Editing Task: Demonic Possession

I filmed my sister doing jerky, un-natural movements at the top of the stairs. The low camera angle gives her more dominance, which she would need being the demonic character as they have the most power. 

I filmed my sister on a Sony Handycam and then uploaded the video onto my iPhoto, this way I could then transfer it on to my iMovie for editing.

I imported my video from iPhoto onto iMovie. iMovie is a great programme to use as it gives a lot of different options such as sound effects and slow motion which you can customize to create the desired effect to suit the purpose of your video. 

I filmed my sister as one long video, which I did not realise would make cutting parts out a lot more tricky. To overcome this problem, I simply split the clip in the appropriate places, which then allowed me to cut out whatever actions I did not want.

Next I decided to speed up the video using fast forward (20x.) This made the actions look a lot faster and jerker, which ultimately made them look more un-natural and therefore more disturbing.

I then decided to customise the speed of  the 'fast forwarding'. Using 20x was too fast and made the clips stop or jump, greatly taking away from the desired effect.

I changed it to 200% which was slower, but worked a lot better as the sequence was of an un-natural speed still but flowed continuously instead of skipping or jumping like before. I selected the speed for each clip, and decided to slow the end right down, to give a much more frightening impact.

I then chose to rewind the clip, which made the actions play backwards, appearing much more un-natural than before, making my sister appear possessed which was very disturbing and would distress the audience.

I then stabilized any shaky video, as the camera was handheld because I did not have access to a tripod. This made the video quality much better and more professional. 

Finally, I added two different sounds effects for ultimate impact. I added a deep droning sound over the first few clips, and then added a thunder clap at the end. I made the sound at the start quieter and the thunder clap louder, which built up suspense and then made the audience (the people I have shown) jump. I added a 'fade to black' transition at the end, so the audience can use their imagination at the end, what did the possessed girl do next? 

Below is my final video. I am very pleased with the way it has turned out, especially after seeing the responses from people. It provides a frightening and disturbing impact, which was the ultimate purpose and links directly to the supernatural horror genre.

Religion represented in supernatural horrors

Religion is a large part of supernatural horrors as there are a lot of films that have exorcisms which normally have some sort of religious figure in them, The devil inside and The exorcism of Emily Rose.

The devil inside.

We learn that the protagonist’s mother was possessed by an evil spirit and ended up killing three people, she was then sent to a Catholic Church mental asylum in Rome. This piece of information shows that he church is interested in possessions and they are presented to be open to the idea of supernatural forces working through normal people.

The mental asylum is shown to be both sterile like a hospital as it uses all white and very religious as you can see crosses everywhere. The “doctors” are portrayed to be actual doctors and not just mad men as they have proper white lab coats and they conduct themselves in a very professional manor.

 

The possessed woman speaks in strange gibberish to reinforce the idea that she is in a human form but is more than just some crazy woman. The symbols on her arms are crosses which links in with her being at a Christian mental asylum. She even has a cross either scratched or burned into the insider of her lip. This could insinuate that her demonization started in one area and then spread to different parts of her body the worse it got.

One of the priests that the Isabella has employed is young and looks very vulnerable. The other priest is a lot more experienced and says that his background in medicine will help with the possessions, as he is melding science with religion. This makes the audience believe what he is saying more as he is not seen as a crazy religious exorcist.

 Even the image if the title has been surrounded by the crosses which were scarring Maria’s body.

The exorcism of Emily Rhodes.

The priest is represented as desperate and depressed as he is thought to be reason for Emily Rose death as the court thinks that she didn’t get adequate psychiatric and medical help. We also see him as vulnerable and scared when he is in his prison cell.

 

 When he is at court he seems to be unemotional and not fazed by anything that is being said.

In one of the flash backs we hear about anencounter that Father moore had with one of the spirits at 3am which is supposedly the devils hour as it is the opposite of 3pm which is widely accepted as the time of Jesus' death. There is mention of an exorcism showing to the audience that exorcisms are generall practice in the Catholic church.

 

 

You only

There is still the demonic voice of the demon used and Emily’s body moving on its own.

You find out in the film that there is six demons within Emily and that they were the demons that possessed Cain, Nero and Judas Iscariot, as well as the demons Legion, Belial and Lucifer.

The audience slowly learns to trust the priest and believes his story.

This film takes a new spin on the idea of religion in supernatural films as it start with the audience doubting the priest.

Opening Scene Deconstruction-Paranormal Activity 2

Realism 

 At the very beginning of the opening scene, we see this statement which adds realism to the film as the audience are likely to think that this is real if the families of the deceased, as well as police are being addressed. This is also achieved through the formality of the font in which the text had been written in. Also, the shifty camera movements reinforce the idea that this is a home movie in order to create realism.

"Paramount Pictures would like to thank the families of the deceased and the Carlsbad police department"

Innocence

Babies are usually portrayed as innocent as well as vulnerable, therefore to have a possessed baby strongly challenges this stereotype, which may cause the audience to be even more shocked when this is revealed, however, in the beginning scene, there are elements of innocence through the white furniture in the house, as well as the tidiness of most of the rooms within the house.

Camera Shots

As well as this, we see a number of establishing shots which introduce the audience to the family as well as the main location, the house. The characters are completely exposed to the audience as we are shown a main element of their private life.

This low angle shot highlights the idea that this film is being centered around the baby as he takes up most of the shot. It also higlights that this is meant to look like a homefilm, therefore this further adds realism.





In addition to this, the excited reaction shots of the family alongside the cheerful diegetic sounds of the lady, due to the baby's arrival, are ironic as though the baby is giving them joy now, this will be the same baby which leaves them all frightened and horrified later on. Also, the joyous atmosphere is juxtaposed with the tense and mysterious atmosphere later on in the film.

Mise en Scene

Hudson's sister's room, is the only one which is shown as untidy when the audience is given a tour of the house, which juxtaposes the rest of the house, which is portrayed as white and clean.

There is also a juxtaposition when the house had been made to look burgled. The house has been turned upside-down, with table and chairs tipped over, as well as cracks in the TV. The only room which hasn't been touched is the baby's room, which may cause the audience to have suspicions, as they would be expecting someone to be possessed due to the genre.  Also, the mid shot of the cracked TV highlights the destructive nature of the demon, which makes it even more horrific when the audience find out that the baby had been possessed by this evil spirit. 

The Possession Deconstruction

Mise en Scene

Genre- Thriller, Horror

 This shot shows the girls bedroom. It is typically girlie as it is messy, with pictures all over the wall and colours such as blues and reds. There are drawings in the background, which shows she is still fairly young. The low lighting creates a dull and sombre mood within the scene.

The house is a typical family home, surrounded by greenery and other houses. It is part of a friendly suburb, that is typical to the supernatural horror genre due to the sense of reality and feeling of security it presents.

The use of a pink lamp with heart-detailing to make shadow puppets again shows how young she is and her level of maturity. The fact that she is doing it with her dad means they are close and it gives a warm, family feel, which completely contrasts the events to come.

 The box is the main object, as it is the source of evil and cause of all supernatural events. The old wood style gives an eery feel, as it is obviously old and its past whereabouts are unknown, which would be disturbing to the audience (links to the genre.)

 Again there is a typical girls bedroom, with a pink lamp, mirror, bed, desk and chair. Allowing the audience to see she is just a typical young girl, which allows them to sympathise when really bad things start ti happen.

This shot shows the girl eating a casual everyday breakfast in a family home (white shutters,  with her father. This scene again re-enforces the realistic everyday life tasks that are being carried out, which the audience are able to relate to, and this makes things more distressing.

The use of characters of older religious values not only brings in the element of religion, but also allows some light to be shed on the events that occur (brings the audience up to date.) The use of old fashion costume allows the audience to realise that they will be characters of some significance. 

Having the young girl out in the dark in the middle of nowhere with the box on the floor in front of her creates an unrealistically troubling scene for the audience, it is obvious that something will occur in this scene, and that builds tension (linking to the supernatural horror genre.)

The laminate floor, electric plugs and contemporary walls shows that the house is modern, and it is set in this time, which is more distressing to the audience. Therefore the fact that creatures are coming out from under the door is un-nerving, as something behind there is obviously not right, building suspense.

 The audience is then able to see what is behind the door. The young girls bedroom is filled with small black creatures, creating a creepy reveal for the audience, The girls modern and typically girly room (bright bedding, desk, lamp, pretty mirror, light walls) in contrast to the horrible creatures flying around it frightening.

 The idea of science is then bought in, as the character is now in a hospital setting. The character going into the scanning device and all the hospital equipment that goes with it allows the audience to see that the other characters are searching for a scientific explanation that makes sense, however this is not the case.

 The young girl wearing white surrounded by white bedding represents innocence. The fact she is being read a bedtime story by her dad allows the audience to feel sympathetic towards her as she is still a child, and therefore anything that happens to her is perceived as much more horrific.

 The use of an old-fashioned ring (which is found in the box) allows the audience to try and make links between the object and the unusual events. Could the ring have a significant power behind it that has something to do with the supernatural occurrences? The dark blue spreading underneath it shows the character is being directly affected.

 The red lighting is symbolic in this case of evil and anger. The word 'exit' will be commonly associated within the audience as a way out, however the possessed character symmetrically standing in the way of it frightens the audience as it is like they are trapped. This links nicely to the supernatural horror genre.

The little girl using a small torch to investigate the strange happenings inside her, and the revelation of the fingers coming out the throat is un-natural and unpleasant, which the audience will find particularly unsettling.

Deconstruction of The Possession

Opening Credits

The opening credits at the beginning of the film appeal to the target audience as well as the genre, as the sudden loud non-diegetic 'whooshing' sound along with the skeleton figure (which seems to be peering though a keyhole) may startle the audience as though they are expecting to be scared, they may not be expecting this to happen so early on in the film.
 As well as this, at the beginning of the opening credits, the following statement came up: "The following is based on a true story". Though the audience cannot be completely sure of this, the statement add realism to the film as therefore, may frighten viewers as they believe that this actually happened.

The setting

The 'possessed' box is a key figure in the film so the audience are introduced to it from the very beginning scene. The box is centered in this mid shot which could be to highlight its supernatural powers as well as its significance throughout the film. When the old lady is seen to be possessed, audience are suspicious of the box as her attack seems to be after trying
 Furthermore, from the overhead shot of a typical suburban neighborhood, we are also introduced to a typical family which is a common convention in supernatural horror films as an ordinary family aren't expected to be effected by such extraordinary events. This further appeals to the genre as it further makes the audience scared as they may notice similarities in their own lives.

Emily

Initially, Emily is presented as harmless to the audience as we first see her doing her homework, as well as helping to save animals and the environment (which is highlighted when we see her getting upset after the death of the moth). Furthermore, her bright room as well as the top lighting further presents innocence.

As well as this, when we see Emily and her dad, the childlike game emphasizes this innocence as from this mid shot, framed with her and her father, we see her as a 'daddy's girl'.  Also, in this mid shot, the white hat, symbolizing purity, is juxtaposed with this box, as we know that the box is possessed.





This innocence is in contrast to Emily's darker clothing as well as the low key lighting after her interaction with the box. The close up shot of Emily's ring,  symbolizes that her
innocence has now been tarnished and she is no longer the harmless little girl she was at the beginning of the film. In terms of mise en scene, this is also shown when we see her messy hair in contrast to her neatly combed hair at the beginning of the film.

Supernatural

 There are several points where Emily seems to be possessed after purchasing the box. One of these points is when she is having breakfast with her family. The increase in pace as we hear the diegetic sound of Emily smashing her fork onto her plate as well as her sister talking in the background (and dad shouting), with the addition of a non-diegetic high pitched string sound, all lead up to her odd outburst as she stabs her father with the fork; at the same time, the high pitched, non-diegetic sound reach its peak. When Emily's teacher is left possessed, this startles the audience as well. The blood as well as scratches on her body may scare the audience as it highlights the supernatural powers of the box.