The opening sequence of The Conjuring uses black and white archival photos and newspaper clippings to establish the true story basis and set the dark, foreboding tone. Photos of the real families involved help introduce the characters and bond the audience with them, while negative lighting and shots of a graveyard emphasize the supernatural and themes of death. Brief footage of Ed and Lorraine Warren lecturing adds to the historical authenticity and credibility, helping increase the audience's fear knowing the story is based on real events.

1. THE CONJURING
Opening Sequence

2. This old black and white picture shows that this story is not only based on true
events but it’s a old story which gives it more of an authentic horror feeling for
the audience. It makes the audience more scared to know that this story is true
and seeing pictures of the real people make it more authentic. It also allowed the
audience to bond more with the characters.

3. This also allows the film to get to the horror faster because by showing us the
real pictures of the real people the audience is already introduced to the
characters and they don’t need a larger introduction in the film, long
introductions will make the audience lose interest in the film. We see that one
family has five children but the other only has one, this will help the audience to
tell them apart.

4. This shot is in the Negative light setting which is often used in paranormal
activity documentaries in which they hunt for supernatural creatures, mainly
ghost. Using this effect on the picture gives it a dark view and makes the
audience know that this is where the evil is, this is where almost all of the
supernatural activity will take place so when we visit it in the movie they will
know that something exciting or scary will happen.

5. In this shot it shows the Warrens at a collage giving a lecture about the
supernatural and possession, you see then doing this in the actual film and this
gives the film more historical accuracy credibility, this in tern also make the
audience more scared the more the film follows the actual events, most horror
film are made up but because this is based on real events it makes the audience
paranoid which leads to fear.

6. Using old newspapers to show the names of the crew shows the audience some
of the themes of the film but also makes it seem more realistic because
newspapers are about the facts (or supposed to be) it gives the impression that
this film is also very factual

7. The negative effect is used again in a shot of a grave yard, this suggest that death
is is a common theme in this film. It also gives the film a dark history of death
which gives the impression that the main evil in this film are going to be ghost
which is partly true, there are ghosts in the film and the only evil ghost is the
ghost of the witch Bathsheba who is the main antagonist, the other is a demon
which possesses the doll Annabel.

8. This is a shot a of the famous doll Annabel which is possessed by a demon, the
use of this shot is suggestive that this doll will play a part of the plot, it also
spikes the audiences interest in the doll and makes them want to see the film
Annabel so this is subtle advertising.

9. This is a shot of the title card for the film, it shows the audience a key setting for
the film, it shows us a noose which gives us the theme of death and its in black
and white which shows us a struggle between good and evil.