Analysis of a Psychological Horror: Insidious

How does this media text use media language to communicate and appeal to its target audience?

At the beginning of Insidious, a psychological horror movie, the opening sequence is very dark but features a lamp light, an artificial light creating a single source of light, which spins round to suggest a separation between light and dark connoting the idea of binary opposition between good and evil which establishes the narrative for the rest of the film. This source of light creates shadows following the typical conventions of a horror movie and creates tension for the audience. The lighting throughout is low key suggesting the setting is very mysterious. In some shots there is only certain parts of the room highlighted and the rest is black connoting death and introducing the fear of the unknown. With the key light, it is almost as if something is hidden, creating more elements of mystery and also following the conventions of horror films. Also, for the audience more fear is created. This image uses shallow focus which emphasise on this one image over everything else in the background, this makes us think of the importance of this simple lamp shade and also how significant establishing the narrative is.

Furthermore, in the opening sequence there is non-diegetic sound the transitions of this edit is rhythmic match as the music matches the eerie feel of the house shown in the opening sequence. The low pitch almost scream like becomes much more high pitched when we first see the shadow, through the use of string instruments like violins. By doing this it emphasises the shock of seeing the shadow and creates an eerie atmosphere for the audience. This empathetic sound complements the shallow focus put on the ghostly women who is wearing a veil, blurring the sight of her facial expression and her all black old fashioned costume which frightens the audience as black connotes darkness and death, by doing this it creates more of a scaring impact for the audience. The title of the film appears again with the same high pitched violin music to make the audience jump by catching them off guard, this being an asynchronous sound creating further tension for the audience as they can hear this piercing sound but don’t know where it is coming from. This leaves the audience uneasy and on edge due to the influence the music has. This appeals to the target audience of 16-25 year olds, mostly being males of all ethnicities who find pleasure with horror films. This would target and engage them as creating suspense is a convention of horror movies therefore these people would find enjoyment in this opening sequence.

The setting of this scene took place within a family home and we see multiple different rooms using a handheld camera to create a sense of realism for the audience. Because the rooms are full of low key and filler lighting, from artificial lighting of lights within the house and some natural lighting from moonlight from outside, it makes the audience feel very uncomfortable because this lighting creates shadows which can be seen for example in this image and shadows are associated with evil and darkness in which panics the audience. In addition to this it spooks them due to the fact that it turns everyday household places we class as safe into scary, paranormal places which helps the audience connect with the film and also provides them with a sense of practicality. The rule of thirds is recognised here, this is done to create more tension and interest.

Moreover, the whole opening it sets the scene for the audience and tell them where the film is taking place. However, a close up shot / head and shoulder shot is used on the ghost like women to zoom into her face which is lit with a candle. This star lighting creates shadows and allows us to focus solely on her face to draw the audience into the qualities of her face and builds up enigma. Likewise, it gives us as an audience chance to identify the costume which looks as if she is wearing a black veil and dark old fashioned clothing, this connotes that she is evil and dead like, for the film this gives the audience an idea of the narrative that this character poses the threat towards the innocent looking boy who is alone in his bed in the previous shot. The fact that there is no sound makes the audience scared of the unknown and the fear of what’s going to happen.

Another connotation to this is the fact that when the boy is in his bed a spotlight is put on him through side lighting. This creates shadows all around him suggesting that evil and badness surround him launching idea of the narrative to teh audience that he eventually begins to be engulfed in the shadows of these spirits that surround him. This makes the audience feel worried and scared to what is going to happen to this harmless boy. As for the spotlight it shows that he is a very guiltless and innocent character and in terms of Proppian characters he is the victim, however the women in black is clearly portrayed as being the villain.

The editing within this opening sequence is very slow and almost relaxed panned by the camera which for the audience makes them nervous and on edge. It also gives them a chance to take in the setting and creates more mystery within the beginning of the film. The editing of the title of ‘insidious’ is in a dark red font connoting demons and death for the film which gives us another insight into the narrative. This would appeal to the target audience’s psychographics as the film would feature demons / ghosts. Besides this the title also flickers which create imagery of a fire underneath which creates more shadowing, once again fulfilling the conventions of a horror film. In addition, it connotes to hell and devils which communicates to the audience that it is based upon supernatural events and the film is a petrifying and chilling film, appealing to those with psychographics of enjoyment of being scared.

By analysing an opening sequence which fits into the same genre, psychological horror, to the sequence I will produce it gives me inspiration and ideas to include within my own opening sequence. Not only this but it gives me a wider understanding of the conventions for this particular genre which I can include and incorporate into my own work.