The Possession Opening Deconstruction

Mise En Scene

• The opening first shows the production company, 'Lionsgate'. The original colour scheme has been manipulated into connoting evilness. This relates to the genre.

• The audience then denote another film production company, perhaps synergised with 'Lionsgate' in making the film. The company also relates to the genre, more specifically the sub-genre, supernatural horror (as seen through 'ghost')

• The title is then denoted, 'The Possession'. Its white font creates a juxtaposition with the black background, connoting possession.



• The phrase "The following is based on a true story' is displayed, raising audience expectations. 

• A close up shot is denoted of an old woman. The audience can see she scared, through her facial expressions. High key lighting is used which sets a pleasing atmosphere . However, the audience identify something unusual is happening from the woman's terrified facial expressions, and so a disequilibrium is shown.

• A box is denoted. From hearing unusual sounds, an enigma is raised. The audience may wonder what this box is. 

• The audience then denote the woman's face beginning to deform. This conforms conventions audience expect to see in a supernatural horror/possession film - possessive movement.

•  The woman begins to show unusual possessive body movement, meeting audience expectations, as this is also a common convention. A low angle shot is used to focus the audiences' attention towards her level.

• A high angle shot is used to denote the woman's demonic face. The significance of the angle could either be, to signify the demonic force being above her, or to allow the audience to see her how they would do in a real life situation.

• The woman is thrown backwards, also meeting a common convention.

Camera Movement

• A steadi cam is used at the beginning of the sequence, slowly moving into the room. A woman is denoted, and so the camera movement may signify a supernatural figure spying on the woman.
• A zoom is used to zoom into the woman's face. This allows the audience to examine her facial expressions. The audience note that she is scared.
• A zoom is then used to focus on the box, suggesting that this box is a source of possession.

Sound

• Non-diegetic sound is used of a piano. The piano is slow, carrying dismal connotations. Therefore, an equilibrium is not represented, giving the audience a clue as to what type of opening to expect.
• The audience hear off-screen diegetic dialogue, one quite sinister. The sound may be from a demonic force.
• Once the audience denote the strange box, and the mysterious voice is still being heard, the audience assume the sound is coming from the box.
• An on-screen diegetic sound of a thump is heard (from the box). The audience as a result, know the box is a source of possession, helping to build their understand of the narrative. The thump is quite sudden, fulfilling audience pleasures.  
•  The sound of the clock ticking is synchronous to the movement denoted, building realism.
• The on-screen diegetic sound of the woman screaming and her bones breaking builds heavily on the climax.