Typical Mise- en- Scene of Horror Film Trailers

Trailer Analysis

Props The props used in horror films can often form crucial parts of the storyline, making them extremely significant and of high importance. For example, the prop pictured to the left is an old film camera- something which is quite commonly used in horror films and it is often used to link the characters in the present day to events which have happened in the past. Through this, characters often make haunting discoveries and the past may come back to wreak havoc. Similarly to this, old pictures, portraits and newspaper clippings are used to make connections to past events and often characters find themselves experiencing the same horrors or being haunted by dead people who have come back as ghosts. By using these props, it gives clues to the audience and drops hints about what might happen. Old newspaper clippings showing things such as disappearances and deaths connote danger and make the audience feel apprehensive for the characters as the use of these props foreshadow the same events happening again.

Props Continued The bottom left hand picture shows portraits which have fallen from the walls and this is a common prop in horror films because the settings for these films are often old, large houses or mansions which have these pictures as interior décor. However they have been used for a more significant reason which is to create tension and fear because they will have fallen due to some sort of supernatural cause, and it is significant that it is pictures of the family members who live in the houses because it suggests that they are in danger and something bad is going to happen to them, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. The bottom right hand picture shows a mysterious looking dark coloured box. Boxes like this are used in horror films to link to the plot; it is often that the characters find something in the box which causes trouble such as unlocking spirits or the box itself being haunted. The producers have chosen to use an old ‘rusty’ looking box because it makes it appear more mysterious because it suggests it’s been.There a long time, so it hints to the audience that the characters who tamper with it are causing themselves impending doom. The fact it’s dark coloured also makes more uninviting because darker colours connote death and evil.

Costume

The costumes used in typical horror films are most commonly ‘normal’, everyday pieces of clothing. Modern outfits which are nothing out of the ordinary are used because they help the audience relate to the characters. By having the characters dressed like normal members of society, it makes the antagonist less identifiable and suggests that anyone could become a victim because nobody is particularly standing out, in terms of costume. This is especially relevant in supernatural or psychological horror films because usually someone who the audience initially sees as no threat eventually becomes the antagonist. By having the characters wear clothes which are similar to what the audience themselves might be wearing, it may make the audience feel as if they are also in danger because the horrible events from the film are happening to “normal” looking people, so may happen to them. Typically, as the narrative progresses, the characters costume becomes disheveled and untidy, showing their venerability through their appearance and the decline of the protagonists life.

Antagonists Costume/Makeup

Antagonists in horror films are made to look very unnatural and disturbing, causing the audience to feel very uncomfortable and scared. It is common for the antagonist to have makeup which makes their face look white, to make it appear as if they are dead, suggesting that they are stuck in purgatory. The makeup may also make it look like they are infected or severely deformed, suggesting that they have be dehumanised and are therefore a threat to the other characters. The costumes used are usually very worn and tattered or old fashioned to suggest that they are ghosts and to suggest that they are very unstable and abnormal.

Lighting The lighting stereotypically used in horror films is very low lighting, making the screen appear very dark to create a mysterious and gloomy atmosphere. The first picture on the left is a screenshot showing a little girl in her bedroom looking at something outside of the door. The lighting is extremely low key making it difficult to see the surroundings of the bedroom, and this creates tension because it could mean that somebody or something supernatural is lurking in the shadows and could strike at any moment, making the characters more vulnerable. The light in this particular scene is coming from outside the door, and this suggests that there is something out there and that the light is perhaps a trap- something to lure the character out of their room. Characters ‘following the light’ is a stereotypical feature of horror films. The bottom left hand screenshot also has very low lighting but this time the setting of a long hallway has been illuminated by a character holding a torch. This is typical to horror films and sometimes the torch is replaced by an oil burner or candle depending on when the film was set. By having the character use a torch to see where they are going, it makes the audience nervous and anxious for the characters because they are vulnerable due to being dependent on the torch which could fail at any point. Also, not all of the room/ area is illuminated so it makes it more scary as somebody/ something could jump out from the dark to torture the character so this makes them more vulnerable.

Lighting Continued Low lighting is also illustrated in the bottom right hand picture, this time with the use of shadows. The way the light is higher in the background than it is in the foreground creates shadows of the children making them appear more intimidating and it emphasises their bold stances which suggest they have been possessed as they are not scared by the dark but instead all stood in a row looking very menacing and haunted. It illustrates to the audience that the characters are dangerous and that supernatural things are happening, because usually children would not be threatening. The second picture on the left shows a scene from a found footage movie- where the characters film themselves on hand held video cameras. The lighting has a green saturation and this suggests that the camera is on night vision mode, making the audience aware that the events are happening at night time or in a dark place, making them perhaps more apprehensive or on the edge of their seats because stereotypically, supernatural and frightening things happen in the dark.

Setting

Here are some typical settings of horror films, including “normal looking” suburban houses which initially you wouldn't assume would be dangerous or out of the ordinary. Directors may choose to use “everyday” surroundings such as family houses because it makes the setting relatable to the audience and therefore it becomes scarier for them as it suggests that they could potentially be in danger within their own homes. Older houses are also commonly used as the setting because there is more history about them so this can be used as a part of the narrative- especially in supernatural films. The house in the top left picture is surrounded by trees and there doesn’t appear to be any other houses close by, so this isolates the house and the characters within it, making them more vulnerable as they won’t be able to get help if something bad happens to them in the house.

Setting Continued

The second picture on the left shows a very creepy looking boiler room or underground passage. This setting has been chosen because it is isolated and has very low lighting making it a good setting for supernatural things to happen such as noises or ghost sightings, making the audience feel apprehensive for the characters which are trapped in this tunnel. Also, as it is not visible what is lurking in the distance, the uncertainty adds tension and suggests that danger could be round the corner and the characters will be trapped. This also applies to settings such as basements or attics, as shown in the picture at the top on the right. These are common settings for horror films and it is usually the case that there is something perhaps haunted or supernatural being kept in the basement or attic, initially unbeknown to the characters living in the house. Then it will slowly be made aware to the audience that whatever it is in the basement or attic is actually going to put the characters in danger. They are usually very dark and dusty places which make the setting appear more uninviting and cold and suggests to the audience that it is unsafe.

Body language/ facial expressions

The facial expressions in these screenshots are all very dramatic and show fright and terror, connoting to the audience that the characters are scared for their safety, making the audience feel on edge as they know the characters are being threatened and are in immediate danger. The body language is usually very tight and looks as if they are trying to hide themselves from the villains. In two of the screenshots the characters look to have tears in their eyes and this makes the audience sympathise with them and feel bad for them. The fact that the characters are quite visibly very distressed, makes the audience feel uncomfortable and helpless as they watch the movie, and this is usually the intention of horror films- to make the audience feel uncomfortable and on the edge of their seats. Shots such as the ones above create intrigue for the audience as we don't always get to see what the characters are looking at/what’s threatening them, instead we see the impact (their facial expression). This tempts the audience to watch the full film so they can see exactly what is causing the characters so much fright.