Synopsis
The plot of the film follows a family that recently moved into an old farmhouse that is being terrorised by a dark presence. Paranormal investigators are later called in to investigate this dark presence, Ed and Lorraine Warren (paranormal investigators), discover is a whole area steeped in a satanic haunting that is now targeting the Perron family wherever they go. To stop this evil, the Warrens will have to call upon all their skills and spiritual strength to defeat this spectral menace at its source that threatens to destroy everyone involved.
Production
The Conjuring was produced by Tony DeRosa-Grund, Peter Safran and Rob Cowan.
Pre-production began in early 2011, with reports surfacing in early June that James Wan was in talks to direct the film. This was later confirmed by Warner Bros, which also stated that the film would be loosely based on real-life events surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren. In January 2012, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson were cast to star in the film. The film's title was temporarily changed to The Warren Files based on a suggestion by Wan, but was later reverted to The Conjuring prior to the commencement of the film's marketing campaign. Shooting took place primarily at Screen Gems Studios as well as other locations in and around North Carolina. All scenes were shot in chronological order.The film was in post-production in August of the same year. Around 20 to 30 minutes of footage was removed from the first cut of the film, which initially ran at about two hours in duration. After positive test screenings, the final edit of the film was locked in December 2012 and awaited its summer release.
Distributors
The distributors of the conjuring are Warner Bros.The first promotional images were released in November 2012, introducing Farmiga and Wilson as Ed and Lorraine Warren. A teaser trailer, previously shown at the 2012 New York Comic Con, kicked off the film's marketing campaign in February 2013. Throughout the campaign, the film was promoted heavily as "based on a true story." Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema initially intended to release The Conjuring in early 2013, but decided on a summer release date after gaining a positive reception from test audiences. The film was released on the 19th of July in the US and since then has generated just over $318 Million in both the domestic and foreign markets in the box office. This was achieved with a budget of only $20 Million.
Timeline of film opening
0 - 30 seconds - The opening scene starts with a black screen and some of the characters talking. They are talking to someone about their possessed doll, the moment they mention the doll, an extreme close up of the doll's eye shows up on the screen, the camera then slowly zooms out showing half of the doll's face.
30 - 60 seconds - There is a use of an medium close up of the three characters talking about the doll. It then leads to a close up of the characters' facial expressions. It then goes back to a medium close up slowly zooming out all the characters sat there.
1.00 - 1. 30 - A mid-shot of Annabelle appears and zooms in at steady slow pace. The director then goes onto show a flash back of the story starting with a mid-shot of the two women, from the beginning, coming through the door having a very loud conversation. After entering the door, the woman at the front bends down and picks up a stained piece of paper. The director then uses a point of view shot showing the point of view of the woman behind her. The shot shows writing stating, “Miss Me?” written in red crayon. The next shot is a long shot of the doll sat down in the hallway, leaning against the wall.
1.30 - 2.00 - The director then uses a tilt camera movement showing the doll sat against the wall. It then goes into a close up of the doll's hand holding red crayons. The director then goes onto use a low angled close up of the blonde haired woman opening the door of the spare room. The next shot used is a panning point of view shot, which establishes the scene and shows the damage done by the doll. The non-diegetic sound accompanying the scene is very dramatic and emphasises the tension and panic within the scene. This is then followed by a point of view shot of the ceiling which shows red writing stating, ‘Miss me?
2.00 - 2.21 -The next shot is a floor level shot of the crayon rolling along the floor. The camera then zooms in at a fast pace. This is then followed by a long shot of the hallway, which then zooms in to follow the dark haired woman carrying Annabelle out the door. The director then uses an aerial shot of the dark haired woman placing both Annabelle and the note into the bin.
Analysis of the setting
The setting of this scene is quite simple. The room appears to be an apartment. This is signified by the fact that the couch seems so rusty and the room overall lacks a professional depth. This was perhaps the intention of the directors to give this scene a more personal feel regarding the two girls talking about their experience. The lighting is low key lighting which is typical for a horror film. This contradicts the bright and sunny weather out the window. The colouring has been darker and make more low-key to make it appear more suitable for a horror movie.1.30 - 2.00 - The director then uses a tilt camera movement showing the doll sat against the wall. It then goes into a close up of the doll's hand holding red crayons. The director then goes onto use a low angled close up of the blonde haired woman opening the door of the spare room. The next shot used is a panning point of view shot, which establishes the scene and shows the damage done by the doll. The non-diegetic sound accompanying the scene is very dramatic and emphasises the tension and panic within the scene. This is then followed by a point of view shot of the ceiling which shows red writing stating, ‘Miss me?
2.00 - 2.21 -The next shot is a floor level shot of the crayon rolling along the floor. The camera then zooms in at a fast pace. This is then followed by a long shot of the hallway, which then zooms in to follow the dark haired woman carrying Annabelle out the door. The director then uses an aerial shot of the dark haired woman placing both Annabelle and the note into the bin.
Analysis of the setting
Analysis of costumes and makeup Throughout the opening sequence, the characters which are seen mostly are wearing normal clothing. This is to give a sense of reality within the film, which builds tension.
The doll appears to be wearing very heavy clown like make up. the doll also has
scratches and bruises on its face to suggest that it has been through a lot and is violent. The doll is also wearing a old fashioned dress which shows that the doll is
is old and has been possessed for a long time.
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A mid-shot of Annabelle appears and zooms in at steady slow pace. This emphasises the tensions that Annabelle causes as her blank expressions send messages of death.
Analysis of the credits
The opening sequence starts with the Warner Bros institution logo but in a different colour scheme, which helps identify that the genre of the film is horror. This is then followed by the New Line Cinema logo.
Analysis of the music and sound
Sound starts with dialogue into a handheld camera from Mr Warren saying “It’s 9:18 we’re headed down into the cellar where the doors just opened on its own. Then the piano in the cellar plays and no one is there, there is an obvious child's giggle. We can tell from even this what type of film it is going to be. The song Hurdy Gurdy man by Donovan starts to play, seemingly calm. Woman says “there’s something horrible happening in my house” as this is happening a clock ticking can be heard, this can sometimes be seen as a heartbeat and makes the audience feel on edge. Diegetic sounds start occurring e.g. loud smashing sounds and screaming starts, Smashing of wood starts. Banging sounds start and the a music box plays. The sound in this film adds to the genre of the and film and the fact that there is no voiceover adds to the realness of the film and that its based on a true events.
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