Detailed analysis of Haunting in Connecticut

As this film is a horror, it is targeted as people who enjoy this genre. Both genders aged 15+ as this is the certificate of the film. The location/setting of this film is in a normal american home in Connecticut, there is a few scenes outside of the house but most of the film is based in the house as that is main storyline of the film.
The Cambells, an ordinary family move into a house (a former mortuary) to help the strains of travel on their cancer-stricken son, Matthew. The family soon becomes haunted by violent and traumatic events from supernatural forces occupying the house.


The first thing we see is MPAA, which we see on all trailers. We then see the company logo for 1 - 2 seconds. Voiceover starts as the logo is fading of the screen. Then there is an establishing shot to show us the location/setting of the film. This is very normal with a feeling of calm as we are shown a normal neighbourhood in the daylight. In contrast of the daylight it fades to a black screen with 'North Connecticut' in white small font, letting the audience know the exact location of the film as it is based on a true story. Cuts to a tracking shot of the houses passing by and a shot of the woman in the car. The voiceover continues the woman says: 'were just a regular family' letting us the audience know. The next caption states that it is a true story, that makes it feel more real to the audience, it is in the same style font as the first caption continuing the style throughout the trailer. At 0:20 when we see the caption the voiceover stops and all we hear is the music. Then fades to an establishing shot of the house in the daylight, where we hear the woman say 'its perfect' this sets the perfect scene of normality. Then cut to 7 different shots showing the family moving in to the new house, still with the feeling of calm. The next few shots are down in the basement where most of the actual film is set. At 0:39 we get a shot of the house in the dark where we know that things are about to change. Then cuts to each child in bed asleep apart from the main character matt. We then get the change in music when the matt see's a person in the reflection of the tv, the music gets more dramatic and louder. This is the turning point where we know that the action will rise. We then see different shots where they start realising that something is going on. Voiceover starts again at 0:55 this time the sister's voice. At 0:57 there is a loud sudden burst of music as we see a boy flash past the screen. Music goes back to normal and the story starts to unravel. The music then changes again at 1:06 then we see a close up shot of a mouldy apple. Then a shadow on the wall getting closer to matt, then cut to caption: 'this spring' letting us know when the film is coming out. Still in the same style however more light surrounding the text. Then there is a series of shots as the sister begins to work out whats going on as she does the shots get quicker and quicker. At 1:39 there is flashes of shots from the past building up the tension. The action begins to rise much quicker now the music is dramatic and fast and the shots are cutting quicker. Cut to a caption: 'fear' then the next series of shots go by quickly as the action is getting more intense. Then cut to another caption following the one before saying 'is real' then also cut to another series of shots also getting quicker and music getting faster as the action is really rising. The music starts getting high pitched as the shots are basically flashing past, the music pauses slighly a few times then starts again. We then reach the climax at 2:09 afterlong rising action. The music then slows down into a piano where we then see the title of the film continuing in the style of the captions with the same size text and font with the same style of light being shown onto it. This is like a logo reinforcing it to the audience. Then fade to a shot of matt looking in the window where he sees a scary reflection there is a sudden burst of loud music which contrasts with the slow piano music. This image will stick in the audiences mind.