The document provides a detailed analysis and deconstruction of the 2012 horror film The Possession. It examines various scenes and elements of the film including the poster, tagline, characters, lighting, sounds, editing techniques, and how they conform to genre conventions. For example, it notes that the poster depicts a young female victim with innocence to conform to common horror conventions. It also analyzes specific scenes like the moth scene and exorcism scene, describing the camera shots, lighting, sounds and how they build tension and relate to themes of good versus evil.

1. Deconstruction of
The Possession
Chloe Hennessy

2. The Possession (2012)
Film Poster Analysis
‘Based on a true story’ – commonly
mentioned in horror films to make the
concept seem more scary and realistic to a
believing audience.
Main Image of Hand over face – covering
eyes, nose mouth to show it is blocking her
senses and ‘possessing’ her. Shows genre
Young Girl – conforms common convention
of female child victim
Wearing White – connotes innocence – film
quote ‘The devil looks for innocence and
pure soul’
Masthead – Possession biggest word as it is
significant. The title of the film shows the
audience what the film is about and the font
is simple and the white stand out against
the black.
Release Date – Only bright colour on the
poster, written small but attracts attention
as it is red. Suggests danger is imminent
‘Darkness Lives Inside’ Tagline – dark vs.
light, adds enigma as the audience want to
know what the darkness is
Billing Block – small text to avoid taking
attention away from main image and
masthead. Still readable to allow audience
to see that well known actors are involved.
Website – smallest text on page as it is not
significant towards selling the film however
it is important for the promotion.
Low saturation and black/white/grey brown
colours in main image – depicts genre

3. Deconstruction of The Possession (2012)
Moth Scene – 25.04 – 27.04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JS-7tt_1RM
Mise-en-scene - Low Key
Lighting shows box in dark
and young girl dressed in
white in slight light.
Sound – continuous high pitched violin
sound, slightly out of tune as box opens
itself. Shows possessed objects (Code
and Convention)
Camera Shots & Mise-en-scene – Close up of box
shows moths. Moths represent souls and
metamorphosis so change in character which is
happening to Emily.
26:48 – Camera cuts to black
screen as trumpet/orchestral
music build in pitch as light is
switched on to show a wide
Emily sitting in the room
surrounded by hundreds of
moths. Child Victim
Sound – Percussion and cymbals
added to music when father enters
the room to get Emily. Adds to the
action and tension of the scene and
the diegetic sound of moths wings
is and becomes uncomfortable for
the audience.
Mise-en-scene – Mother isn’t present when the action
is occurring in this scene – not a typical nuclear family
seen in horror films which subverts to common codes
and conventions (also seen in scenes before)
Mise-en-scene – rain visible
through blinds, common
convention of storms in horror
films.
Editing – sudden jump
cuts to black. Before he
opens the door and
after he has taken her
from the room.
Inconclusive and adds
enigma as the scene
has no official end or
solution.

4. Deconstruction of The Possession (2012)
43.05 – 45.40 – Emily goes to get the box
Camera Shots –cuts to
different handheld shots
(medium, close up, reaction)
of girl responding to
woman’s voice
Sound – Non-diegetic sound of fast hits
of a metal object increases tension and
is a loud addition to the low strings
Editing – fast match on action editing shows Emily
running to get the box then putting it down on the
ground. Adds pace and tension.
Mise-en-scene – Moths shown
again flying around the box and
around the light. The light
representing God or heaven
which is religious. Moths are
attracted to the light which
shows they are attracted to
death. - conforms
Mise-en-scene – very bright light
above girl makes her seem pale
which adds to the abhuman
characteristics of her while she is
possessed and makes her look
vulnerable and weak as she is the
victim – conforms.
Camera Shots – cuts between long
shots and close ups to show the
quiet location and her troubled
situation to show she is helpless.
Mise-en-scene – empty, dark, isolated area. Shows
she is alone. There is a contrast between the strong
light and dark background. Battle between light and
dark – good vs. evil - conforms
Sound – croaky
woman’s voice whispers
in foreign language
from box, to which
Emily replies in her own
voice as she attempts to
go against what the
woman is asking her to
do. ‘No. No. NO’

5. Deconstruction of The Possession (2012)
Exorcism Scene – 1:14.37 – 1:18.00 plus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvsV3oQEZTY
Mise-en-scene - Emily
usually dressed in white
when strange things occur.
Innocence ‘The devil looks
for innocence and pure
soul’ Wearing green in this
scene which connotes
safety.
Camera Shots – close up of blood dripping on
hand tilts up fast to close up of Emily’s
disfigured face screaming – Jump Scare
Sound – ‘oil represents light, water represents darkness’
light vs. dark/good vs. evil, lots of water in room which
begins to move. Loud shouting and deep music builds.
Mise-en-scene – large white room
with high key lighting, candles.
When the exorcism is unsuccessful
Emily runs away to a red room – red
connotes danger, blood, power, the
devil, all of which like to the demon
which has possessed Emily.
Camera Shots - long shot of dark room
shows bodies organised in rows
covered by white sheets. This shows
Emily ran into a morgue and this link
with conventions of death and the
attraction to death. Editing –fast cuts
between light flashes on each
character and black screen which get
faster.
Narrative – New equilibrium – subverts
to convention of no happy ending, then
there is a jump scare and it ends
suddenly on disequilibrium
Sound – repetitive diegetic dialogue ‘Daddy, you
scared me’ followed by a short cry, this becomes a
repetitive chant which is quite eerie and then the
voice of the demon overpowers Emily’s high voice.
Mise-en-scene – red light
smashes and room goes
dark. Showing the demon
(dark) controlled the light.
Good vs. evil Lights also
flash which shows fight
between light and dark.