The trailer for the horror film "Insidious" uses various techniques to set the tone and build intrigue. It begins by establishing the dark color scheme and unsettling music. Shots are presented out of order and a heartbeat sound effect connects scenes to build tension. While only three of Todorov's five stages of narrative disruption are shown, questions are raised about what has disrupted the family's equilibrium and what is "insidious." Rapid cutting between shots and the repeated title further tease the film's mystery and ensure viewers will want to discover the film's secret.

2. • The opening shot of the trailer involves the production company behind the film, which is ‘FILMDISTRICT’. However, film
district has re-designed their logo to relate to the horror genre film trailer that follows. This in-turn, sets the ambience of the
trailer, foreshadowing the genre to the audience.
• It uses a colour scheme of red and black which is often associated with negative connotations. For example, the black
represents the dark nature of the film, and the red suggests blood or anger/revenge. This is why these two colours are part
of the horror film repertoire, as it immediately informs the audience of the nature of the film. Aided by the non-diegetic
soundtrack that fades in to perhaps help to set the mood of the trailer, and like the beginning slow pace of the shots and
their fading transitions, creates an element of tension for the audience.

3. • When the film title ‘INSIDIOUS’ fades in, non-diegetic sound effects are used to match the movement of the words
presented. These sounds suggest technology, which connects to the font the title is written in. However, underneath these
sounds, their is a faint beat which could represent a heart beat. This heart beat can be heard asynchronous across the title
and into the following shots that include characters. This beat could reprint the heart of the characters, perhaps the heart
beats of the audience, representing the tension and suspense that will follow. Also, as these heart beats are established
during the title, however followed through into the shots, given meaning as a metronome, it connects the title to the plot.
• The words alternate at a fast pace, making it hard for the audience to understand, which may suggests how the film is not as
simple as it seems. How it is not the happy equilibrium that the audience is shown at the start of the trailer, in fact the story is
far more complex, which is true for many horror films.
• The words alternate from ‘INSIDIOUS’ to ‘IS’, and then repeats. This could perhaps connote how insidious is insidious,
creating the code of enigma for the audience, which is, what is insidious?

4. Todorov
• When considering the equilibrium, Tzvetan Todorov
theorised that films have 5 stages of a cause and effect
pattern, which is, the state of equilibrium, the disruption of
the equilibrium, the recognition of this disruption, an attempt
to resolve the disruption and the reinstatement of a new
equilibrium.
• However, within this trailer, the audience is only shown
three of these stages, as stages such as reinstatement of a
new equilibrium would spoil the plot for the audience and
there would not be many going to view the film, as they
would already know what would happen. Yet three stages
are still used which support Todorov’s theory.

5. • The code of enigma is then intensified through the male character dietetically voicing the answer to the question ‘Are
you ready?’, to which he replies ‘Yeah’. The creates a multitude of questions for the audience, such as:
1. What is supposed to be ready for?
2. His unsure reaction poses the contrast that he is not ready, yet he replies that he is. Therefore, what is he
so nervous about being ready for?
• The lighting behind the male character could also represent the point in the plot that this shot is. As the bright lights
are behind the character, it could suggests that the bright and happy further they once had has gone, and now they
are in a darker place. The fact that this shot is not linear to the plot, is a technique that many filmmakers use, as
trailers are promotional devices and sometimes suspense and intrigue can be created through the positioning of
certain shots in their trailers.

6. • This beat, now established as the ticking of a metronome. Is then used to cut each shot. This could suggest how
is not ready for what is to come, which is enforced by the happy shots and the diegetic laughter, which present
the characters as almost vulnerable and oblivious.
• It is also at this point, when the metronome begins to tick, it is at that point the audience is shown the start of the
equilibrium. Therefore, it could suggest that ‘Are you ready?’ is directed at the audience, indirectly asking if the
audience is ready for the plot that will unfold, implying that plot is so scary that the audience will have to judge if
they can handle it, which could also be emphasised through the phrase ‘Are you ready?’ being asynchronous
from the title into the following shots. This could be why the shot is chosen from the plot, as it draws the
audience in. Perhaps even psychologically, as the audience now feel they have to prove that they are ready and
that they can handle what the trailer has to offer. This engages their attention, which is an effective technique for
a promotional device, like a trailer, to use.

7. • With the intertitles, they mostly repeat the title of the ‘INSIDIOUS’, aside from the aforementioned inter titles
such as stating the production ‘FILM DISTRICT’. As well as this, there is the intertitle relating the film to other
successful films of the same genre which not only advertises the filmmakers already produced films, but
promotes this film as just as good, presenting the film in a positive light, before the plot has even been
shown. There is also the date of release of the film, which is stated as ‘everywhere’, which could portray how
there is no escape from the film, like the family has no escape from the mister they are dealing with.
• ‘INSIDIOUS’ is also repeated throughout the trailer, this ensures that the audience is aware of the film’s
name, as they would have to go and view the film for their to be profit. However, the fact that each time it
poses as an intertitle, the words become closer and the words are not as separated ‘INSIDIOUS IS’ ‘IS
INSIDIOUS’, could represent how the audience is getting further and further wrapped up in the plot, perhaps
portraying how ended the audience should be the further into the trailer. Yet, the intertitles then solely repeat
the ‘INSIDIOUS IS’ portion through out the trailer, and begin to cut closer to ‘INSIDIOUS’ the further into the
trailer the audience gets. This could be perhaps to intrigue the audience, as it teases them of the trailer
revealing what ‘INSIDIOUS IS’, which is the enigma the trailer is conveying.

8. • There is also the establishment of the equilibrium breaking, this is shown through different ways as it is
a key part of the plot, as it signifies where, why and how the horror will start, which is the genre of the
film.
• One of the ways is the contrast in lighting, the plot initially starts out bright and happy, involving any
shots of the character sharing each other’s company, suggesting their close bond and how normal this
family is, which allows the audience to relate the plot to themselves, as they feel it could happen to
them. However, after the child falls, the lighting during and after is far darker, even in day-time shots,
and the characters are seen as far more isolated suggesting the darker nature of the plot from their on.
• Another way, is the intertitle that appears straight after the child hits the floor. The child hitting the floor
could represent the breaking of the equilibrium and the intertitle, which is a repeat of the title could
convey how the audience is now going to find out exactly what ‘INSIDIOUS’ ‘IS’.

9. • The trailer itself lasts a duration of 1 minute and 50 seconds, which I have observed is between the standard 1:30 to 2:00 time frame, to which
many trailer apply. By keeping within, it help the trailer to intrigue the audience, yet not give away too much of the plot that the audience
wouldn’t need to go see the film, which filmmakers need, in order to obtain a profit.
• The trailer also holds around 92 shots, with a pace, that begins slow, and then starts to quicken gradually with every intertitle after the
equilibrium is broken. This could be to increase the tension of suspense. Also, having short cuts of many different shots in the faster portion
could be an technique in the sense that the plot is already established during the slower shots, as this portion is meant to advertise the scare
that will be in the film. Having quicker and short shots allows the filmmaker to reveal of the horror content, and it is the enigma of the audience
guessing what it was they just saw and why the characters are in that position that will lead them to buy tickets to view the film.
• Yet, during the faster portion, there are two slower shots.
One is travelling down a corridor, which could be to allow the audience time to react from the frightening red face that was previously, but
perhaps also in order to create tension and suspense for the asynchronous diegetic ‘It’s not the house that is haunted, it’s your son.’ This
reveals part of the enigma created by what is happening to the family, however, as it is the son, the audience may feel even more frightened, as
a character which symbolises youth, vulnerability and innocence is now being presented as something dark and to be feared ‘haunted’, leaving
the audience conflicted about their feelings for the child. The child’s state causing personal impact on the family, and conflict for the audience
could be portrayed through the close up of a female character’s face as she voices the words ‘its your son’.
The other shot is after the intertitle ‘everywhere april 1’ which slowly fades out. By doing this, it allows the audience to believe the trailer has
ended, yet they are then presented with a extremely quick shot of a ghostly figure run and grab for the camera. This personalises the trailer to
the audience, as they almost feel as though they themselves are being targeted by this horror, and therefore, they feel more personally involved
and engaged. The jumps scare also reminds them of the genre and the mood/atmosphere the film will create. It is the horror of the film that the
audience will be attracted to, and so the final jump scare emphasises the inclusion of this, as well as this, it’s abrupt appearance almost ensures
a reaction that when the audience will think back to the trailer, they will remember being scared.

10. Conclusion
• All in all, the trailer presents the genre of horror
successfully in terms of it’s pace and the portrayal of
enigma throughout. It also follows many of the codes
and conventions from the horror repertoire, as well as
emphasising the time frame importance of trailers to be
succinct. It could also be seen as successful when you
consider how the use of shots and editing techniques aid
the trailer to present the horror, yet without actually
presenting any difficult effects, which is relevant as my
production will need to create a realistic and
professional-looking trailer with limited resources.