Narration

Narration is a form of commentary that accompanies a movie clip or story.

Dark Comedy - Submarine uses narration at the start of the film, it really sets the mood and creates an atmosphere which is kept through the film. I t also gives us an incite into the main character.

Horror - This can use narration to set a scene in a horror, a detailed description can set a dark, tense scary mood that can be maintained by music.

Action - May use narration during a flashback scene to state times, day and location. The film Avatar uses narration for the beginning of the film, this is to set the mood of the scene which is very serious and essential to the rest of the film.

Romance - narration is normally used to explain a characters thoughts as if they are doing a monologue for example A to Z. Narration can also be used to explain the story to the viewer as done in summerhood a romcom which features a summer camp, narration is used all the way through to enhance the story and the boys feelings so its more funny, but also because it's aimed at a young audience.

I would consider using narration in my opening, as long as you can find the right voice and use it to create the right atmosphere to fit with the genre of my opening, I think narration is very effective.