FILM TRAILER

ANALYSIS – ‘THE

CONJURING’

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.