'The Conjuring' Opening Deconstruction

Mise En Scene (Including Camera Angles/Shots And Lighting)

• Production titles have been used in the opening between 0.00s to 0.16s. Typography has been manipulated in order to create an eerie first impression, helping to complement the genre. This is achieved through the use of changing Warner Brothers' colour scheme to black and white. The colours have ghost like connotations.

• The audience first see an extreme close up of a horrific looking doll. The shot enables us to receive a direct address; inviting the audience into the doll's possessive look. This fulfils audience pleasures, as we instantly receive a shocking image.

• A two shot denotes two young women reporting an incident. The shot enables the audience to see how they have experienced this terror together, equally.

• Note how low key lighting has been used to help create an eerie atmosphere - the type of lighting holds dark, negative connotations being appropriate for the context of the sequence.  

•  A low angle, medium close up is used when the two enter their apartment. The shot connotes someone waiting for them as they enter, telling the audience something negative may occur. The height of the camera angle suggests the doll is waiting for them.

• A high angle shot denotes a piece of paper with the phrase "Miss me?" written on it, in red. The red font has connotations of death and blood. The audience can see the girl's hand holding the note, allowing us to almost view the note from her perspective.

• Under lighting has been used for the low angle shot of the blonde girl. The under lighting enhances the girl's facial expressions which show fear.

• Close up shots are used to denote certain objects which have been mishandled. The shot type effectively exemplifies the destruction the possessed doll has caused.

• Low key lighting has been consistently used throughout this part of the sequence, in order to hold the spooky atmosphere.

• A long shot has effectively been used when one of the girls appears to opening the door, in response to the thumping. The shot connotes that something unappealing will appear from outside.

• A close up of a male is denoted. The shot raises an enigma within the audience, as the audience are unaware of who this character is. The use of low key-lighting further questions the male's role in the film.



• A two shot denotes the male and another unknown character, a female, blond haired and blue eyed. The shot connotes they may be a team in the film, or even a couple.



 

Camera Movement

• When the victims are retelling their experiences, a steadi cam is used to focus the audiences' attention towards the characters. In this way, the audience are able to examine the characters' facial expressions accurately.
• Tracking is used to follow the woman's movement when picking up the note. The camera movement effectively allows the audience to feel as though they are experiencing the incident.
• As the girls move down the corridor, the camera zooms out. The movement effectively builds audience expectations, as the audience expect to see something shocking being revealed.
• A zoom is used again, but this time the camera zooms from the high angle shot of the doll being thrown into the garbage bin.

Editing

• Straight cuts are made use of in order to make occurrences more sudden.

Sound

• The opening is introduced with non-diegetic sound. The sound initially sets a daunting atmosphere, making the audience receive a spooky vibe to the film.
•  The audience then hear diegetic dialogue of the words "it scares us just thinking about it". Already, the audience assume that a scary incident has occurred. The fact that the sound is off-screen, the audience become more suspicious and curious to know what is happening.
• From the rest of the dialect, on-screen diegetic sound, the audience can relate to the sub-genre of the film - supernatural horror.
• Non-diegetic sound again is used. This time it builds suspense when the girl is opening the door, to see if the doll has violated anything.
• When the immediate straight cuts are used for the vandalised objects, a low note of a piano is used. The non-diegetic effectively complements the sudden straight cuts. It has negative connotations.
• On-screen diegetic sound is used for the crayon rolling. The sound is synchronous to the movement - adding to the realism.
• The audience hear non-diegetic eerie music, with diegetic sounds such as, the bin lid closing. The closing of the lid is loud, and effectively concludes the incident, allowing silence to be made more pivotal.
• Sudden diegetic door thumping sounds are heard followed by on screen diegetic door creeks. Therefore, sounds have effectively conformed the conventions of the film's sub genre.