilst in the bathroom we see an over the shoulder shot of him looking into a fogged up mirror, this still continues to hide his identity from us as his face has yet to be revealed, as well as showing us that he lives two lifestyles.

Costume hair and makeup

He has quite a rugged look about him with his rough casual beard and messy hair, this shows his masculine dominance, he being topless also shows this. There is limited make up used during the title sequence, the only bit used is the blood that drips down his neck.

Facial expression and body language

The body language used by Dexter is quite violent and aggressive. The simplest tasks such as cutting a blood orange in half was done in a destructive way, using a very large, jiggered edge kitchen knife. Or cutting up a piece of bacon in a quite gruesome manor. Whilst squatting the mosquito he showed how precise and accurate he is in his killings. The only time we see a facial expression of Dexter, is when we first see his face, a cold looking, no presence of an expression and quite innocent.

Lighting and colour

The main colour scheme present in the title sequence includes red, black and grey. The colour red in particular represents the idea of blood and death, as does black and grey, which are quite morbid and dull. These colours contrast with each other like the two lives that he lives, completely opposing. One day solving crimes, taking people to justice, and then the next gruesomely murdering the ones that escape justice.

 Use of music

The music used in the title sequence is non-diegetic sound, used to create a certain mood; in this case the music used is like 80’s jazz, subtle yet dignified. It wouldn’t be the music you would expect from a typical crime drama. It keeps the viewer intrigued into what is going to happen.