An analysis of typical mies-en-scene within horror film trailers.

1. Typical Mise- en- Scene of Horror
Film Trailers
Trailer Analysis

2. Props The props used in horror films can often form crucial parts of the storyline,
making them extremely significant and of high importance. For example, the
prop pictured to the left is an old film camera- something which is quite
commonly used in horror films and it is often used to link the characters in the
present day to events which have happened in the past. Through this,
characters often make haunting discoveries and the past may come back to
wreak havoc. Similarly to this, old pictures, portraits and newspaper clippings
are used to make connections to past events and often characters find
themselves experiencing the same horrors or being haunted by dead people
who have come back as ghosts. By using these props, it gives clues to the
audience and drops hints about what might happen. Old newspaper clippings
showing things such as disappearances and deaths connote danger and make
the audience feel apprehensive for the characters as the use of these props
foreshadow the same events happening again.

3. Props Continued The bottom left hand picture shows portraits which have fallen from the
walls and this is a common prop in horror films because the settings for these
films are often old, large houses or mansions which have these pictures as
interior décor. However they have been used for a more significant reason
which is to create tension and fear because they will have fallen due to some
sort of supernatural cause, and it is significant that it is pictures of the family
members who live in the houses because it suggests that they are in danger
and something bad is going to happen to them, leaving the audience on the
edge of their seats. The bottom right hand picture shows a mysterious looking
dark coloured box. Boxes like this are used in horror films to link to the plot; it
is often that the characters find something in the box which causes trouble
such as unlocking spirits or the box itself being haunted. The producers have
chosen to use an old ‘rusty’ looking box because it makes it appear more
mysterious because it suggests it’s been.There a long time, so it hints to the
audience that the characters who tamper with it are causing themselves
impending doom. The fact it’s dark coloured also makes more uninviting
because darker colours connote death and evil.

4. Costume
The costumes used in typical horror films are most commonly
‘normal’, everyday pieces of clothing. Modern outfits which are
nothing out of the ordinary are used because they help the audience
relate to the characters. By having the characters dressed like
normal members of society, it makes the antagonist less identifiable
and suggests that anyone could become a victim because nobody is
particularly standing out, in terms of costume. This is especially
relevant in supernatural or psychological horror films because
usually someone who the audience initially sees as no threat
eventually becomes the antagonist. By having the characters wear
clothes which are similar to what the audience themselves might be
wearing, it may make the audience feel as if they are also in danger
because the horrible events from the film are happening to “normal”
looking people, so may happen to them. Typically, as the narrative
progresses, the characters costume becomes disheveled and untidy,
showing their venerability through their appearance and the decline
of the protagonists life.

5. Antagonists Costume/Makeup
Antagonists in horror films are made
to look very unnatural and disturbing,
causing the audience to feel very
uncomfortable and scared. It is
common for the antagonist to have
makeup which makes their face look
white, to make it appear as if they
are dead, suggesting that they are
stuck in purgatory. The makeup may
also make it look like they are
infected or severely deformed,
suggesting that they have be
dehumanised and are therefore a
threat to the other characters. The
costumes used are usually very worn
and tattered or old fashioned to
suggest that they are ghosts and to
suggest that they are very unstable
and abnormal.

6. Lighting The lighting stereotypically used in horror films is very low lighting, making the
screen appear very dark to create a mysterious and gloomy atmosphere. The first
picture on the left is a screenshot showing a little girl in her bedroom looking at
something outside of the door. The lighting is extremely low key making it difficult
to see the surroundings of the bedroom, and this creates tension because it could
mean that somebody or something supernatural is lurking in the shadows and could
strike at any moment, making the characters more vulnerable. The light in this
particular scene is coming from outside the door, and this suggests that there is
something out there and that the light is perhaps a trap- something to lure the
character out of their room. Characters ‘following the light’ is a stereotypical feature
of horror films. The bottom left hand screenshot also has very low lighting but this
time the setting of a long hallway has been illuminated by a character holding a
torch. This is typical to horror films and sometimes the torch is replaced by an oil
burner or candle depending on when the film was set. By having the character use a
torch to see where they are going, it makes the audience nervous and anxious for
the characters because they are vulnerable due to being dependent on the torch
which could fail at any point. Also, not all of the room/ area is illuminated so it
makes it more scary as somebody/ something could jump out from the dark to
torture the character so this makes them more vulnerable.

7. Lighting Continued Low lighting is also illustrated in the bottom right hand picture, this time with
the use of shadows. The way the light is higher in the background than it is in
the foreground creates shadows of the children making them appear more
intimidating and it emphasises their bold stances which suggest they have
been possessed as they are not scared by the dark but instead all stood in a
row looking very menacing and haunted. It illustrates to the audience that
the characters are dangerous and that supernatural things are happening,
because usually children would not be threatening. The second picture on
the left shows a scene from a found footage movie- where the characters
film themselves on hand held video cameras. The lighting has a green
saturation and this suggests that the camera is on night vision mode, making
the audience aware that the events are happening at night time or in a dark
place, making them perhaps more apprehensive or on the edge of their seats
because stereotypically, supernatural and frightening things happen in the
dark.

8. Setting
Here are some typical settings of horror films, including
“normal looking” suburban houses which initially you
wouldn't assume would be dangerous or out of the
ordinary. Directors may choose to use “everyday”
surroundings such as family houses because it makes the
setting relatable to the audience and therefore it becomes
scarier for them as it suggests that they could potentially be
in danger within their own homes. Older houses are also
commonly used as the setting because there is more history
about them so this can be used as a part of the narrative-
especially in supernatural films. The house in the top left
picture is surrounded by trees and there doesn’t appear to
be any other houses close by, so this isolates the house and
the characters within it, making them more vulnerable as
they won’t be able to get help if something bad happens to
them in the house.

9. Setting Continued
The second picture on the left shows a very creepy looking boiler
room or underground passage. This setting has been chosen
because it is isolated and has very low lighting making it a good
setting for supernatural things to happen such as noises or ghost
sightings, making the audience feel apprehensive for the
characters which are trapped in this tunnel. Also, as it is not
visible what is lurking in the distance, the uncertainty adds
tension and suggests that danger could be round the corner and
the characters will be trapped. This also applies to settings such
as basements or attics, as shown in the picture at the top on the
right. These are common settings for horror films and it is usually
the case that there is something perhaps haunted or supernatural
being kept in the basement or attic, initially unbeknown to the
characters living in the house. Then it will slowly be made aware
to the audience that whatever it is in the basement or attic is
actually going to put the characters in danger. They are usually
very dark and dusty places which make the setting appear more
uninviting and cold and suggests to the audience that it is unsafe.

10. Body language/ facial expressions
The facial expressions in these screenshots are all very dramatic and
show fright and terror, connoting to the audience that the
characters are scared for their safety, making the audience feel on
edge as they know the characters are being threatened and are in
immediate danger. The body language is usually very tight and looks
as if they are trying to hide themselves from the villains. In two of
the screenshots the characters look to have tears in their eyes and
this makes the audience sympathise with them and feel bad for
them. The fact that the characters are quite visibly very distressed,
makes the audience feel uncomfortable and helpless as they watch
the movie, and this is usually the intention of horror films- to make
the audience feel uncomfortable and on the edge of their seats.
Shots such as the ones above create intrigue for the audience as we
don't always get to see what the characters are looking at/what’s
threatening them, instead we see the impact (their facial
expression). This tempts the audience to watch the full film so they
can see exactly what is causing the characters so much fright.