T.M. Analysis of 'The Number 23' Title Sequence

The Number 23 Title Sequence Analysis

0:04- 0:07	New Line Cinema Presents
0:09- 0:12	Contrafilm/ Firm Films Presentation
0:13- 0:15	A Joel Shumacher Film
0:16- 0:20	Jim Carey
0:20- 0:26	The Number 23
0:32- 0:36	Virginia Madsen
0:44- 0:47	Logan Madsen
0:53- 0:55	Danny Huston
0:59- 1:01	Rhona Mitra
1:01- 1:04	Lynn Collins
1:14- 1-17	Mark Pellegrino
1:24- 1:27	Patricia Belchen   Ed Lauter
1:29- 1:31	Casting by Mali Finn
1:37- 1:40	Written by Fernley Phillips
1:41- 1:44	Linda Fields Hill
1:48- 1:50	Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi
1:56- 1:58	Editor Mark Stevens
2:01- 2:04	Production Designer Andrew Laws
2:04- 2:07	Director of Photography Mathew Libatique
2:10- 2:11	Co-producer Fernley Phillips
2:14- 2:17	Executive Producer Mike Drake
2:25- 2:28	Produced by Beau Flynn
2:31- 2:35	Directed by Joel Schumacher

The film title is first seen in the sequence 20 seconds in. The red type writer font accompanied by a number of x's above and below creates a sense of mystery and enigma due to the audiences lack of knowledge as to what the number 23 means. The font style also conveys an old fashioned time period, suggesting the number 23 has chilling historic significance. For example many historically linked events to 23 are shown; 'The Mayans believed the world would end on December 23rd of the year 2012. The title then fades out through bloody spreading spatters which immediately connotes the movie is going to be related to death and murder. The sequence includes a constant drumming in the background which keeps the pace fast moving, and keeping the audience in suspense, there are also sharp noises as well as increases of pitch creating tension.