FILM
TITLE: The Conjuring
YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 2013
GENRE/GENRES: Supernatural Horror
DIRECTOR: James Wan
YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 2013
GENRE/GENRES: Supernatural Horror
DIRECTOR: James Wan
Brief
Plot Outline
Set in 1951, this horror film is based on true events involving paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. A family made of the mother, father and their five daughters move into a worn down farmhouse. To begin with, everything seems to be going smoothly but paranormal events follow that cause panic within the household leading them to request the help of the paranormal investigators (The Warrens). The family and the investigators learn the history of the house and the secrets lying in the past and the female investigator notices links to a previous case which terrified her. The mother is soon possessed by the spirit witch that used to own the house (Bathsheba). After putting her own children’s lives in danger, the investigators decide they need to perform an exorcism. Eventually the mother fights off the spirit with memories of her family and Bathsheba is removed.
Set in 1951, this horror film is based on true events involving paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. A family made of the mother, father and their five daughters move into a worn down farmhouse. To begin with, everything seems to be going smoothly but paranormal events follow that cause panic within the household leading them to request the help of the paranormal investigators (The Warrens). The family and the investigators learn the history of the house and the secrets lying in the past and the female investigator notices links to a previous case which terrified her. The mother is soon possessed by the spirit witch that used to own the house (Bathsheba). After putting her own children’s lives in danger, the investigators decide they need to perform an exorcism. Eventually the mother fights off the spirit with memories of her family and Bathsheba is removed.
Which
two scenes impressed you the most? Why?
The scene that most impressed me was when the characters were experiencing a few problems with the house but nothing that seriously alarmed them. In the daytime the children asked their mother to play hide and clap, but later that night, the mother hears clapping and thinking it is the children, goes to see if they are in bed and they all are asleep. She goes looking in the dark basement and a pair of ghostly hands appears beside her head and clap together. What I loved most about this scene was the tension that built up while the mother was looking. Every so often you would hear hands clap together and you would feel part of the scene. When the claps appear beside her and clap, it is terrifying and one of the jump scare moments in a horror film. What I found impressive was how nothing but the forearms and hands were in the light, so you had no idea who they belonged to. I also thought it was very effective that point of view shots were used here to add to our feeling of being there in the moment with her.
Another scene which impressed me was
when the Warrens walked out of the house to take a moment outside, and you hear
a slight creaking sound disturbing the silence and as Lorraine turns around to
look at Ed, she sees the bottom half of a dead body wearing a dress that seems
to be hanging from a tree. Ed does not notice this, and what impressed me about
this scene was that the legs were not always in the shot and we could not
always see them, which makes the viewer confused as to whether they are
actually there or if Lorraine was imaging them. The point of view shots were
important in these scene because it leaves us wondering whether or not we can
believe what she is seeing. That is what I love in horror films; being confused
and not knowing for sure what is happening.
The scene that most impressed me was when the characters were experiencing a few problems with the house but nothing that seriously alarmed them. In the daytime the children asked their mother to play hide and clap, but later that night, the mother hears clapping and thinking it is the children, goes to see if they are in bed and they all are asleep. She goes looking in the dark basement and a pair of ghostly hands appears beside her head and clap together. What I loved most about this scene was the tension that built up while the mother was looking. Every so often you would hear hands clap together and you would feel part of the scene. When the claps appear beside her and clap, it is terrifying and one of the jump scare moments in a horror film. What I found impressive was how nothing but the forearms and hands were in the light, so you had no idea who they belonged to. I also thought it was very effective that point of view shots were used here to add to our feeling of being there in the moment with her.
How
has watching this film helped you understand this genre of filmmaking? Which
features on the genre checklist did you spot in the film? When? How?
Watching this film has helped me
to understand that there is more to making a horror film than you would
initially think. I already knew how hard it is to scare people, but I didn't realise that horror films aren’t just about scaring people with jumps, you have
to think into the storyline and the characters and link them to the viewers.
One technique is to make the villain seem human so that they then get more
scared by what could realistically happen. Also, researching paranormal events
before making a paranormal horror film seems like a great idea because not only
will you gain ideas for the storyline, but you can scare people by saying
‘based on true events’ which always adds to the spookiness. In this film, they
actually included images from the case this story was based on which proves
that it did actually happen.
While watching this film, I noticed many things from the checklist which proves that this film conforms well to the horror film conventions. The ‘serial/psycho killer’ was the spirit of Bathsheba in this case but she was not necessarily a serial killer, the male hero would be Ed Warren (the male paranormal investigator), and the female survivor (final girl) would be the mother because she dealt with the terrible events and survived by fighting off the spirit. This film did not require the slow and fast monsters or female victim because it was much more of a psychological film than an action. There were aspects of body horror in this film like when the mother was strapped down underneath the sheet and was spitting blood, but not too much.
The film was set in an enclosed creepy location, which is what is expected of a horror film and the fact that the house is old makes it even creepier. Low key lighting was used a lot in this film to show the difference between good and evil, as well as to create tension of being in the dark and not knowing what is happening. The music used in this film was always parallel to the film and fit in with the creepy, haunted location and was never out of place.
For example, one of the paranormal investigators finds an old music box and opens it. Usually, this music would seem contrapuntal to a horror film but with the horror films being produced in modern society, this tune has become something to fear and the audience find it chilling. The editing in this movie was the same as in any horror; there was quick, fast paced sequences when the characters were panicking or moving around quickly, and there would also be slow editing when we were following the characters walking around the house, searching for the mysterious noise etc. Collision cutting was used quite a bit in this film, as it is in other horror films, and was used to create jump scares and create tension. For example, one of my favourite jump scares was when the girls were looking at the wardrobe and silence filled the room when all of a sudden something flew from the top of the wardrobe into the room and screams filled the silence. The camera angles that were used in this film were effective and relevant to the content of the scene. Close ups are used the most in this film to show emotion on the character’s faces and how they are affected by the events. A powerful close up was when the investigators were talking by a tree and a dead body was suddenly hanging beside the man’s head.
Expressionist angles are used to show authority between the characters, for example the angle on the two paranormal investigators switches between high and low various times throughout the film which shows that they are powerful in some situations but they have their weaknesses and vulnerability. The main theme used in this film is the threat to yourself and others. The mother is in danger due to the spirit and then her children are put in danger because of this, which makes up the main theme of the movie. The ending to this film is quite open in my opinion because the camera zooms in on a music box moving round and when it is at the closest it gets, the music stops and instantly after it stops the screen goes black and there is a loud sound. This to me seems like they are setting up for the music box being relevant in case a sequel is made.
While watching this film, I noticed many things from the checklist which proves that this film conforms well to the horror film conventions. The ‘serial/psycho killer’ was the spirit of Bathsheba in this case but she was not necessarily a serial killer, the male hero would be Ed Warren (the male paranormal investigator), and the female survivor (final girl) would be the mother because she dealt with the terrible events and survived by fighting off the spirit. This film did not require the slow and fast monsters or female victim because it was much more of a psychological film than an action. There were aspects of body horror in this film like when the mother was strapped down underneath the sheet and was spitting blood, but not too much.
The film was set in an enclosed creepy location, which is what is expected of a horror film and the fact that the house is old makes it even creepier. Low key lighting was used a lot in this film to show the difference between good and evil, as well as to create tension of being in the dark and not knowing what is happening. The music used in this film was always parallel to the film and fit in with the creepy, haunted location and was never out of place.
For example, one of the paranormal investigators finds an old music box and opens it. Usually, this music would seem contrapuntal to a horror film but with the horror films being produced in modern society, this tune has become something to fear and the audience find it chilling. The editing in this movie was the same as in any horror; there was quick, fast paced sequences when the characters were panicking or moving around quickly, and there would also be slow editing when we were following the characters walking around the house, searching for the mysterious noise etc. Collision cutting was used quite a bit in this film, as it is in other horror films, and was used to create jump scares and create tension. For example, one of my favourite jump scares was when the girls were looking at the wardrobe and silence filled the room when all of a sudden something flew from the top of the wardrobe into the room and screams filled the silence. The camera angles that were used in this film were effective and relevant to the content of the scene. Close ups are used the most in this film to show emotion on the character’s faces and how they are affected by the events. A powerful close up was when the investigators were talking by a tree and a dead body was suddenly hanging beside the man’s head.
Expressionist angles are used to show authority between the characters, for example the angle on the two paranormal investigators switches between high and low various times throughout the film which shows that they are powerful in some situations but they have their weaknesses and vulnerability. The main theme used in this film is the threat to yourself and others. The mother is in danger due to the spirit and then her children are put in danger because of this, which makes up the main theme of the movie. The ending to this film is quite open in my opinion because the camera zooms in on a music box moving round and when it is at the closest it gets, the music stops and instantly after it stops the screen goes black and there is a loud sound. This to me seems like they are setting up for the music box being relevant in case a sequel is made.
Which
aspects of the film would you like to INCLUDE in your own trailer? Why?
Aspects of The Conjuring which I would like to use in my own horror trailer are mainly to do with how it scares the audience. I definitely intend to use collision cutting in my trailer as I feel like this is the best way to cause jump scares, as well as fast paced sequences when the action is happening. I would also like to use a similar cinematography to this film and would like to use close ups and expressionist angles as I feel this is the best way to portray emotion. Also, the dark mise-en-scene in this trailer is perfect in my opinion and I would like to use this in my horror film trailer. In addition to taking aspects from how the film was shot and edited, I would like to use similar context ideas and a similar storyline to this film. I am really interested and intrigued by the idea of basing my film on a true story, and also I most enjoy supernatural horror films that confuse the mind slightly like this film does, and so would like to use elements of this in my trailer.
Aspects of The Conjuring which I would like to use in my own horror trailer are mainly to do with how it scares the audience. I definitely intend to use collision cutting in my trailer as I feel like this is the best way to cause jump scares, as well as fast paced sequences when the action is happening. I would also like to use a similar cinematography to this film and would like to use close ups and expressionist angles as I feel this is the best way to portray emotion. Also, the dark mise-en-scene in this trailer is perfect in my opinion and I would like to use this in my horror film trailer. In addition to taking aspects from how the film was shot and edited, I would like to use similar context ideas and a similar storyline to this film. I am really interested and intrigued by the idea of basing my film on a true story, and also I most enjoy supernatural horror films that confuse the mind slightly like this film does, and so would like to use elements of this in my trailer.
Which
aspects of the film would you like to AVOID in your own trailer? Why?
One aspect I noticed while watching this film was the underwhelming use of ideologies. They don’t seem to be very obvious in this film and I would like to make my trailer more shocking and have strong themes and ideas as opposed to being solely about one particular theme. Something else I would like to avoid is how many characters there are. In The Conjuring, the family contains seven people which in my opinion is too many. On top of the family, you have the two investigators and the spirit which makes ten characters. Though some of them are not main characters, I noticed that I didn't connect as much with the minor characters and found that I didn't really recognise them individually and so wasn't too bothered about who lived and who died. I would like to avoid this in my film and make sure that the characters are all relevant and will all be remembered.
One aspect I noticed while watching this film was the underwhelming use of ideologies. They don’t seem to be very obvious in this film and I would like to make my trailer more shocking and have strong themes and ideas as opposed to being solely about one particular theme. Something else I would like to avoid is how many characters there are. In The Conjuring, the family contains seven people which in my opinion is too many. On top of the family, you have the two investigators and the spirit which makes ten characters. Though some of them are not main characters, I noticed that I didn't connect as much with the minor characters and found that I didn't really recognise them individually and so wasn't too bothered about who lived and who died. I would like to avoid this in my film and make sure that the characters are all relevant and will all be remembered.
What
was the best aspect/more enjoyable moment in the film? Why? Can you recreate
this in your own film? How?
For me, the most enjoyable moments in the film were the mysterious events happening around the house that would build up tension, and I liked them because I felt like I was in the moment and I was experiencing similar feelings as the characters would be. I also like the use of point of view and handheld shots by James Wan because it helped to connect me to the film and made me feel as though I was there. I did enjoy what happened when they all knew what was going on but I most enjoyed the lead up to it. I feel that I would easily be able to recreate this in my own film because tension is something that is easily created using slow editing and no sound, and can be made into a jump scare easily using collision cutting. These are the most iconic conventions of the horror genre and so it would fit perfectly in my horror trailer.
For me, the most enjoyable moments in the film were the mysterious events happening around the house that would build up tension, and I liked them because I felt like I was in the moment and I was experiencing similar feelings as the characters would be. I also like the use of point of view and handheld shots by James Wan because it helped to connect me to the film and made me feel as though I was there. I did enjoy what happened when they all knew what was going on but I most enjoyed the lead up to it. I feel that I would easily be able to recreate this in my own film because tension is something that is easily created using slow editing and no sound, and can be made into a jump scare easily using collision cutting. These are the most iconic conventions of the horror genre and so it would fit perfectly in my horror trailer.
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