The trailer for Paranormal Activity 4 analyzes footage from the previous films in the series to remind viewers of the storyline and characters. It introduces a new main character, Alex, who sets up cameras in her expensive home to catch a burglar, but begins experiencing paranormal activity. The trailer uses quick cuts between tense music and scary footage to build up fear, such as when the power suddenly cuts out. It culminates with Alex noticing the demonic Katie's reflection behind her before cutting to the title.

1. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 TRAILER ANALYSIS
Dean Tomlinson

2. They have edited the trailer in order to show it on daytime TV. This
allows for a much larger audience. Whereas if they kept it scary
they would only be able to show it after 9pm. The green screen
also shows that it has been proven to be an official film for people
to see.

3. The editing in this shot tells the audience straight away that the movie is
still using a cam recorder of which the other three films prior to this used
also. It also makes it look like it is archived footage being watched by an
audience.

4. The first shot with a character in shows footage of a younger
Katie when she is younger, Katie is the protagonist and
antagonist in the first film. Of which she is a member of the
family with a demon attached to her. This shot could possibly
be used to show that she was still a young girl at one point.

5. This shot shows the two sisters Katie and Kristi. When they were younger.
Another use of showing these tapes of the two main characters of the series is to
show the audience that, although there are new characters in this film, that Katie
and Kristi will be in it in some way.

6. Inter title reminding the audience of the first movie. In order to remind them
of the storyline so that they are not confused. Also tells the audience who
are unknown of the series of what is happening.

7. Shot of Katie's husband being thrown by a demonic Katie, killing him,
fans of the series will be excited seeing this as it will remind them of
the first film.

8. The next shot is a quick flash to the second film showing a
baby and possessed Katie about to take it. It is a quick shot
leading up to a scare.

9. Quickly after the shot from the second film, we see Katie's demonic face
as she jumps at the camera at the end of the first film. This will have
scared the audience as they editors have used fast paced shots to build
up for this.

10. ‘This October’ means that the movie will be released in October, also
making the audience feel that the scenes from the movie haven't
happened yet and that they are soon to happen.

11. This is the first shot of the new character in the film. She is a pretty blonde
from a well off family, and doesn’t look to be from the same family as Katie
of Kristi. However she does use cameras like in the other films. This is in
order to see whether they can catch a burglar who keeps attacking the
house.

12. Starts to show family argument, setting the scenes as a
normal household with nothing special going on. From the
set you can see that the house is very expensive. Has a lot
of props that could be moved by a demon, for example the
hanging lights.

13. Shot of Alex, on webcam with a male friend talking about school stuff. Lots
of scenes in this film try to make this seem like an authentic lifestyle they
have.

14. First ‘odd’ scene is when Alex sees a young boy outside of her room
and describes to her friend that he does it a lot. However in this shot
he turns up at her and the lights all go out. Creating the first sense of
panic.

15. After the lights go out we see the static on the screen showing the
way in which the boys power has affected all electrics. This creates a
sense of rush and panic in order to build up for another scare.

16. The second to final shot, does the stereotypical thing of making the
character face away from the doorway in order for the audience to
feel scared and to maybe tell her to look behind her.

17. In the last shot we see Alex looking into something with a reflective
surface as she looks into it noticing the figure behind her of which
we later find to be Katie. The trailer then cuts to black.

18. After the black screen a static like title pops up showing the
films title.