The document analyzes the opening sequence of the film Insidious through its use of lighting, editing, mise-en-scene, sound, and camera shots. Dark lighting and shadows create an unsettling atmosphere, while household items establish the family's vulnerability in their new, large, and eerie house. Creepy sounds and irregular editing build tension. Shots from the creature's perspective and of supernatural events reveal to the audience that the house is haunted.

1. InsidiousTextualAnalysis
Insidious,DirectedbyJameswanisa verysuccessful supernatural horrorfilm.The film
depictsthe fearsof possessionandevil anditusesachildbecause ontheirvulnerability,
thishelpscreate the terrorand suspense.
I will be analysingthe microelementsof the openingsequence,commentingonthe use
of lighting,editing,mise-enscene, andsound andcamerashots.
Mise En scene
The firstscene isof a Childsbedroom,we know thisbecause the scene featurespropssuchas toys,
teddybear,anda child-like bedsheetcover.Thishelpsusunderstandthe innocence and
vulnerabilityof achild,thiscreatesafearwithinthe audience astheystartto fearfor the child.
The corridor ispitch blackand we see justa single candle,thiscouldreflectthe ideathatthere will
be a glimpse of hope orescape inthe filmacandle isa commonconventionof horrorfilmsand
representsakindof gothichorror.
There are generichouseholditemslikelamps,chairsandtables,andconnotestousthat thisisa
regularfamily.Thisfollowswithashotof boxeswhichgivesusthe impressionthe familyhasjust
movedintothishouse.Thiscreatesasense of fearbecause the familyisunaware of potential
dangerswithinthe house andtheyare ina vulnerableposition.The house islarge andeerie whichis
genericiconographyandcreatesimmensehorrorbecause thisisthe typical settingsforhorrorfilms.
The attic door opensonitsown whichimpliesthatthe house maybe haunted.Itis as if the house is
luringtheminside,thistellsthe audience thatthishouse hasamindof itsown.
Lighting
Dark lightingthroughoutthe opening sequence,there are afew lighterplacesthatdrawsthe
audience attentiontothe area.The dark lightingdenotesthe fearof the unknownandconveysthe
fearwe don’tknowwhat maybe lurkinginthe shadows,itgivesthe audience anunsettlingfeeling.
Shadowsare createdby the verylow lighting;we see shadowsbutnofiguresof people. There’sa
silhouettes of aface in the windowwe cansee thisdue to the single lightreflection,thiscreatesfear
for the audience because we cansee someonethere buthave noideaof personal detailsasthe
character ison the outside of the window,thisisanenigmacode as the audience beginstoquestion
whatthis figure islookingat.

2. Sound
The filmusesthe typical horrorfilmsounds;amixture of creepyeerie soundsunsettlesthe
audience.The use of nondiegeticsoundsof faintknockingandscratchinghelpscreate the suspense.
At the start of the sequence we hearnoisessuchas creakingfloorboardsanddoorsmakingloud
bangs.Whenthe creature appears there’san atonal,highpitchednoise thisscaresthe audience and
adds tothe narrative.We hearthe tickingclock,whichreflectsthe ideaof anirregularheartbeat.
Once titlesare overit fallssilentagain,creatingthateerie atmosphere again.
EditingandCamera Shots
The titlesare overblack andwhite clipsfromareaswithinthe house fromthe startof the opening
creditsmakesthe filmstartof ina freakymanneras soonas it starts.The blackand white soonfades
intocolourand slowlygrabsthe audience attention. The clipscutveryslowlyandhelpsbuilds
tensionforthe viewerandkeepsthemengagedinthe plot.The Cantedangle leavesthe audience
unsettledasitportraysthat somethingisnotrightand furthertellsthe audience thatthe house isin
haunted.There isa bird’seye viewshotfromthe topof the staircase,thishelpscreate the ideathat
somethingiswatchingthem andhasthe poweroverthem. The audience getstosee fromthe
creaturesprespective.Slowlythroughoutthe clipwe gettowitnesssupernatural thingshappening
such as chairsmovingandpaintingfallings,if the audiencedidn’talreadyknow,theyknow now that
thishouse itshaunted.