film genre research

HORROR-EXCORSIM/POSSESSION.

FILM GENRE RESEARCH.

Written by William Peter Blatty and directed by William Friedkin, the exorcist is the standard by

which all other demonic possession films are judged, the exorcist has terrified millions of

viewers over the years with it’s then (and still now) shocking portrayal of the possession of a

young girl, introducing levitation, vomit, profanity and body contortions.

THE EXORCIST (1973)

Directed by Dan Curtis based on a novel by Robert Marasco, this haunted house chiller, with a

demonic possession of the mother killing each character. In a twist of events as each character is killed the house rejuvenates itself. This was once a fresh take on the paranormal genre including,

death, gore, blood.

BURNT OFFERINGS (1976)

This was the first film to be closest to the true story of a haunted house. A new family move into a haunted house and seek the advice of the local

priest to remove the demonic presence in the house that was once the sight of a grisly mass

murder.In this film we are shown unexplainable goo,

swarms of flies and scenes of an unnatural nature, focusing on the more paranormal than blood and

gore.

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son

sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

This is one of the first films where the possessed attack other people. This is a very violent film

making it a timeless scary film.

THE SHINING (1980)

A group of people are trapped in a large movie theatre in West Berlin that is infected by ravenous

demons who proceed to kill and posses the humans one-by-one, thereby multiplying their

numbers.A group of people trapped in a small place is a

main factors of a horror film, and this is the main part of this film, the fact they are trapped.

Although this is more zombie than possession, it does still have the paranormal qualities.

DEMONS (1985)

A sinister secret in an abandoned church turns out to be a pit of green slime substance, which

turns out to be the essence of Satan himself, this is more of a zombie/paranormal film than

possession.Scenes of gore, horror, paranormal, demons.

PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987)

A group of kids go to a Halloween party, only to have to face down a group of demons.

A stereotypical horror film showing teenagers, drugs, sexual nature, confined to a small place,

blood, gore, demonic nature.

NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (1988)

A group of college students break into an abandoned convent and become possessed by

demonic spirits.Showing scenes of strong horror, violence, gore,

strong language, some sexuality and drug content.

Another stereotypical film about drugged up teenagers, confined in a small space.

THE CONVENT (2000)

Years before Father Lancaster Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil's soul, he first encounters the

demon Pazuzu in East Africa. This is the tale of Father Merrin's initial battle with Pazuzu and the

rediscovery of his faith. Showing scenes of violence and gore, disturbing

images and rituals, including sexual dialogue.

EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2004)

When a younger girl called Emily Rose dies, everyone puts blame on the exorcism which was performed on her by Father Moore prior to her

death. The priest is arrested on suspicion of murder. The trail begins with lawyer Erin Bruner representing Moore, but it is not going to be easy,

as no one wants to believe what Father Moore says is true

Showing thematic material including, intense/frightening sequences and disturbing

images.

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE (2005)

Constantine tells the story of irreverent supernatural detective John Constantine, who has literally been to hell and back. A different take on the repeatedly used possession and paranormal

genre.Violence and demonic images.

CONSTANTINE (2005)

A sister goes looking for her missing sister with the help of a mysterious man from the town with a

dark past, she finds more than her sister and learns about a dark realm and demons that intend

to possess the town.Extreme violence, missing people, demonic

scenes.

THE 8TH PLAGUE (2006)

After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly

demonic presence. As the sequels/prequels come out, it seems the paranormal behaviour is not

unfamiliar to this family. This is more than just a possession film.

Film includes, strong language, violence and paranormal scenes. Shown in a home video style.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (2009)

A troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew.

He claims that exorcisms are untrue and hoaxed, and they are believed by the ill. He makes the

video to try and prove this, but later changes his mind due to the serious background story in the

family and town.This film shows violent content and terror, sexual

references and thematic material.

THE LAST EXORCISM (2010)

An American seminary student who has lost his faith in god travels to Italy to take on an exorcism

course to try and strengthen his beliefs, unconvinced of the paranormal he then becomes partners with a local exorcist and comes closer to

possession than he thought he would.Showing all the tell tale signs of a exorcism film, sexual references, violence, frightening images

and disturbing thematic material.

THE RITE (2011)

In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who

allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism.

This film has advanced so much compared to The excorcism due to editing, storyline, and effects, it

is completely realistic making it a surreal and unnerving experience to watch.

THE DEVIL INSIDE (2012)