The Conjuring (2013) - Amara Bullen
The Conjuring is a horror and thriller. The trailer shows that a family have moved into a secluded house, soon to find out that it's haunted.
The IMDb overview of the film is:
"Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse."
The voice of a small girl introduces the clip whilst a fade in tracking shot from the inside of the house follows the characters as they enter the building. As the little girl says "I get my own room", this tells the audience that they're just bought the house and they are moving in. This brings a small uproar to the family as they are in casual debate on having their own room and complaining like a stereotypical family would. This also demonstrates that they are immature as they are fighting over small things not aware of what is to come later on in the clip. Each character is introduced one by one as they younger girls rush in excitedly. The father, standing taller over the girls showing power and authority, is standing by the door watching them go in as they try to find their own room. As he is so casual about their excitement this may show that it is a regular occurrence with their family squabbling which also adds to the stereotype of a family with 4 children. The door he's standing at is grand and may show that they are moving into an old, expensive house.
The first non-diagetic sound is used here as the film production credits are shown. For a horror film, the non-diagetic sound seems to be out of place as it's careless and happy. This goes against the stereotype for a horror and also represents the feeling of the characters; which is happy and excited.
A fade-in to a close up of a girl is shown spinning the mother whilst she and another young girl counts. The non-diagetic sounds of a drum beating, clicking and exhaling carries on.
A mid-shot of the mother is shown as she is wearing a blind fold as the little girl runs away showing they are playing a game. This associated little girls with playing games and having fun without a care. Knowing that this is a horror trailer and the fact that the mother can't see anything is the first step of weariness. Also, as the family seem so happy, it's expected that something is going to happen to dampen this feeling. The room the mother is in is dull and busy as there is a messy bed next to a wall which has an old repeated pattern on the wall paper. This may represent that the family are laid back and don’t mind the place being messy as they have time for games. This adds to the uneven feeling of them being unaware. The mother's clothes also add to the business of the room as they are patterned.
A straight edit to an over the shoulder shot of two girls shown as they help one another find a hiding space as you can hear the girls count.
Another straight edit is used to quicken the pace of the clip to represent that they have to find a hiding spot quickly. A long shot of the mother is shown on her own.
A straight edit to a long-shot of a dull landing/ stair way is shown with the mother coming out of one of the doors. When the woman speaks, the sound of her voice echoes, creating an unsettling feeling.
A straight edit is used to create a fast pace which links into the characters excitement and the happiness of the non-diagetic sound. Calm lyrics are being sung softly, in the non-diagetic sound, going against the genre but fitting in to how the characters are feeling.
The next shot shows a girl hiding behind some old furniture. This demonstrates that they are playing hide and seek which can be quite scary for viewers. This is because, as it is a new house, they don’t know if they would come across anything unsettling or out of place; which she does in a few shots time.
An over the shoulder shot is shown of the blindfolded mother as she searches carefully.
A tilt shot down of the hiding girl is shown as she laughs quietly at her mother. As the camera shot is looking down at her, it shows that she does not have much authority.
A straight edit to a wide angle shot is used to show the room she walks into. This room also is dull, adding and carrying on the dark, gloomy effect. As she searches around slowly, she stops positioned on the left third of the screen, facing the camera so viewers are able to see her expression. A loud, emphasised unlocking, squeak sound echoes in the room followed by all non-diagetic sound fading out to a stop. The wardrobe, where the unlocking sound originated from, is in the middle at the far end of the room as all attention is drawn to it when the door opens slowly; creaking as it does, revealing blackness on the inside. This shot is much longer than the previous shots to make the audience aware that something is wrong and to create more suspense. The camera moves slightly throughout this clip to make viewers relate more and feel like they are there.
A quick fade to black and fade in is shown as a non-diagetic sound is used to link the two shot together. This shot is showing the mother facing the wardrobe. She carries on the game, like normal, asking the ‘person,’ or 'being' to clap. When it does, the clap is emphasised slightly and echoes through the room.
A close up of the mothers blindfolded face is shown with her arms outstretched. She speaks in the silence, drawing all attention to her voice. The fact that she’s smiling hugely and is unable to see is very unnerving as viewers do not know what is in the wardrobe either. However viewers know that it is something wrong as the atmosphere in the speed and non-diagetic sound has changed.
A mid-shot of her searching the clothes in the wardrobe is shown as a heavy breathing is included in the diagetic sound, confirmed by the mother saying “I can hear you breathing”.
A low thudding sound is played in the non-diagetic sound to add suspense, followed by children’s laughter in the diagetic sound. The thud is played with the transition of the straight edit to a close up of the mothers face. Her expression changes from looking very happy, to shocked and confused. The mother quickly takes off her blindfold to find that the girl she thought was in the wardrobe was not even in the same room as her.
An over the shoulder shot from the mother's point of view is shown as the child peers around the door still happy, unaware of the situation. This is stereotypical for a girl of her age as they think that everything is ‘fun and games’. She’s also very talkative which also is a stereotype for her age.
A straight edit to a mid shot of the mother staring at her child is shown, capturing the emotion on her face, showing the seriousness and confusion. The wardrobe is still open behind her in this which makes viewers question whether the ‘thing’ is still in it.
Another over the shoulder shot is used as the girl is closer in the room to her mother. The camera angle is tilted down on her to emphasise how little she knows about what has just happened. The mother does not say anything, keeping her thoughts and confusion to herself, to not worry her child.
A mid-shot of the mother is shown searching the wardrobe again for some sign. The dull lighting adds to the murky feeling.
This shot fades out quickly as text saying ‘BASED ON A TRUE STORY’ is zoomed in on. This is more relatable for viewers and can make them more terrified. It also entices people to want to watch it if it’s based on real life activities.
Crickets and insects are heard as s slow fade in of the house is shown at night time with only few lights on. This creates a lonely, isolated atmosphere. Darkness and night time can scare people. Many ‘what if’ questions are asked because we do not know the answers such as:
What if there is someone standing in the shadows but you cannot see? What are they doing there if they are? Are they human? Are they in the house? Is the door locked for the character’s safety?
The house is zoomed in on slowly, linking into the fact that there is not much happening. An eerie, high pitch, tinkling sound is played in the non-diagetic sound which puts viewers on edge.
An over the shoulder shot of the mother inside the house is shown. Her face is visible to viewers as the camera is positioned so that you can see her in the mirror. The door to her room is open, showing the darkness in the corridor, making viewers ask the ‘what if’ questions again. Children’s laughter is heard. This is scary as children’s laughter in the day time is much different to in the night. This is because children are stereotyped to be innocent and kind natured but it is known that horror films can use this vulnerable image and challenge their stereotype by making them evil and twisted.
A mid shot of the mother walking through the dark house is shown as she walks towards her children’s bedroom checking that they are asleep as they should be.
A few straight edits are used to show each child in their own bed asleep.
A mid shot of the mother is shown to capture her expression about the noise she has just heard and to realise that she does not know where it has came from. The clip is quiet here to build suspense. As it has been quiet for a short amount of time, this makes the next crashing sound seem much louder and more effective. The mothers expression becomes shocked and reacts quickly to see where the smashing sound has come from. The camera tracks her out into the dull hall way as another child laughing is heard.
The camera shot becomes a first person shot and shows the pictures falling off the wall and down the stairs. As this is event is out of the ordinary, this will scare viewers as to why that is happening. A sharp, high pitched, non-diagetic sound is sounded and stops abruptly as a straight edit to a black screen appears (linking into the dull, dark feeling).
An eerie sound arises as a very quick fade in and out of the mother walking cautiously down the stairs.
The next fade is of her when she’s at the bottom of the stairs, capturing the worried expression on her face. She’s alone with two children asleep upstairs. This can be frightening as it is stereotyped for women to be vulnerable, and for her to be on her own with responsibilities can make viewers want to know what happens to them.
Another fade out and in is used to break up the shots. This makes it so that viewers won’t know every detail unless they see the film. This shot is of the mother trying to find out what it is that has happened.
A long shot of the mother in the dark building is shown. Her body language shows that she is on edge. A noise is heard and her whole body twitches to the sound.
The non-diagetic, eerie sound is played throughout as a tracking shot of the mother from behind is shown as she calls out asking who it is. The camera spins around her showing her worried face which contrasts with her brave voice; this also makes the shot become longer compared to the previous shots. The camera has turned a 180 degree turn to now show an over the shoulder shot of the woman with a pitch black room through the door. This carries on the dark affect and can make people feel claustrophobic as the darkness can be as big or as small as the mind lets it to be. The same sound is used (a clapping sound) which links the whole trailer together as it is like the game the family played happily at the beginning. This makes viewers think that the child ‘being’ is playing a twisted game, going against the sweet, innocent stereotype of a child.
A shot of the mother is shown again as she comes closer to the dark room. Many angles of her are shown in the shots to show viewers her body language and facial expressions to their potential.
A first person shot, zooming into the darkness is shown as a loud, emphasised, non-diagetic sound is built up which is for putting viewers on edge and to speed their heart rate up.
The non-diagetic sound unexpectedly stops as the light switch is turned on. A low angle shot from inside the room is shown looking up the stairs to the woman. As she is looked up at, this shows that she has more power than whatever it is that she’s looking for. However, because the ‘being’ is leading her there, it shows that she is as vulnerable as the stereotype makes out to be.
A high angle shot from behind the woman is shown as she looks into the darkness. She turns on the light which is only dim, making viewers still uneven about the being alone but not completely alone feeling created in the atmosphere.
A first person shot is shown when she turns the light on. Viewers are now able to see that it is a basement. This is not good for the character’s situation as basements are seen as dark, gloomy places where storage is kept and dust is gathered as nobody comes here often. This makes it a prime spot for any ‘bad’ characters to be based as there tends to be only one way out, there is not any contact with outside life and it carries the gloomy, claustrophobic, dirty feeling.
A shaky first person shot is shown peering into the basement, showing old junk piled up and covered with dirty white sheets. The basement walls and floor are a dull, grey concrete colour. This adds to the dullness. A quiet noise is made from inside the basement.
A squeaking sound of the door shutting as the woman goes to walk through the door is slammed shut creating a loud *bang*. This was deliberate by who she was talking to. She hits her head on the door making her fall backwards.
A shot of the light bulb in the basement is shown blowing up as a scream is heard. This leaves the room in darkness which is terrifying and brings back the claustrophobic feeling. Footsteps of banging of some sort are made with another few screams from the woman calling to be let out of the darkness. She calls for her daughters making viewers scared that they either may not hear her or they will be brought into the haunting too. A low eerie sound is played while this is happening to add more suspense and break up the darkness.
In the darkness, the striking of a match is emphasised as the woman holds a match up. The eerie sound leaves when this happens, leaving the woman in silence again which builds greater tension. The flicker of the flame makes it seem like there is something there when it may just be a shadow. Diagetic sound of her scared breathing is heard which make viewers scared and feel uncomfortable for her.
Her silhouette is shown of her head from an over the shoulder shot, looking into the blackness. This makes viewers feel that there might be something behind her.
A close up of her holding the match, looking into the darkness is shown. The orange glow created by the match makes her worried expression exaggerated when the flames flicker. The silence is carried out for further anxiety. Out of the blackness framing her, hands quickly appear in the glowing of the match and clap twice. A straight edit to black is shown as her scream is emphasised and prolonged into the darkness of the screen.
A child’s trinket box tune is innocently played as the tile ‘The Conjuring’ appears in bold, yellow writing. The editors have decided to place the title here as they have the viewer’s attention by this point as they want to see what happens to her. The title appears to say that they have to watch the film to entice them to watch.
The trinket box tune is slowed down at the date of when the film is to be released is shown in the same font.
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