Dexter - Se7en

Our first work is to compare DEXTER's and SE7EN's title sequences.

DEXTER

SE7EN

There are some similarities between these title sequences.

First of all, both camera shots are close-up. In Dexter, we can see the gesture of the every day life: shaving and cooking breakfast mainly. In Se7en, we see the drill of a police investigation, in other words the research they do in their office.

Both videos give a very particular atmosphere: Dexter give a very 'bloody' view on every single item (mosquito, cuts himself while shaving, egg and orange seem to be bleeding heavily!). In Se7en, the atmosphere seems to be very dark, kind of dirt, worthy a film noir. 

The sound is different between the two title sequences. In Dexter, we notice a soundtrack: the score that is known by the audience and will be used for every episode. Sound effects are added to this score and seem to be diegetic, in other words captured from the story-space. In Se7en, there is only a score. The sounds bring about by the actions of the characters are not reproduced.
(below: links to YouTube for Dexter's and Se7en's soundtracks)

Focusing on the titles, we observe a difference between the two:

In Dexter, the font is not linked to the style; only the colour (red) reminds to the blood. Moreover, the titles are incorporated in the image. Dexter's titles do not seem to play such an important role in the opening sequence, contrary to Se7en's. They use in Se7en a kind of manuscript, crossed out font that reminds to the style of dirty, dark atmosphere. The titles are not incorporated in the image but are written on a black background. Se7en's titles really take part to the lead-in of the film, they help the audience understanding the kind of atmosphere the characters will evolve in.

Finally, the name of the TV-Dramas appear quite at the same time, in other word after the first set of images. Both titles are stylised in the particular style of the drama. Dexter is written with the same neutral font, red, seems to be full of blood, and some drops of blood are falling. Se7en is in the same manuscript and crossed-out font, white on a black background. 

Credits:
www.artofthetitle.com
www.youtube.com