The Opening Credits

The opening credits instantly give us the tone of the TV series; the gloomy, dark and mysterious atmosphere makes us aware of what the story is going to be about. But it is not all, the sequence is made in such a way that it keeps the tense atmosphere from the beginning to the end. For instance, the opening credits start with a shot between a close-up and an extreme close-up of bubbles where the viewers can see a person tied to a chair and about to drown. This used to be a method of torture. It gives the viewers the illusion to be about to drown with the character, it allows them to relate to what the character is going through. 

Darkness, strangeness, pressure, tension and mystery are the key words of this opening. Indeed, you can notice different shots in high-contrast and in back-lightning which stress the dramatic tone of those shots such as the close shot of the tied hands or characters' shadows. Moreover, a succession of shots where hanged bodies appear, refers to the executions of witches after the trials against witchcraft in Massachusetts in 1692. In order to give the viewers the feeling to be present during those executions, the film director uses several effects; for instance, a tracking shot is used when the lady is sent to the stake where she will be burnt or hanged, a low-angle shot is used to show the dead hanged bodies as for warning us of what happens to those who practice witchcraft, emphasized with the clear sky and the sun shining over them. The jump cuts underline the violence of the shots and create a stressful and dreadful effect.

Shots are really well-picked and coming together, they create an effect that intends to put the viewers into the witches' minds and victims' of those trials; it feels like we are witnessing the whole process since there is a long and high-angle shot showing a court where the trials take place. Many hand-held shots such as the ones where we can notice women screaming and being brought to their punishment give us the same feeling and this technique of camera movement stresses the violence of those shots.

This opening brings out a certain madness, insanity which refers to the fact that people accused of witchcraft were seen as Satan's allies and mad people but the viewer can also feel a certain despair in some shots that creates a feeling of sympathy for them. The viewer becomes empathetic. Religion is also present in the opening, indeed we can notice a shot in focus out of a holy cross. 

It also sets the place of the story/action of the TV series; indeed, a lot of shots are in the woods and branches added during the editing clearly imply that the whole action takes place near the forest but it also implies the fact that rituals take place during the night in the woods. Indeed, the long shot of the full moon indicates it. One of the most striking shot which implies the woods is the one in fast motion where the viewer feels as if he is running away from someone or something. It creates a feeling of anxiety. 

Witchcraft is omnipresent in this sequence, indeed, for instance, from the beginning to the end, shaman signs and writings appear all over the screen and at the end, we can see a normal shot and a reverse-angle shot of the same doll, a sort of a double exposure, mutually wiped away in fast motion which can refer to voodoo practices. The full moon is another example of noticeable witchcraft elements in the sequence. 

The colors are also well chosen: indeed, the fact that most of the shots are in black and white gives the feeling that it takes place a long time ago and the dominance of shades of gray can be interpreted as a reference to the ashes which themselves refer to the witches burnt at the stake. That's the reason why we can notice flames all over the screen at some times. Mixed up with all those medium shots of women, since most of the Salem witches were women, we cannot miss the close and very short shots of women's chest and women without a lot of clothes on that allow us to think that the TV series will also have an erotic and sexy side. The choice of filming those scenes in natural light, without adding a black and white tone drives our attention on the bear skin which confirms somehow the idea of erotic scenes.

Above all of that, the music adds a lot to the atmosphere. First of all, the choice of the singer, who is Marylin Manson, underlines the fact that the TV series is going to be dark. 
Choosing Marylin Manson and that rock song as the music for the opening credits makes a contrast between the historical tone of the story and the modernity of the song and singer. Yet, they match perfectly together since the modern song enables the historical feature to be connected to our present day, to more modern times, so as to fit the contemporary audience.
The lyrics confirm the idea that it is a TV series about witches and supernatural phenomenon.

Pound me the witch drums

Better pray for hell, not hallelujah

The music is very catchy which is a very smart choice since it can easily be remembered. The drums are synchronized with the sudden, abrupt transitions of the shots which make us understand that the music is an actual tool to the opening credits in order to attract viewers somehow.

We cannot deny that a massive work of editing and shooting has been done for this sequence; indeed, everything works perfectly together, from the camera movements to the lighting or the music. The harmony of it gives us a clear message of how to perceive this new TV series : dark, mysterious, violent, old, creepy, odd, gloomy and sexy. The opening by itself is clearly enough to give the viewer an intense foretaste of the TV series. It shows how an opening can play a huge part in the viewer's vision of a TV series. Some prefer them very short, others like them long and catchy. This is the perfect example of long but amazing opening credits. After watching this, any viewer fond of those kind of ambiance who never heard of this TV series would want to see more of it.