This document analyzes the shots in a movie trailer for the film "Sinister". It describes 20 different shots ranging from 1-4 seconds long. The shots include establishing shots, montages, zooms, close-ups, and point-of-view shots. These shots are used to introduce the setting, characters, and build tension, danger, fear and sympathy for the characters from the audience. They also provide clues to the horror storyline about a family being stalked by a demon.

1. SinisterTrailerAnalysis
Shotno. Shottype Shotlength Scene no. Content/Purpose
1 Establishing
shot
2 seconds 1 It introducestothe audience the setting&helpsintroducesthe mise-en-scenesuch
as the lowkeylightingwhichhelpsintroduce the genre &connote dangertothe
audience.
2/3 Montage 5 seconds 2 The montage fadesin& fadesout duringthe establishingshot.Thisallowsthe
audience tobecome aware of the characters/familyinthe story&adds horror to the
trailer.
4 Zoom 2 seconds 3 The use of the zoom onthe house helpsconnote dangeraswe are gettingcloserto
the house & triesto showthat somethingisgoingtocreepupon them.
5/6/7/8/9/10/11 Close ups 2 seconds
each
4 These several shotstransitionsquicklythroughsome of the familymembers.This
showsthemto be a little distressed&vulnerable whichwouldevoke sympathyfrom
the audience.
12/13/14 Wide shot 3 seconds 5 Thiswide shothelpsshowafocus ona box whichislocatedinthe attic. Thisis
effectiveasitallowsthe audience totake inthe surroundings,whichshowsthe area
to be empty.Thiswouldtherefore create danger&tensionforthe audience aswhat
will happenisunexpected.
16/17/18/19 Overthe
shoulder/high
angle
4 seconds 6 Thisshotsshowthe audience the fatherlookingintothe box.Thisiseffectiveasitwill
create tensionandworryfrom the audience astheydon’tknowwhathe will find.
21 Close up 1 second 6 Thisshot showsthe audience whatthe characterhas found.Thishelpsintroduce the
storyline of thishorrorstory.By showingthe contentsof the box helpsthe audience
speculate whathe will find&keepstheminterestedinthe story.
22/23/24/25/26/27 Mid shots 1 second
each
6 These shotsallowthe audience tothe manassemblingthe film,toplaythe contents
that he has found.Thiswill therefore create interestintothe story,butalsogenerate
some fearfor themas a viewer.
28/29/30
Pointof view
shot
2 seconds
each
6 The use of the pointof viewshotallowsthe audience toimagine whatthe character
isseeing.Thisiseffective asthe will feel inhispositionwouldfeel the same feelings.
The use of the pointof viewshots ineveryotherscene helpscreate tension&danger
as the audience cansee the man’sreactionto whathe has seenonthe film.

2. SinisterTrailerAnalysis
32 Mid shot 4 seconds 6 The use of the midshot helpsshowthe charactersbodylanguage andfacial
expressionstowhathe has justseen.Thisiseffective asitshowshisfear& complete
shockto what he has seen.Thistherefore createstension&makesthe audiences
jumpwhilstwatchinghisfear.
47 Overthe
shoulder
4 seconds 8 The use of a lot of overthe shouldershotshelpsshowthe mantobe continuously
watchingthe video.Thiscreatestensionforthe audience astheywill be worried&
concernedaboutwhathe will see next.Italsohelpsintroduce the originof the
dangerto the audience.
56/57/58 Zoom 2 seconds 8 The use of the zoom onthe video helpsthe tensionbuildforthe viewersastheyare
watchingthe horror whichisgoingto be cast upon the family.The use of shot
showingthe familyinthe gardenwouldcreate horror/fearfromthe audience asthey
couldimage that to be the circumstancesforthem& generate some horrible
imagination
59 Pointof view 2 seconds 8 By usingthe pointof viewonthe photographhelpsintroduce the originof the horror.
To whichhe movesthe image & the dangerouscharacteris outside.Thisiseffective
as it wouldmake the audience jumpasthiswouldbe unexpected.But,theywould
alsofeel scared& sympathyforthe man as theyknowwhatwill happen.
62 Wide shot 3 seconds 9 The wide shotshowsthe man inhisoffice.The shotthenallowsthe audience tobring
theirattentiontothe contentsof the laptopwhere he firstdiscoversthe presence of
the demon.Thiswouldcreate fear/tensionfromthe audience.However,wouldkeep
theirinterestastheywouldwanttofindoutmore.
63
Low angle
shot
3 seconds 9 Thisshot showsthe younggirl approachingthe camera.The shot allowsthe girls
facial expressionstobe obvioustothe audience &showthe fearthat she feels.This
wouldtherefore evoke sympathyfromthem,butmake themquestionwhatshe is
lookingat.
68 Highangle 2 seconds 11 Thisshot allowsthe audience tosee the young girl’svulnerability.Italsoshowsthe
parentslookingdownontheirdaughter&questioningheraboutwhatshe had seen.
Thiscreatestensionasthe audience will notexpecttoherwhat she says.But,also
createssympathyasfor the parentsconcern& the young girl’shorror.

3. SinisterTrailerAnalysis
67 Wide shot 2 second 12 Thisshot showsthe younggirl to be playingonthe swing.Thisshotalsosuggests that
something/someone iswatchingher.Thiscreatesfearforthe audience astheywill
see herto be unaware & vulnerable atthistime
69 Mid shot 2 seconds 13 The use of the shot relayingafterthe shotof the younggirl on the swingisquite
worryingforthe audience astheybecome aware thattheyare beinghaunted&he
girl istheirtarget.This allowsthe audience tosympathise withthe girl &theirfamily
as theyare indanger.
70 Pointof view 2 3 seconds 14 Thisshot showsthe manto be approachinganemptybox inthe middle of the room.
Thisshot wouldbe associatedwiththe shotof the box inthe attic whichwould
suggestthatthere is something badtocome out of it.
72 Wide shot 2 seconds 15 Thisshot showsthe manto be settingsomethingonfire.Thisshothelpsconnote
danger& horror for the audience.Thisconnotationisassociatedwiththe horror
genre & successfullyportraysitbydoingthis.
73 Close up 2 seconds 15 The use of the close up helpsshowthe manburningthe film.Thishelpsaddtension
because theyknowsomethingbadhashappenedtothe family&theyare tryingto
getrid of it. Therefore feariscreatedastheyknowas the audience thiswon’t
happen.
100 Pointof view 3 seconds 20 Showsthe mainmale character’spoint of viewto whichhe islookinguponagroup of
childrenwiththe demononthe film.Thisallowsthe demontobe showntobe above
the children&the one incontrol.Thistherefore hooks the audience &evokesfear
fromthemas viewers.Thisshotalsoallowsthe darkscene tobe acknowledged,to
whichthe audience cangetdistracted& are thensurprisedwiththe demonatthe
frontof the scene.Thiswouldmake the audience jump,andtherefore interestedin
the trailer.
Thisshot helpsendthe trailersuccessfully&leavesthe traileronaclimax tofindout
whathappenedtothe familyonce the demonhadcome to life.