Analysis of a Horror Trailer

This is a trailer for 'Sinister' released in 2012 filmed in HD. The film opens with a certificate given by MPPA, the film is rated R which means 'under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian' due to the fact the film contains 'disturbing violent images and some terror'. Produced by Summit Entertainment, A Lionsgate company, as shown in the opening of the trailer.

The film unconventionally begins with a somewhat disequilibrium, as it shows a house at night. The dark natural lighting of the night time, and the moonlit house connote that it is a horror genre, but also create a sense of discomfort which is what leads me to believe it is a disequilibrium. Fog is particularly significant in the horror genre and is a typical element you expect to see during the disequilibrium. Fog symbolizes monsters and the unknown, thus why it is commonly seen in horror trailers. The only unnatural lighting is the two lights that make the house stand out, this unnatural lighting again connotes danger as it is minimal making the setting seem unsafe. The establishing shot clearly shows the main setting the house. By using an establishing got the director has used empty space around the house (the vast distance between the house and the camera) this makes the house seem too dangerous to be close too as it points out the empty space and the lack of life around it. There is a slow zoom taking the camera timidly towards the house. This is another technique used directors of horror and typical technique we expect to see within the genre. The slow zoom creates suspense  whilst creating the feeling you are being forced towards the danger, making the house seem more daunting, which, creates fear for the audience. The shot shows the audience the haunting past of the house, which isn't actually significant to the main narrative. The main narrative begins after the a clear sign that says '9 months later'. The director has specifically broken the theory of 'Equilibrium, then disequilibrium  and has begun the trailer on a disequilibrium in order to make the main narrative clearer so the audience is able to understand that the house was haunted in the past. As the house zooms audible is the light sound of humming, again this creates an eerie atmosphere.

The main narrative begins with a shot of the house looking more positive. The establishing shot mirrors the past shot of the house looking haunting by showing it in the complete opposite. The shot shows a moving truck with boxes being taken into the house, showing that there is a family moving in, introducing the main narrative. This shot clearly depicts the equilibrium of the family moving into a new house. This shown through a bright natural lighting which creates a happy positive atmosphere, the bright green grass creates a natural ordinary, comfortable feel in the image. Similarly to the last shot, the shot also zooms into the house, however, the zoom this time is faster, creating excitement and intrigue. A establishing, positive shot of the setting is typical of a horror trailer in order to create a sense of equilibrium to begin the narrative.You are able to hear the positive sound of birds in the background, this strengthens the portrayal of the positive setting. Also heard is the sound of a young girls voice, sounding calm, it also highlights the typical victim of a horror film being the innocent young girl, sticking to the archetypical characters we expect to see in order to create a successful narrative. This calms the audience, as it makes the shot seem ordinary and comfortable.

The disequilibrium is evident when a shot shows one of the children being possessed as the father (the hero) runs to help them. The sound is the sound is the ambient sound of the child screaming however, the sound of the screaming is the amplified and played over the top to make it seem more oppressive and creates more of a discomfiting, scary, thrilling feeling. This is vital for a horror film, it is important as well as conventional that the sound is used in a horror film to enhance the chilling atmosphere of a shot. A close up shot is used to emphasize the fearful expression on the child's face, this again enhances the atmosphere whilst creating fear in the audience. The audience will naturally sympathize for the child and will be drawn to protect them, whilst the fact that is a child possessed creates more fear than an adult, this is because children are unpredictable and seeing a child behave in such a way creates fear. Dark lighting is used to create a dark chilling atmosphere, the left side is darker making it seem that the child is coming out of the darkness, this is also associated with a horror genre, as darkness denotes danger and trouble, thus, emphasizing that the child is dangerous. The director has intentionally shown the child upside down in order to make the shot seem, surreal and distorted which is another typical feature of a horror film. Interestingly however, unconventionally to the horror genre, the 'monster' or 'villain' based on Propp's theory, is not showing a direct address. Conventionally, we would expect the villain to be looking at the audience to create a nostalgic feeling emphasizing fear. There is a lot of empty space around the child, meaning it is a loose frame, this is to draw focus on the child.

The final shot is of the 'attic' which seems to be the main setting inside the house that exhibits the most danger, thus, when a shot of the attic is shown the audience expect something scary to happen. Attics and dark spaces such as this are commonly seen in the horror genre, this is because they are places you wouldn't commonly see within a house, and they are dark and irregular which creates fear. The final shot shows 5 zombie like children sitting on the floor looking at the camera (subsequently the audience) they are gesturing the audience to be quiet. The audience will associate the way the children are sitting and the gesture they are doing with school as it is something that wouldn't seem out of place in a classroom. However, taking the position of the teacher is a scary figure in a mask that is being projected onto a screen. The main light source is visible on the screen no, enhanced lighting has been used, this means there is a very low lighting in the image that is lighting the children and the masked figure from below. Lighting someone from below distorts their features, another common feature of a horror film, as it creates fear. You are able to hear loud banging noises and the sound of a reel of film, these unusual sounds create fear and they are surreal and scary. There is a slight zoom in this shot that creates the feeling you are being drawn to the danger, there is no escape. A loose shot has been used for this long shot in order to create empty space around the danger, emphasizing there is no escape. However, I feel this message would have been stronger if a tight shot had been used. The fact that the trailer ends in a disequilibrium is typical of a horror movie trailer, this is so the end is not spoiled and to entice the audience to watch the film.