We often have an idea of what to expect when we press play on a horror film. We expect the film characters to be terrorized by supernatural entities like spirits, ghosts, or evil forces. We are also aware that horror films frequently use loud sound effects or unexpected jump scares to really give us the creep. They do this by creating tension and suspense. It’s practically a given that the lighting will be dark and unsettling, creating shadows that suggest something is hiding in the backdrop. The popularity of the genre and references to it on the internet create a shared anticipation for tension, fright, and scary imagery, even if we haven’t seen a horror movie ourselves.
The Conjuring uses dramatic visual techniques to enhance these expectations. Director James Wan uses minimal lighting to create an unsettling environment in which every shadow in the room makes you think that something horrifying might happen at any moment. He gives us this impression by using lingering camera shots that pan slowly across empty spaces, particularly hallways or doorways, making the viewer feel like something or someone might appear. Because of the way the scenes are paced, viewers are always on edge and waiting for a scare, even if it doesn’t happen right away. Wan also frames scenes to emphasize isolation, whether it’s characters alone in a room or trapped in a tight space, the visual style further highlights their vulnerability to the spirits/ghosts around them.
Throughout The Conjuring, pivotal scenes push the story forward and deepen the horror. Early in the movie, when Lorraine Warren learns about the house’s dark history and past tragedies, her disturbed expression says it all. This is a revelation moment, where both she and the audience grasp the scope of the evil they’re facing. One of the daughters encounters an evil presence in the basement, which is another crucial moment. The change from mistrust to assurance that there is no questioning what is in front of her is symbolized by her wide-eyed fear. The film concludes with the scene where Lorraine fights to save the family in the final exorcism scene.
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