Insidious

By: Hassan Taher

Summary of the film

opening
At the start of the opening we see a young child in
bed, sleeping. We then led through the house
and see a shadow in the window, and then we
get close tothe shadow which turns out to be a
ghostly woman. We then see the title of the film
and go on to another location. At the other
location we get to see all the different rooms in
the house. In most of the shots we see a ghostly
happening or a shadow of some sort.

Mise-en-Scene

Costume: in the opening sequence we dont see an other people other than the
ghostly figures, we mainly see shadows . When we get a close up on the woman
holding a candle, she looks as if she is wearing a dark veil and dark old-fashioned
clothing, suggesting she is evil.
Lighting: throughout the opening sequence the lighting is low key suggesting it is
mysterious, also some shots there is only a certain part of the room highlighted and
the rest is black, showing the importance of certain place also suggests something is
hidden. This links to the conventions of the genre horror.
Actors: We only see a picture of the main characters in a family photo. In the photo
they look to be a happy family, smiling and all in pale clothing suggesting their
innocence. However, the adult male in the photo isnt smiling and has a ver stern look
on his face, suggesting he isnt as innocent as the others. He is holding his family
close suggesting he is protective.
Make-up: When we see the womans face close up, she is quite wrinkly and pale,
showing her age, the area around her eyes is ver dark suggesting there is more to tell.
Props: the grandfather clock is featured quite a lot in the opening of Insidious showing
it is important. The clock fits the conventions of a horror film.
Location: the location of the opening is the family home of the main characters, the
audience sees all the different rooms, because it is in black and white it is fairly
spooky and uncomfortable. In the rooms we can see that the family has just moved in
as there is cardboard boxes.

Editing
The editing is quite slow, giving the audience a chance to take it
all in and a sense of enigma. After ever shot there is a fade out
from one shot and another fade into the next making it look
mysterious, also when we go into the next shot it is unfocused
suggesting confusion within the house.
The film opening is black and white apart from the beginning
giving a sense of unease. The connotations of black is evil and
mystery and the connotations of white suggests purity, goodness
and innocence giving the idea that the film will have clash of good
and evil.
There is a long shot on the grandfather clock down a corridor, we
can only make out the clock. There is then a jump cut bringing
closer to the clock with a flickering glow around it suggesting it is
significant. This link well to the conventions of the genre.

Camera

We can see an establishing shot at the new location, and to

tell the audience where they are. There is an aerial shot
looking down the staircase and a shadow at the bottom,
also being a point of view shot showing something is
watching and giving a sense of enigma. The slight tilt on
the clock gives a sense of confusion and unease.

Sound

In the opening there is a non-diegetic music, at the

beginning the music is sort of ringing in your ear echoing
sound. When we first see the shadow we hear high pitch
violin being played fast. There isnt a sound bridge to
emphasise shock of seeing the shadow. When we get close
to the womans face it goes quiet and then the title tilts
shows up with high pitch music to make the audience
jump, again no sound bridge. After the title the rest of the
opening has a eerie, mysterious feel to the music, to give a
sense of unease.