The document provides an analysis of the mise-en-scene elements in the trailers for the films The Resident and The Gift. It discusses how settings, lighting, props, and costumes are used to convey meaning and parallel events in the plot. For The Resident, the settings transition from idyllic to derelict to represent the victim's changing circumstances. Lighting is used to indicate safety or danger. Props like a phone and mattress provide character details. Costumes like scrubs and bloodied clothes also further the story. Similarly in The Gift, settings and lighting parallel the plot's shifts between safety and threat. Key props help outline relationships and foreshadow future events.

1. Mise en Scene Analysis of Stalker
Horror Films
The Gift and The Resident

2. The Resident – Mise en Scene: Settings
The trailer starts with a Idyllic landscape view of New York
city. This setting evokes beauty and perfection which parallels
the victim in the film. The beauty of this scene and the wide
open spaces have been used to show the vulnerability of the
‘perfect’ world the victim lives in, which will later be changed
and destroyed. Having this parallel makes it easier for the
director to show us the changes in the victim, her
mood/feelings. Later into the film the setting change to the
night time and show close up views of the city. This again
parallels with the plot of the film. As the story goes on the
victim becomes more venerable this is shown by the darkness
which evokes danger and vulnerability. The movement in shot
type, getting closer in also reflects the movements of the
stalker in the film. Towards the end of the trailer the settings
become daylight again, however instead of idyllic settings it
shows derelict dishevelled buildings. This is representative of
the victim at the end of the film, she has been ripped of her
perfect world and her pure beauty.

3. The Resident – Mise en Scene: Lighting
Lighting is used to evoke mood in the trailer. At the start it is
used to show safety and a haven fort the victim. Lighting does
this because we as human deem things we can see and that
have light as safe, they're not mysterious. So by having lots of
light at the start it sets the scene as a place of safety for the
victim and lulls the audience into comfort. As the trailer
progresses we get an outside view looking into the apartment
the victim lives. The light is being concentrated on her alone
here. This parallels with the idea that the evil character will be
looking in on her and her alone. The lighting is again being
used as a marker of safety, having the light just in the
apartment shows she is safe but is venerable the dark outside
world in the perimeter of this shot. Towards the end of the
trailer we see the victims apartment in complete darkness.
Here it is being shown that she is no longer safe. The darkness
has infiltrated her home in the same way in which the stalker
has. Again this links back to the idea of feeling unsafe in unlit
areas, as we can no longer see her apartment the audience are
being told she is no longer safe there.

4. The Resident – Mise en Scene: Props
The props in this trailer are being used to tell us about the
movement in the storyline and also information on the
characters themselves. The phone being used towards the start
of the trailer is being used to show the audience what
relationships the victim has. Here the text shows us that the
victim probably has a boyfriend that doesn’t live at her
apartment. We know this because of the words “baby” being
used and “your place”. By calling the victim “baby” it heavily
implies that the sender is in a committed relationship with the
recipient. Also by him calling her apartment “your place” not
“our place” shows us that he doesn’t live their full time. Both of
these pieces of information will probably be important to the
plot of the overall film. We also see a mattress being moved into
the apartment, this tells us she has just recently moved in, again
this will probably be important to the plot. Finally the audience
are also shown cameras, this give more depth to the trailer as it
tells us how the victim is trying to solve the problem that then
film focuses on . This intrigues the viewer and makes the trailer
more interesting.

5. The Resident – Mise en Scene: Costume
Costume is used to show the roles of the victim and the different
stages of the plot. Towards the start of the trailer we see the victim
wearing pyjama clothing. This evokes vulnerability in the victim as
she is about to go bed and isn't wearing much. Having slight nudity
shows vulnerability because that’s when the victim is most bare,
meaning she almost cant defend herself. Later we see the victim
wearing scrubs. This tells the audience about where she works, what
she does for a living. Looking deeper into this, if she is a doctor/nurse
she may be working unusual hours, arriving home early. In the final
scenes of the trailer we see the victim in blood-stained clothes. The
blood-stained clothes shows the audience that there will be a climax
in the film including violence, which may appeal to some sections of
the audience of the film.

6. The Gift – Mise en Scene: Settings/Lighting
The settings at the start of the trailer are light and open. This
creates a sense of safety and security for the characters. This
expected in a normal domestic environment. The use of
quadrilateral shapes within the home maker it seem modern and
stylish which could reflect the characters and their idyllic lifestyle's
All of these features of the early settings parallel the plot, in that
here they are safe. Later the settings seem to get darker and closer
to the buildings. This is a parallel to the story line in that the stalker
is getting closer and creating a unsafe environment for the
characters

7. The Gift – Mise en Scene : Props
At the start of the trailer we see one of the main characters
hanging a baby mobile. This prop has been used to outline the
relationships between the characters and their plans. With this
prop we can see that they are starting a family. This may also
parallel perverse themes later in the plot. The next prop we see is
one of the ‘gifts’. This helps outline the story and they key
elements of the stalkers plans . This helps provide information to
the watcher and lets them know how the plot is being carried out.
The last prop is the dead fish in the koi pond, this foreshadows
death and maybe events later ion the film.