Horror Film Analysis 2- The Conjuring

0.08- The film starts with an extreme close up of a doll. It flashes on from a pitch black screen which is spooky. You hear talking, but only the doll can be seen, so the audience doesn’t know who is talking, but they are talking about the doll which is seen. The background is very dark which enhances the horror atmosphere as nothing can be seen apart from the doll who has a scratched face and a broken eye. It’s skin looks quite dirty which makes it look like an old doll. 

0.29- The close up shot of the doll cuts straight into a mid-shot of three people sat on a sofa. The lighting is dark enhances the horror theme because darkness could represent death, terror or that something bad is going to happen. Dialogue can still be heard throughout this frame.

0.36-The previous mid- shot cuts into a big close up shot of the three people at a different angle. The lighting is a lot darker and their faces aren't very clearly visible. Nothing can be seen in the background as the lighting is so dark. The only sounds you hear are the characters talking. This enhances the mysterious, eery atmosphere.  

1.04-This shot is a zooming shot, it keeps zooming into the doll which is sat on a chair and the end of the room where the other characters are. The background is very dark but a window can be seen at the back letting light into the room. The doll looks creepy with its eyes very widely opened and scratches over its face. As the camera zooms into the doll, you begin to hear tense music playing in the background of the characters’ conversation about the doll  

1.10-The shot of the creepy doll cuts into a shot of a closed door. You hear sound effects of the door opening and laughter. You see two characters come through the door, still laughing. Tense music is still quietly playing in the background throughout. The lighting is very dark, with only a little bit of light coming through the doorway. This is a medium long shot.

1.15-It goes silent and as man picks something up off the floor. It is a medium long shot which cuts into a close up of the letter he picked up off the floor which reads “miss me?” At this point, the tense music with violins and high pitched string instruments begins to play again.  

1.29- The characters walking down the hall and see the doll sat in the hallway. The characters continue to talk again here. It is getting darker as they enter the house and walk towards the doll. It’s so dark that only silhouettes of the characters can be seen. There is a spotlight shining onto the creepy doll which enhances the horror atmosphere.  

1.44-The music dramatically builds up to create more tension as they walk into the room past the doll in the hallway. It is a low angle looking up at the characters as they enter the room. You hear the door creaking as they enter. The room is pitch black, apart from a lamp which flickers on and off quickly.

2.09-They run out of the room, grab the creepy doll from the hallway and run outside to throw it in the bin. The tense music builds up then suspends on one note. Then a slam of the bin lid is heard and it goes silent and the screen goes black.