1. 1. Analysis Of Horror Trailers
2. 2. Target AudienceDemographics- The film is for both the male and female gender.- Age Rating: 15+- Social Economic Class EPsychographics- Fans of horror movies- Fans of the producer and have seen Paranormal Activity, Insidious,Sinister and The Purge, which are other horror movies that are alsoproduced by Blumhouse Production.
3. 3. CinematographyThere are a use of many different shots used throughout the Jessabelle trailerthat which help build up tensions and show the shift in power between eachcharacter. There is the use of both low and high angles used greatly throughoutthe trailer. The low and high camera angles have been used to connotes thecharacter as powerful or weak and vulnerable . For example the trailer starts offby showing the lead character as weak as the camera is looking down to her in awheel chair in a dark, abandoned hospital (as seen on the right). This createssympathy for the character showing her as weak and needing help from thebeginning. There is also the use of many close ups which not only helps theaudience to understand how the character is feeling through there faceexpressions, but also has been used to create a sense of lack of space and beingcrowded by another presence in the room.
4. 4. EditingThe Jessabelle trailer uses a variety of editing techniques. The trailer starts ofwith slow editing of longer takes, the builds ups the tension to fast editing tocreate a sense of panic and excitement for the audience. There is the use oftitling edits which informs the audience of the producer and the previoussuccessful horror movies they have produced. This not only strengthens the fearof the audience, but also craws in inherited audiences. The background of thetitle edits also create a sense of fear as it is distorted and blurred like a unclearvision. Blink eye editing has been used throughout the trailer which is a veryeffective form of editing, creating a sense that someone is watching them butcant be seen, insinuating to the audience that there is another presence in thehouse. There are also other editing types used such as shot reverse shot,reaction shot and motivated cuts which helps to not only create fear for theaudience but also create tension throughout the trailer.
5. 5. SoundThe sounds used in trailers are crucial as they are used to create a mood andambiance. This trailer uses non- diegetic, diegetic and voiceovers throughout.The voiceovers used throughout the trailer is the conversations between thecharacters, but the main voiceover comes from Jessabelle's mother. Thisindicates even though her mother isnt with her she is watching over her. Thetrailer creates fear in the audience with sounds from objects, such as a ringingphone or a clock ticking. At the beginning of the trailer the first thing that theaudience hears is a phone ringing. This represents that from the beginning ofthe trailer she is helpless and relies on a man to helps her. There is the sound ofa clock ticking as the editing of the trailer gets faster. This indicates acountdown to the ending getting the audiences hearts racing. Towards theending of the trailer silence takes over with only the diegetic sound of the tapdripping and a sudden slam shut of the door as if they are shutting the audienceout creating a fear for the unknown. Silence in horror trailers is a commonconvention which allows to create tension and enigma.
6. 6. Mise-En-SceneThis trailer adheres to stereotypical horror genre mise-en-scene conventions. Atthe beginning of the trailer we are in a dark, isolated hospital with a single lightthats on Jessabelle. This straight away tell the audience that the film is basedon this character. However there is also a dark figure behind her in this shotwhich is foreshadowing on the events that will take place in the house and eventhough she seems alone someone is watching her. The films is overall is verydark. The main location shown in the trailer is the old, wooden house that isisolated by a lake, which is a common convention in horror movies. There is acontrast between the darkness of the house and the brightness and goodweather at the lake. This is goes against the horror movie conventions of rain,thunder and lightning in horror movies. The use of the wheelchair in the traileris very important as it shows the females disability and that she defenceless andhelpless with no power.
7. 7. TheoriesWith a female character that is vulnerable, weak and seeks the help frommale characters such as her dad and her male friend which shows that thistrailer clearly follows Vladimir Propps Character theory, with the maleseen as a hero helping the damsel in distress. This also links in with andsupports John Bergers theory of men acting and the women justappearing. This has been shown trough her dad running to her help whilstJessabelle waits to be saved by the men around her. However I believe thetrailer doesnt follow Todorovs narrative theory like the character theoryas the trailer starts at a disequilibrium were Jessabelle is at a hospital afteran accident, rather then a equilibrium were there is a normal and happybeginning to a trailer