2. The film trailer opens with a conventional image of a
production company logo, in this case it is Warner Bros.
However, the logo is given a greyscale theme to portray
the ideas of evil and darkness, complying to the forms
and conventions of a horror film trailer. The video
footage starts with an old tap video of a ghost hunting
experience to introduce the film’s two main
protagonists. The video is shown from a point-of-view
shot from the camera, low-key lighting is used to
convey the stereotypical fear of the darkness. Amid the
diegetic sound of the male protagonist talking we also
hear other diegetic noises such as a piano playing and a
child laughing, the camera then quickly pans around
the room and establishes that nobody is present. The
sound effects are eerie and connote a tense
atmosphere, furthermore it draws the audience in as
they want to know what was responsible for those
noises. A fade to white transition then occurs as the
scene cuts to a presentation being performed by the
two protagonists in a college, white is a colour
commonly associated with ghosts and the use of a
white transition reinforces the supernatural
connotations. The ambient lighting used in the college
presentation connotes verisimilitude and conveys a
sense of calm, contrasting with the previous sequence
of shots. After the two protagonists introduce
themselves, text appears on the screen to establish the
plot of the film. Again a plain black background is used
to underline the existence of evil in the film, whilst the
white colour of the text not only makes the text stand
out and easy, it links back to the presence of the
supernatural. Text and other forms of anchorage are
important in supernatural films as they provide the
audience with context and information about the plot
to further engage them to watch the full film.
3. An extreme long shot is used for the establishing shot of a
supposed stereotypical haunted house haunted house, the
low key lighting emphasises its sinister nature whilst the
smoke creates an uneasy atmosphere and amplifies the
potential presence of supernatural spirits. Its isolated
positioning and derelict structure also give it a menacing
demeanour. A close up shot is then used on a family photo
in the house to demonstrate the family that lived there,
the image evokes sympathetic feelings from the audience,
it is also a conventional item within a house, reinforcing
the verisimilitude of the atmosphere, making it all seem
natural. Whilst we see the close up shots of the family
photo and the old fashioned clock, there is audible non-
diegetic sound of a voice over from one the house’s owners
claiming that “strange things have been happening in this
house.” After that the sound goes quiet except from the
diegetic sound of the clock which creates a rise in
suspense. A long shot is then used on a female lying in bed
and suddenly she is forcefully dragged off the bed by an
invisible force as the non-diegetic sound of conventional
horror music begins to play. Suddenly we get a series of
clips cut together in a sequence to demonstrate the power
and horror of the seemingly invisible supernatural
antagonist, in particular a close up shot is used on a young
boy screaming and crying which perfectly conveys the
terror and horror whilst showing thee effect on the
protagonist. Further anchorage is used as the film trailer
makes reference to other films directed by the film’s
director giving the audience an idea about what this film
could be about. A low angle shot is used to look up and
the house showing its power and authority, whilst the
diegetic sound of a male protagonist speaking helps to
further guide the plot.
4. A medium long shot is then used on the four children
of the family who are hugging one another and are
displaying apprehensive looks, evoking further
audience sympathy and also demonstrating the
effects of the supernatural antagonist. It then cuts to
an extreme long shot as we see one of the female
protagonists stood under a tree, the tree itself is very
sinister and its positioning, with the branch poking
out, connotes that it is trying to consume both the
house and the protagonist, it is also given a dark
theme to amplify this point. A shot-reverse-shot
sequence is then used as one of the male protagonists
goes too console the seemingly depressed female. An
over-the-shoulder shot is used as the female looks
back at him. A cold black and white tinge is also
perceptible in this sequence emphasising the bleak
and dull atmosphere. The sequence then cuts to a
medium close up shot of the male protagonist with
the feet of another individual dangling down behind
him. The nature of the shot means we cannot see the
identity of the individual, this contributes to the
mysterious and apprehensive atmosphere. A close up
shot is then used on the same female character to
demonstrate her facial expressions which connote
shocking and fear, contributing to the tense
atmosphere. A long shot is then used on a bedroom,
the mise-en-scene of the props connote realism and
show that it is a natural setting. Moreover, the low
key lighting used contributes to the tense atmosphere
and the unknown mystery, it also unnerves the
audience, therefore applying to the conventions of a
supernatural horror film.
5. The film trailer then takes a more dark and uneasy
atmosphere as low key lighting is sustained
throughout the next sequence. This, again, is used to
amplify the fear and mystery surrounding the plot. A
low angle shot is combined with a over-the-shoulder
shot as a young girl looks up and sees some form of
supernatural creature menacingly lurking at the top
of the wardrobe. The shot conveys the power of the
antagonist, and the fact the creature’s identity is not
clearly perceptible connotes this fear of the
unknown. Furthermore, pink and purple clothes are
visible in the girl’s wardrobe, connoting the
femininity of the girl and also underlining her tender
age, evoking more audience sympathy. It also hooks
them as they want to know what will happen to the
female protagonist they now feel sympathy for.
Several blank black backgrounds are then cut within
the sequences to add further information and context
to the plot, these are quite short and unembellished
hitting the audience hard and engaging them further
into the film. A medium long shot then focuses on
another member of the family lying on the bed, it
then cuts in to a close up shot of the woman’s arm
with claw marks on it, underlining the power and
violent nature of the supernatural antagonist. An
extreme long shot is then employed focusing on the
family in the living room with their children being
flung around by an invisible force, this further
amplifies the power of the antagonist and the fact
the audience can’t see them creates a rise in
suspense, whilst it also engages the audience as they
want to learn the identity of the supernatural
antagonist.
6. More anchorage is used at the start of the last sequence and
it reads “WILL CONSUME YOU,” perfectly conveying the
cannibalistic and sinister nature of the antagonist. A medium
shot then features on a young girl who’s face is displaying
bemused expressions connoting her confusion, the audience
can relate to this emotion as they are also confused with the
plot, unable to see the antagonist. A close up shot with
more low key lighting is then used on the same protagonist
as they are lying in bed, the lighting connotes the presence
of evil and emphasises the vulnerability of the female
protagonist. This then quickly cuts to a low angle shot
combined with an extreme close up shot as the audience
finally get a brief glimpse of the supernatural antagonist
leaning over the protagonist to exert their power.
Furthermore, the eyes of the antagonist appear to be a dark
red colour, connoting blood and death further underlining
the gory violence of the supernatural villain. This then
quickly cuts to another medium shot of seemingly the same
protagonist tied up to a chair with a sheet draped over them
whilst they are screaming in horror, the diegetic sound of
the scream connotes horror and violence complying to the
traditional forms and conventions of supernatural horror
films. Another medium close up shot is used on the same
female protagonist who is screaming in terror and trying to
protect herself from a male character who’s appearance
connotes an evil and violent streak. Moreover this conforms
to the traditional stereotype of the male character having
power and control over the female character. Finally, the
film’s title is displayed in a familiar white text on a black
background to further highlight the supernatural presence
amid the shadow of evil.
7. APPLYING MEDIA THEORY - TODOROV
EQUILIBRIUM: Roger Perron and his family, consisting of wife Carolyn and daughters Andrea, Nancy,
Christine, Cindy and April, move to a new house in Rhode Island
DISRUPTION: There are several disruptions in this film. Sadie the dog refuses to enter the house and
one of the daughters finds a boarded up entrance to the cellar. Furthermore, all the clocks stop at
exactly 3:07AM in the morning and the family eventually find Sadie dead in the back garden.
RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION: That same night Christine feels a tug on her leg, it turns out to be a
supernatural that only she can see. The spirit tells her that he wants to family dead, before
subsequently attacking Andrea and Cindy.
ATTEMPT TO REPAIR: The family then call the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who
conclude that the house needs an exorcism. The investigators then discover that the house belonged to
Bathsheba, a woman convicted for being a witch and eventually cursed the house. Whilst attempting to
perform the exorcism the children are attacked by the invisible spirit of exorcism.
NEW EQUILIBRIUM: Carolyn then becomes possessed by the witch’s spirit and attempts to kill her
children and the Warren’s child. They eventually overpower Carolyn before the Warren’s receive
confirmation to perform the exorcism from the church, the screen then fades to black and sets up the
plot for the film’s sequel.
8. APPLYING MEDIA THEORY – CHARACTER
PROPP
THE HERO: The main protagonists in this movie are Ed and Lorraine Warren,
they are the individuals who drive the plot forward and attempt to combat
the main antagonist.
THE VILLAIN: The main villain in this film is the invisible spirit of Bathsheba
who consumes people and possess other females who live in the house. The
audience can also view Carolyn as an antagonist as she, when possessed by
Bathsheba, attempts to murder her own children.
THE HELPER: The Warrens could also be viewed as the helpers as well as the
main protagonists. They arrive to help Roger and his family with their
supernatural occurrences.
9. APPLYING MEDIA THEORY – NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE
NARRATIVE ELEMENTS:
CHARACTERS: Roger with his family Carolyn, Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy and April
are the central family characters whilst the Warrens and the invisible spirit of
Bathsheba are
EVENTS: A family move into a new house and upset the presence of an invisible spirit,
they then call the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who come to
investigate.
TIME: The film takes place in the year 1971
LOCATION: The main events of the film take place in the house and also around the
surrounding areas.
ISSUES: The main issue within the film is the presence of a supernatural spirit that
haunts every family that moves into a particular house. The spirit begins to possess
several family members and the family are forced to contact paranormal
investigators to save them.
10. APPLYING MEDIA THEORY - REPRESENTATION
In this film the female characters, particularly one of the main protagonists Lorraine, are
depicted as weak and vulnerable show by her eventual consummation of the supernatural
antagonist and several close up shows displaying her concerned and anxious expressions.
Furthermore the children in the film are also depicted as fragile and innocent, this is also done
by the verisimilitude connoted by the natural clothes, conveying the idea that these
supernatural occurrences could happen to the audience. Additionally, the continuous low key
lighting used on shots outside and inside the house connotes fear and apprehension,
representing the house, as a setting, as being very dark and mysterious. Carloyn conforms the
the stereotype of a ‘damsel in distress’ as it is her that is possessed by the spirit of the witch
that haunts the house, by using a female character the aforementioned weakness
representation is further reinforced.
