The document summarizes key conventions in possession horror films from the early 2010s such as Sinister and Insidious. Some common conventions discussed include: 1) Films being set in isolated, abandoned locations away from civilization with dim lighting and dingy interior settings. 2) Children often being the targets of demonic possession since they are seen as innocent and can be manipulated as puppets. 3) Outsiders sometimes being brought in to help deal with the possession threatening the family.

1. Horror Genre, Possession
By Adam Belhocine
Tom Macklin
Marcus Cleversly

2. Sinister - 2012
Insidious Chapter - 2011
The Possession - 2012

3. 3
the film is set in an isolated town
house quite far from
civilisation
convention 1
convention2
the houses are usually dimly lit
and are a bit dingy inside , often
with old christian decor
convention 3
the make up is very dark around the eyes and veins are prominent in their faces
also the characters are kids and they are wearing very innocent clothing and have
very pale white faces.
convention 4
children are often possessed by a demonic force , children used as they
are seen as innocent and become a puppet for the demon.

4. 4
Convention 1:
Abandoned
locations
convention 2 :
dim lighting ,
dingy setting
convention 3 : ,
children used as they
are seen as innocent
and become a puppet
for the demon.
convention 4 : help is often drafted in from an outsider

5. 5
Convention 1:
Abandoned locations
convention 2 : dim
lighting , dingy setting
convention 3 : , children used
as they are seen as innocent
and become a puppet for the
demon.
convention 4 : help is often drafted in
from an outsider

6. Horror Conventions, music
Into: Music in Horror music is generally very long and broad notes to build
suspense and uncertainty for the audience.
An example from insidious uses:
-distorted chords
-with stings, long notes
-Long slurs
More essential music types would be:
-Jump scares sounds, used to scare the audience
-Long and loud crescendos to build LOTS of suspense
-Upbeat music, to give the characters hope, only to take it away >:)
-even silence is often used in possession films as audience’s don’t know
whats gonna happen next….
(Audience love the suspense and thrill that this music gives off)

7. Horror Conventions, Children character
types
In all three films we can see that the victims or main character’s are young children and considered
the protagonist. This is because they are easy to prey on and are helpless to such forces of evil. The
main demographic in the audience of these films are adults many of which have families and children
which makes it very easy to play on the adults fear, this what makes the child characters of the
possession horror genre so successful. It is also very unsettling for the audience too see innocents
being lost out of these children as we see them take on voices of grown adults, become extremely
violent and even use strong language.
We can clearly see that the director has purposely used the low key lighting to connote evil and has
picked a key light to be only on child reinforcing their importants to the film. We can also see how
the director has chose their acting through the uses of close up shots of their gestures and facial
expression. The audience can already see that theses children are uncomfortable and in unease. This
again disturbs the audience, but keeps them watching as they want too see the protagonists prevail
as they are a representations of innocence and good. Child characters of the possession horror genre
are key conventions of the modern day possession horror as we can see that these films are all made
around the year 2012.

8. Horror Conventions, Gender
character types
Females have been portrayed as being vulnerable in the past however in the modern day
horror genre they have been counter typed to being more of the hero character or main
character of the film and genre this is what makes them such key conventions.
Female characters tend to have a stronger spirit and have more superstition than male
characters, they tend to be the one that defeats the demon or possession.
Male characters have been portrayed in these films as somewhat cocky and over
confident however they are reassuring to the characters in the film this also reassuring to
the audience. They are usually portrayed as being masculine or physically strong and are
usually skeptical about the possession or demons presence.
Once the male character doubts himself we usually see the family fall apart or the demon
or possession become stronger. This is usually caused by the fathers of the families to
realise their own home is really haunted making the sense of security evaporate.

9. Thanks for listening
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