Paranormal Activity Textual Analysis

How is the horror genre portrayed in Paranormal Activity?

How is the genre conveyed in Paranormal Activity?

The genre is portrayed in numerous ways through the micro elements in Paranormal Activity. It is a horror film and the extract is taken from the opening, which helps with the research into my own opening.

The first opening shot is a zoom out with a camera filming VHS; this is of him filming the television, making it seem as if he is testing out the camera that he has just brought. This makes the audience feel as if they have videos similar to this and could lead them to question whether they have any peculiar footage. Also, it connotes a sense of realism, as it makes the audience feel as if they are in on the action. This is also emphasised with the handheld shot as it makes the audience feel as if they are there in on the action with the characters and therefore you feel their tension and emotions. The wide shots in the opening of Paranormal Activity create suspense for the audience as they are looking in the background purposefully, to see if they can see anything illusive.

The editing in this extract creates a sense of realism for the audience. This is with the text shown at the beginning that is giving thanks to the families and police force, foreshadowing that something serious is going to happen in the film. It also leaves the audience to wonder how real this situation was, if they are giving thanks, and therefore making them feel fearful as they may wonder if this is a true story, suggesting this could happen to them to. This relates to the genre as it makes the audience feel scared. Furthermore, there are no fading shots, making the editing face past and as if it is moving along quickly, leading the audience to believe that the inevitability of the horror, is on the cusp of happening at any point.

There is no Foley or soundtrack in the opening of Paranormal Activity further enhancing the ideology that this film is all organic and filmed by these two characters. This also creates realism as there is no anti-climax’s due to the music’s tension and therefore any sounds that the characters hear within the house are emphasised, making the audience feel as if they are there too. The dialogue between the man and woman also foreshadow the events to come, this is with the man’s line of: ‘going to film whatever happens and then when any weird shit goes on, we’ll be in a perfect position to capture it’. This indicates to the audience that they are awaiting any acts of abnormality like paranormal, the sub-genre of this film, generating fear as the audience will be watching out for anything abnormal.

            The mis en scene in this extract suggests the unknown; this is with the dark door ways that are upstairs for the rooms. Each time the woman walks into the darkness, it anticipates that something is going to come out of the darkness, creating tension as it is unknown what is in the darkness and is stereotypical in a horror film, that the paranormal happens in the dark, relating to the genre. Moreover, whilst the man is talking in the kitchen in the opening, he is making gestures with a knife. This is key iconography of a horror film as it connotes violence, especially as he is making a slicing gesture. This could suggest that this knife is going to be used further on in the film against the acts of abnormality, creating fear and anticipation for the audience.

            To conclude, the genre in Paranormal Activity, is conveyed through the different micro elements, shown through the camera work and editing and enhanced with lighting, props and dialogue between the two characters. All of which creates fear for the audience, which relates to the genre of this film.