Mise-en-scene of horror film trailers

Context During the trailers there is commonly a news report, newspaper articles or voice over that establishes background information relevant to the plot, and helps to contextualise the action in the trailer. It often gives the trailer a background story and quick information that gives more of an understanding to the plot.The sound clip plays a broadcast at the start of the trailer which is portrayed as a change of the norm it notifies the watcher that danger is approaching and that something different is happening. The news papers in the ‘Mirrors’ trailer give evidence to the watcher that something horrific is going on, the cold hearted simplicity of how the news paper describes the brutality of the horror has a large impact on the watcher.

The purge Anarchy trailer

Mirrors Trailer

Normality/introduction of characters

The Characters are conventionally introduced at the start of the trailer when the setting and mood of the characters is ordinary. Throughout the first few scenes the viewer is made to believe that the lives of the characters are mundane and therefore relatable to their own. The normality is used effectively when contrasted with a change of events which normally leads to the main horror and antagonist in the plot.

Normal settingThe trailers start with an establishing shot of a normal setting, one that any one in the audience could have been to or live in. This helps develop the normality of the characters and make the audience believe that it could happen to them.The Purge starts with an establishing shot of a busy city and shows a motorway surrounded by cars which is surprising for the viewer because we are used to the vulnerability and locations that are closed off from civilisation but this contrast early on is effective because it makes the characters and setting relatable.The Mirrors trailer shows a well lit, perfect family home. Again, this is to bring normality into the film and establish that the characters are entirely ordinary. The large number of cars adds to how unlikely it would be for a horrific event to occur.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability is used in every horror film. It is usually portrayed by location. Horror films are usually shot in abandoned places, old historical buildings or other places far away from civilisation. Also people, usually female, are seen naked or in little protective clothing. It is used because it makes the audience anticipate fear and build suspense. Whilst suspense is building the watchers will be paranoid and will feel like the protagonist because they will share the same feelings. Once this likeness is establish anything that happens to the protagonist is felt even more by the viewer because they can relate to them.

Implied violence

Trailers never show the actual impact of violence, they only show before and after. It does this in order to be advertised at all times and also to add anticipation and keep some mystery which leaves the audience wanting more and hoping to see the rest when going to see the film. If the trailer showedthe violence then there would be nothing left to see when going to see the film. Viewers that enjoy the violence will be rewarded when paying to see the film. By hinting at violence the film can use sound and facial expressions to portray fear which is often more effective than showing the violence.

Night/Dark setting

The trailers start with day time lighting to show that the characters are in control and it is a normal day. As it turns to night problems start to occur and there is a change form a normal day to day basis. All horror films and trailers have a large percentage of their scenes in a night or dark setting often with a very small light source to make the scene visible on camera. The low lighting makes the protagonist more vulnerable, it connotes evil and it limits the viewers sight to put them in the same position as the protagonist.

Enigmatic Antagonist It is a convention that the antagonist is never seen. If they are seen it is for very short periods of time in small lighting and they often wear makes to conceal their identity. This gives a sense of mystery and leaves the audience with questions about the antagonist. For example they wonder what the motive is, who they are, where they came from and what their background was. The introduction to the trailer spends a lot of time on the protagonists so that the audience have time to care for them but very little on the antagonist to raise these questions and this mystery

Action Sequences/Loss of Control

Very commonly horror films involve action scenes, the scenes are used to build suspense and give the impression to the audience that the protagonist has no control over what's going on to the audience feel anything can happen as this is the point where the protagonist is at his/her most vulnerable.

Action Sequences/Loss of Control

Very commonly horror films involve action scenes, the scenes are used to build suspense and give the impression to the audience that the protagonist has no control over what's going on to the audience feel anything can happen as this is the point where the protagonist is at his/her most vulnerable.