Film Opening Analysis

Film name: The Conjuring (2013)

Genre: Horror

Setting: Victims' home, Lecture theatre

Time Scale: Cuts from past to present a few times

10 min opening narrative: The film begins by showing one of Ed and Lorraine's previous cases, cutting between the two victims being interviewed about the events, the actual events themselves, and the recording of the interview being played in a lecture theatre.

There is then a title roll in which the main case of the film is introduced, then we are transported to the house of the main case, where the new occupants are just arriving.

Do the events link to eachother, or are they distinct, unconnected events?

The events are all related via the paranormal theme, and they are connected by the two main characters.

Which characters are introduced, and what are their roles in the film? How do we find this information out?

Ed and Lorraine are introduced as two of the main characters, they are here to solve problems with demonic hauntings, one of the main ways we learn about them is through the text on screen. We are also introduced to the two girls in the Annabelle case, however we are not given much information about them as they are not central to the plot. Finally, we are learn about the spirit which is causing the strange events in the Annabelle case, through the interview dialogue we learn that the spirit may not really have meant harm.

How much story information is revealed, and how is it revealed to the audience?

A small amount of story information is revealed, we are introduced to what Ed and Lorraine do, which infers their importance in the rest of the film. We are also introduced to the Annabelle doll, which is also integral to the film's plot further in.