The Pyramid 2014 horror trailer analysis

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Yo9xasRKg
Kat Scott

2. Screenshots from the trailer:

3. MONTAGE

7. Cinematography
The cinematography in this trailer is very effective as it uses lots of establishing shots, close ups and reaction
shots to create a really effective trailer and get a reaction from its audiences.
•The first shots we see are photographs – mainly close ups of mummies – this grabs the audiences attention as
mummies aren’t a typical convention used in horror genre trailers.
•There is then an establishing shot of pyramids and people who are digging . This establishing shot sets the
scene along with the sound. Audiences will now be wondering what the narrative is about now that they know
the location and feel of the trailer.
•We are then introduced to four main characters with a long shot, the audience now understand that these are
the protagonists and are featured in the narrative.
•An over the shoulder point of view shot is then shown of a man breaking into rock which then releases a veil
of green fog which we then understand is toxic air.
•The camera then goes fuzzy and has a close up shot of the man who broke through the rock struggling for air,
his eyes also go a grey colour. This would create tension and cause the audience to question what happens
next.
• A medium close up of a woman in front of a pyramid which the audience understands is a report as she
explains what is happening and that it is a “three sided pyramid”, this causes the audience to react as they will
realise that this is the pyramid where the events will take place.
•When the four characters have entered the pyramid there is a series of reaction shots and point of views
which intrigues the audience to watch the film as it will unravel the story of what they are so scared of.
•The camera is then handheld and steady putting the audience into the eyes of the characters which builds
tension and makes the trailer even scarier as it looks more realistic.
•There is a close up of running blood down steps which represents death and the horror genre
•A point of view medium long shot is also shown of a mummified skeletal figure with a bent over back which
then builds tension and scares the audience because they are unaware of what will happen.

8. Mise-en-scene Sound
This trailer uses mainly voice overs, diegetic sound and non diegetic
sound.
The first sound used is a fuzzy non diegetic sound, which then has a voice
over of a man saying “It has been called the curse of the Pharaohs”. This
then leads to the sound of an old camera shutter which sets the tone of
the trailer being about historical pyramids. “Vengeance against
adventurers who disturbed the tomb” then tells the audience that there is
an evil due to disturbances to tombs. “A polish ship carrying two
mummies is haunted by...” this creates tension because this tells the
audience someone is going to disturb the tombs again and it will unleash
death which is reinforced by “enter a pyramid never to emerge”. The
trailer then cuts to modern day diegetic sound of a female saying “Tell
them not to open it up yet” which creates tension as the audience has just
been informed that people have been inside the pyramids and have never
returned.
Fast high pitched non diegetic violin music is then played over the top
which builds tension as it is fast and matches the pace of the editing.
Non diegetic music of low pitched symbols then play which creates
tension as it is dramatic and slow communicating that something is going
to happen or jump out.
Diegetic sound of a man saying “its a warning” then creates a motivated
quiet sound of a crack in the ceiling which builds tension as the audience
is waiting for something to happen.
There is then diegetic sound of a creature growling which will build the
tension to a climax as it confirms there is something else in the pyramid
with them.
Diegetic sound of screaming is then used to scare the audiences and
create a frightening atmosphere for the audience.
The mise-en-scene in this trailer is very stereotypical
to the horror genre.
•Old mummified skeletons are the first things seen in
the trailer which is a stereotypical mise-en-scene
convention for the horror genre as it represents death.
•The green “toxic air” is also a horror convention as it
is alike fog/mist which also commonly used in for
horror trailers as it represents mystery and the
unknown.
•As the protagonists enter the pyramid the lighting is
very dark; this plays on phobias such as isolation,
claustrophobia and being scared of the dark. The
audience also cant see anything other than what the
camera is looking at which also creates tension and
makes the trailer jumpy.
• A figure runs quickly past the shot other than the
characters which suggests that there is something else
within the pyramid, this builds tension as the audience
should automatically realise that it is evil.
•There is also a skeleton which the audience assume is
what the figure was that ran past.
•Blood is also used and is a typical convention as it is
stereotypical to horror films as it represents death.

9. Editing Theory
Alike other horror trailers the editing in this
trailer starts off slow paced and gradually builds
up to keep up with the narrative of the trailer
which also builds tension.
There are common editing techniques used in
this horror trailer such as filters, speed variation,
title slides and other effects.
Filters are used in the beginning and end of the
trailer to create different effects for example a
sepia filter is used in the first shots to create an
aged effect and tell the audience that the trailer
is based around the pyramids. There is also a
filter on a point of view shot to represent that it
is dark and the camera is on night vision. Editing
effects are also used when the toxic air is
released and the camera image becomes fuzzy
and pixilated. These editing techniques alike the
sound are also vital to horror trailers as they
build tension and help audiences to identify the
genre and follow the narrative.
This trailer follows the following theorys:
Todorov narrative theory
Equilibrium – the beginning of the narrative
starts out normal, Disequilibrium – a
disruption occurs in the narrative causing
disequilibrium, Recognition – Recognition of
the disruption, Resolution – A plan is made
to solve the disequilibrium
Restoration – Restoration of the equilibrium,
the story returns back to the beginning.
However this trailer doesn’t feature the
resolution or restoration parts which
encourages audiences to watch it as they
will want to know what happens.
Rick Altman Genre theory that genres are
usually defined by ideaology and narrative.
Levi Strauss representation theory
Young/old, ancient/modern, evil/good,
dead/living.

10. Target audience and genre
conventions
The target audience for this film is 15+ they will be horror fans or could
inherited audiences from other genres such as historical films. The british actor
from “The Inbetweeners” is also featured in the film and plays the role of Fitzie,
an inherited audience of the fans from this tv series and films will also watch The
Pyramid as it will be interesting for them to see how the actor is in a different
genre. The actor Denis O'Hare from “American Horror Story” is also a main
character in this film which will also attract fans as he is well known for being in
the series.
Genre Conventions: The conventions in this horror trailer represent and are
stereotypical to the horror genresuch as:
Blood
Skeletons
The unknown
Darkness
Vengence
Death