1.There will be suspense, cultural contexts such as societal fears or taboos, and emotional responses will be invoked such as anxiety or fear. We also know that there will be iconic horror movie tropes and cliches. For example, the ghost hunter, the final person, the jock, the haunted house, etc. We also know that there will be loud noises and disturbing imagery to spook the audience and give feelings such as unease. Commonly, you will see the same two main themes such as paranormal activity and demonic presences, or slasher films with one main killer. These ideas came from the main types of horror films I’ve seen.
2.Horror films tend to be dark and ominous, creating mystery and fear of the unknown. The use of muted colors and natural lighting creates a grounded, almost eerie atmosphere. Foreshadowing is also used a lot in horror films and that creates anticipation. Audio in horror films also helps to make the film feel more horrific and decides on pivotal points in the film. Without audio in horror films, the impact of jump scares would be diminished, as sound plays a crucial role in creating tension and enhancing jump scares. The presence of loud noises heightens the element of surprise.
“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” pivotal points-
Arne asks the demon to spare David and enter him- This is an important moment at the beginning of the movie where 8 year old David is possessed and Arne begs the demon to take him instead. It shows Arne going from an innocent bystander to a vessel of evil. This scene is where everything changes for this character and the plot itself.
Arne stabs his landlord- while possessed, arne stabs his landlord 22 times and his case becomes the first American trial with demonic possession as a defense. This is an important message of the film because it reflects the whole name “the devil made me do it”
The Warren’s investigation and discovery- The “ghost hunters” Ed and Lorraine Warren find a witch’s totem in the Glatzel family’s home, which they suspect is the source of the satanic curse that led to David’s possession. This is a pivotal moment that provides a glimpse into what’s to come.
Kastner reveals his daughter is the satanist- a man named Kaster helping the warrens with their research of this satanic curse reveals his daughter Isla was the one behind releasing the demon and preying on the Glatzel family. She is an occultist. This is a major plot twist.
Lorraine finds the altar- Lorraine is led into the tunnels underneath the house to the altar where the occultist Isla performs her satanic rituals. Ed ends up destroying the altar, releasing Arne from his possession. Isla is then killed by the demon she released. In the end, Arne ends up serving 5 years in jail for manslaughter and was never to be possessed again. This ultimately serves as the resolution of the film.
Zoe Pecuszok
I thought the analysis on this film was very accurate and thorough. I appreciated your sense in having a specific focus on themes and tropes, such as haunted houses, paranormal activity, and slasher films. I also found it interesting that you added how important it is for the role of sound and music in horror films, particularly for jump scares and tension building. I especially appreciated how you highlighted how “the presence of loud noises heightens the element of surprise.” I definitely agree that the sound design in horror films or in any film honestly, tends to go unappreciated, but is a very effective tool for manipulating the audience’s emotional responses. I also see eye to eye with your perception on horror movies generally being dark and ominous as the movie “Hereditary” which was the movie I had chosen, was also very dark and dim lit, which only evoked more fear. Your pivotal points of the film also seem to have been reflected upon clearly as they display the use of plot twists, the theme of the sacrifice, the helpness Arne exhibits, and the element of demonic possession turning into legal defense by Arne stabbing his landlord. These chosen pivotal points are great as they’re not just plot devices, but they are essential to the film’s elements of evil. Overall, I think you did a great job in commenting on the visual techniques, character arcs, and suspense/cultural context.