Representation in Insidious

The preferred reading of this film is associated with a negative, bleak setting of which an ominous mood is presented through the use of the black & white filter and rather minacious non-diegtic music. The location is featured primarily within a house, suggesting that the film is set within this location.

The use of the crane shot that scours the house helps to involve the audience and give the impression that the viewer is walking through the house which also intensifies the fear.

Location

The setting,as seen from middle long shots of the house and the furnishings within it, is set in a mildly urban neighborhood and we can infer that the location is fairly quiet because of the mere silencing high pitch of the non-diegetic music.

To the left is a bird's eye shot of the staircase towering above the grandfather clock which is prevalent in many of the black & white shots in the opening scene. The clock is an icon of grandeur and therefore has connotations of wealth as well as age. The shot further shows a contrasting modern, clean household which establishes that the film takes place in the present day.

This is a canted long shot of the grandfather clock. As we can see from the shot several rugs line the hallway as well as 2 large frames. This establishes that the inhabitants of the house are moderately wealthy. But yet again we are shown the clock which creates a sense of forebodement that the clock will act as the centerpiece for the sinister character in the film.



Sound

The scene begins with the non-diegetic score of the film. There is at first a high eerie note which develops into an eldritch tune. As the shots change the music develops into incidental music. A long shot of the corridor shows the shadow of a woman which is followed by scratching music. Once the shot of the old woman fades out to black the music fades also and stops. As soon as the title appears a sound motif plays. This music already establishes that the narrative is based on a thriller/horror movie and associated with a dark mood because a series of high pitched noises have been used and such is analogous with horror movies. This in turn establishes that the most significant character is likely to have evil motives, as is the preferred reading from all thriller/horror movies.

Mood/ atmosphere

Within the opening low key lighting has been used to create an ominous mood. A long crane shot sweeps the set with a dark filter to resemble the lighting at night. Furthermore, as the scene goes on several shots have been taken using a black and white filter. This establishes that the narrative is based on both the light and dark which both symbolize angelic salvation and demonic condemnation. Even as the scene ends and we are given a close up shot of a woman sleeping there is still a slight dark filter used which helps in creating a sinister and foreboding atmosphere. The variation of volume and music/silence adds to the disquieting atmosphere, establishing the genre further.

Titles

The typography of the credits follows a red colour scheme which has connotations of blood and has a resemblance to the devil. As the credits fade out a translucent copy of the text rises and then disappears like a flame going out. This links in with the shot of the old woman holding a candle but instead the light flickers out, giving the impression that the darkness is consuming the light (in other words, demonic spirits above the angelic salvation of the light). The title is also blood red, using formal typography with capital locks. The letters flash between dark and light as if flames are beneath the letters, giving the reading that the film is associated with hell (supposed because there are flames in hell). As said, non-diegetic music plays alongside the title enhancing the demonism of the film and the 'horror-factor' it imposes.