Deconstruction
- 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.