Textual Analysis of Horror Trailers.

Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity was released nationwide in October 2009. The low budget horror film was a huge success at the box office. The film was produced and released by Paramount Pictures. Paranormal “is a term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation” and the trailer certainly shows audience that the main theme of the film is about the unknown and unexplainable. The trailer lasts for a total of 1.01.

Content
The film trailer contains the basic plot and introduces the main characters.

It also uses title screens and quotations in several places instead of using a voiceover to help entice the audience to see the film for themselves; it also helps keep their concentration and attention on the trailer.

Text is also used as well as a voiceover to show the name of the film and its release date.

At the end of the trailer there are credits with the name of the Producer, Director, Production Company etc.

Narrative structure

The trailer is split into three sections;
1) The basis of the plot, this sets up the problem for audiences to see.

2) The plot is extended, it shows the problem getting worse and the editing starts to become much quicker.

3) This section ends with a dramatic clip from the film and uses loud sound effects such as screaming and slamming doors but doesn’t give away too much to the audience.

Sound

Diegetic sound – dialogue from the film, screams, slamming doors

Non-diegetic sound – voice over to announce the film name and release date, music over title screens to add tension

Editing

Lots of fast paced editing is used to add to the tension, the pace of the editing starts off slow and picks up throughout the trailer and slows down again at the very end. This creates excitement and allows audiences to see very short snippets of various parts throughout the film without letting them see too much.

Cinematography

A lot of close ups and low angle shots are used, as well as lots of tilts to create a sense of disorientation.

It is a low budget film because they used hand held cameras, this made the film very effective because the viewer feels like they are the camera and makes them feel as if they are there witnessing it. This makes the film appear more believable.

Mise-en-scene

The film is set within the house of the main characters and this is shown in the trailer. Again this adds to the believability because it is set in a normal setting.

The colours used throughout the trailer are all very dark; this follows the convention of horror films. Audiences associate darkness with horror so expect to see it when watching a horror film so this has to be reflected in the trailer.

Conventions

Release date
Darkness
The unknown
Slow shots getting shorter and quicker with faster editing
Loud sound effects e.g. screaming, banging
Tension and suspense
Quotations
Credits.




Saw VI

Saw VI was released by Twisted Pictures in October 2009 and followed the success of the previous five films. It is believed that this is the last of the series of films however the ending has been left open for further films if decided. The Saw films are about the torture of people who have “done wrong” and Jigsaw gives them choices and decisions to make about other peoples’ fate and makes them fight for their own lives. The trailer is very short lasting 0.50, but gives the audience enough information without giving away the ending.

Content

The film trailer contains the basic storyline and introduces the main characters.

Title screens help the narrative as well as a voice over from the main character, Jigsaw.

Title screens are also used for the film title, release date and official website.

Narrative Structure

The voiceover helps the narrative structure; it starts by explaining the situation and then goes on to further explain the problem which occurs from the situation. As the problem is explained further, the pace of the editing increases to create greater suspense.
The pace of the last part of the trailer gets even faster and the music stronger, but the resolution is not revealed.

Sound

Diegetic sound- Dialogue from the film is used as a voice over. Other dialogue from the film is used to create panic and fear.

Non-diegetic sound- the films soundtrack is used in the second half of the trailer. Sound effects are used in between the title screens as clips from the film are shown. A voiceover is used to introduce the name of the film and its release date.

Editing

The pace of the editing picks up throughout the trailer and is very quick at the end, showing a montage of very brief/ quick shots.

There are some very sharp cuts, fades and some of the shots flicker between each other.

Cinematography

Like Paranormal Activity there are lots of close ups to show emotion.

Low and high angle shots are also used to show certain characters as dominant and others as inferior.

Mise-en-scene

The mise-en-scene in the trailer demonstrates that the film is set in an abandoned warehouse with different tasks set up.

All the shots used are dark and the colour red appears throughout to represent danger and blood.

The mise-en-scene helps reinforce the genre of the film so audiences know that it is a horror with lots of torture and gore.

Conventions

Darkness
Voiceover
Dramatic/fast paced music, from the soundtrack
Screaming
Fast paced editing/montage
Scary Villain
Suspense
Name of film and release date with voiceover
Title screens to help narrative
Credits.





Friday the 13th (2009)

The 2009 remake of Friday the 13th was released by New Line Cinemas and Paramount Pictures. The film received a lot of public attention with people having high expectations after the success of the first version back in 1980. With better technical equipment the film was expected to be much scarier and more terrifying than the first version. The film is set around a lake called Crystal Lake and is about a group of teenagers who discover Camp Crystal Lake. They soon meet Jason Voorhees who kills them off one by one. The film is a stereotypical horror with teenagers going camping in woods and splitting off into groups then one by one, it also has lots of gore and suspense. The trailer reflects all of this and lasts only 1.34.

Content

The trailer contains a basic storyline as all film trailers do. The trailer concentrates on setting and only briefly introduces the characters.

Title screens with the names of the Producer, the Director and the film.

Voiceover to help the narrative.

Narrative

A voiceover from the film is used to help explain the narrative.

The location is shown and the voiceover begins to explain the significance of the location and introduces Jason before a brief shot of him is shown.

The voiceover sets up the equilibrium and the disruption but does not give away the resolution.

Sound

Diegetic sound- Dialogue from the film is used as a voiceover. Other dialogue from the film is used to create tension, for example the sound of someone struggling and screaming.

Non-diegetic sound- The sound of wildlife is used on the tranquil, opening shot of the lake. The soundtrack from the film is used at the end of the trailer.

Editing

The editing of the trailer stays at a similar pace throughout. It is fast paced but slow compared to some of the other horror trailers I have previously looked. The pace slows down in some parts of the trailer instead of speeding up.

Both cuts and fades are used alternatively. Sharp cuts are used and they are made to look even sharper because flashes of light are used in between.

Cinematography

Long shots are used to show the location.

Close ups are also used; these are used to show the emotion of characters.

Low angle shots are used the most within the trailer, these make the audience feel threatened and scared because the angle looks up so that the audience feel inferior.

Mise-en-scene

The film is set around Crystal Lake. The mise-en-scene in the trailer shows various settings within the film such as, the lake, the Lake House and old Camp House.

All the shots used are very dark. The darkness of the shots and settings used represent the genre horror so audiences instantly know what genre the film is going to be.

Conventions

Name of the film, Producer and Director
Soundtrack from the film
Sound effects e.g. screaming
Darkness
Scary villain
Tension
Montage editing
Voiceover
Credits.