1. Microanalysis of the Exorcist
The opening sequence of this horror film is very short but
basically sums up the mood, genre and theme of this film.
It starts with an establishing shot of a window from a distance
with shadows covering the edges of the window perhaps to
show the ‘darkness’ within the room where the poltergeist could
well be. This supports the main conventions of a horror film as
the shadows cover the windows and the sinister slow backing
track showing demonic themes.
It then goes into a crane shot as it pans to the side and sweeping
down the house and into the street. The environment outside the
house show that the family in question are very well off and
perhaps hold a large presence within the community. The dark
demonic sounds are continued with the addition of ambient
synchronous sounds of wind blowing through the bushes at the
bottom of the shot.
The pan continues across into the street where the backing track
starts to get louder and more prominent as it fades away into a
close up of a religious statue as the music gets more eerie. The
religious factor of the exorcist is incredible important as the
poltergeist that possesses the child is seen as the devil inside the
girl and that the presence of god is the only savior for the

2. possessed. During this era of horror movies there is particular
fear of the evil children and possession
The sequence then goes into the credits where the music goes
into a very high-pitched stings sound with very long, red writing
symbolizing danger with black background perhaps to show the
unknown or the darkness surrounding the fear of possession
during this era. It then finishes off with yet another religious
sound but this time it is the sound of Muslim prayer, which is
strange as this is primarily a Christian themed religious film of
evil children and possession.