The trailer uses typical horror conventions and cinematography to establish Jessabelle as the weak protagonist. High angle shots of Jessabelle on the phone establish her as needing help, while low angle shots of her father in a wheelchair suggest he holds power. The creepy wooden house and sinister videos that trigger events further the horror elements. Non-diegetic sounds like whispers and music build tension, while silence also creates anticipation for something to jump out. The editing becomes quick and overwhelming, conveying rising tension through the trailer's narrative. The trailer aims to appeal to horror fans through established tropes and producers known for other horror films.

1. Trailer Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoBCEdt_BC8

2. Screenshots:

8. Trailer Analysis
Cinematograaphy Mise-en-scene
The first shot of Jessabelle is a high angle close up of
her on the phone, from the beginning of the trailer
audiences understand that she is a weak character as
she is asking someone for help which is reinforced by
the high angle shot. There are then a series of shots
through a cars wing mirror of her father with his
hands on a wheelchair, this suggests that he has the
power and Jessabelle is still the weaker of the two
characters, this is a typical camera shot to use on
horror trailers.
The establishing shot of a clear road with only
Jessabelles fathers car suggests to the audience that
their house is distanced from modern society, this is
also reinforced through the car looking quite old.
Further into the trailer we are given a series of close
ups on a box under her bead which we later learn
have VCR tapes of her mother, this tells us that the
tapes are important.
Mise-en-scene is a key element in any horror trailer or film
as it helps to identify the genre.
Examples of this from the trailer are the creepy wooden
house which Jessabelle is living in, this is a typical
convention as most horror films or trailers use a haunted
house as the catalyst for the narrative. The sinister box of
tapes which we later see Jessabelle watching is also a typical
convention as it triggers something in the house, also as she
is watching the tapes her mother reads out her cards and
reveals that there is something else watching her in the
house.
Mid way through the trailer a male character reveals a
headstone with ‘Jessabelle June 12 1988’ written on which is
her birthday, this is a typical convention as it scares
audiences in to thinking that something has made a date
and is set out to kill her, this would also scare the audience
as it is human nature to be scared of death and know when
you might die
The wheelchair with a moving figure is also a typical
convention of horror films as the audience knows no one
else is in the house and from Jessabelles reaction shot the
audience also become scared.

9. Trailer Analysis
Editing and Sound Theory
This trailer adheres to
the following theories:
Todorov - Narrative
Propp – Character roles
Levi Strauss – Binary
opposition: Weak-
Powerful,
Evil-Good, male-female.
Male Gaze – Jessabelle is
weak
Editing and sound in horror trailers are a key element.
The sound used in this horror trailer are mainly non diegetic for
example in the beginning of the trailer there is a soft piano playing .
There is then a continuous countdown sound which suggests it is the
countdown to Jessabelles death which eventually fades out .
There is then a non diegetic wisper of her mother saying ‘Jessabelle’
wispers are also a common sound used in horror films and trailers.
Diegetic screams from Jessabelle are played which builds up tension for
the audience waiting to see what she is screaming at, when she is
screaming there is also non diegetic music.
Towards the end of the trailer Jessabelle is in the bath and the house is
silent except from the diegetic sounds coming from a tap, silence is also
a convention used in horror trailers as it also builds up tension while
the audience is waiting for something to jump out which is very typical
in the horror genre.
The editing in horror trailers are paramount in horror trailers as it
anticipates and builds tension.
In this horror trailer the editing starts of slow and as the trailer
narrative grows the editing becomes very quick and overwhelming for
the audience. There is also a black fade used in the beggining of the
trailers which gives a quality to it that is like a blinking eye watching
over her.

10. Trailer Analysis
Representation
Target audience/Genre
Conventions
Age : 15+
Horror genre fans
At the beginning of the trailer it says
from the producers of Paranormal
activity, Insidious and Sinister. This
would appeal to the horror fans
Conventions-
Devil/evil in the house
Haunting
Creepy video tapes
Headstone with name and date on
Typography – typical horror
typography and block capitals
This trailer adheres to the male gaze
theory. This is because Jessabelle is mostly
looked at through a high angle shot, she
has to rely on others (men) to help her e.g.
When her father was pushing in the
wheelchair to the house, also when she
had to rely on her father to come and pick
her up from the hospitle.
Her father in the trailer is also looked at
through continuous shots in low angles
which tells the audience that he holds the
power.