The opening sequence of the movie The Conjuring uses various film techniques to set the tone of horror and suspense. Dark colors, gloomy lighting, and a damaged doll with a sinister smile are used to make the audience feel uneasy. Extreme close-ups of the doll's stitched face instantly engage viewers and play on their fears. Creeping violin music stops abruptly, heightening tension. While the doll is dressed as an innocent girl, its destroyed appearance signifies danger. These elements draw viewers into the story and make them anticipate the unknown horrors to come.
2. Genre
Instantly from the introduction to the movie
producers the idea of horror was clearly shown. The
dark colours create a gloomy uneasy feeling to the
audience making the idea of horror clear to them.
The grey colour signifies the lifeless idea
foreshadowing the upcoming events of the possible
horrors that are involved during the movie. As it
moves closer to the camera it starts to break and
split into individual pieces. This signifies the
separation of the audience and reality as they
watch the movie and draws the attention off other
aspects around them and fully on the movie.
3. Shot 1
This very first shot of the element of the extreme
close up of the doll stitches the audience instantly
creating the engaging and excitement feeling
throughout the audience. the damaged doll
signifies the terror the doll has been through
playing on the audiences fears of the doll. The dark
shadows on the dolls face and on the back wall
represents the feeling of presence and brings the
doll to life making the audience shiver in fear
knowing the doll is alive for the unknown reasons
that are yet to be revealed in the movie.
4. Shot 2
• This then has a slow zoom revealing half of the
dolls face much the the audiences disapproval
due to their fears. Over this is narration of the
main character speaking about the doll bringing it
to life in negative ways. This makes the audiences
fear enhance. the low key lighting is enhanced
creating a dull feeling of the soul beyond the
body. The sinister smile that is plastered on the
face of it signifies mischief and terrors that have
occurred due to the doll.
5. Shot 3
After narration from the main characters the
camera moves to a full body shot of the doll
showing off the rags it is wearing and how
destroyed it is. This signifies the caution the
audience will feel. The doll is dressed as a young
innocent girl which contradicts the idea of it
creating horror for the people as they are known
to be cute and nice however this doll does not
fit this criteria.
6. Music
as the opening sequence starts, violin play in a
screeching way making the audience cringe and
worry in fear. The abrupt stop to the music signifies
an unplanned end to something foreshadowing to
the audience what possibly could happen. The
sound scape builds to a crescendo creating an
enigma. As the sound increases the feeling of a
presence there increases making the audience feel
as if they are on the edge of their seat and there is a
sudden increase in tension highlighting the
unwanted presence.
7. Time Period
This movie was set in 1971. This is clearly shown as
the doll is very old fashioned. It would instantly
remind the audience of their grandparents house as
it is dolls often found there. This signifies the the
producers attempt to draw the audience in and
make them feel as if they are a part of the movie
and as if they were there and going through the
same horrors creating their instant attention to be
fully drawn to the movie anticipating to find out
what happens.
8. Warner Bros
Warner Bros are known to make family friendly
movies and the introduction to it is normally
blue and bright. However for this horror it was
dark creating this unfamiliar felling throughout
the audience. This signifies the different
atmosphere that the movie producers will bring
making the audience excited.