Horror Genre, Possession

By Adam Belhocine Tom Macklin

Marcus Cleversly

Sinister - 2012 Insidious Chapter - 2011 The Possession - 2012

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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.

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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

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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

Horror Conventions, musicInto: 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)

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.

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.

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Thanks for listening

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