This document analyzes still images from the trailer for the horror film Paranormal Activity 3. It discusses how various shots use techniques like lighting, camera angles, and props to set the scene and build atmosphere, tension, and a sense of innocence or unease in the audience. Wide shots introduce the family and setting, while close-ups on a child's face can make her appear creepy. Shots employ high-key or low-key lighting, handheld or stationary cameras, and familiar domestic settings to involve viewers and hint at supernatural events unfolding in a typical home.

1. Emma Collins. Year 13 COWA.
Still image analysis of a horror trailer.
Paranormal Activity 3
(Supernatural Horror)
The trailer starts with a wide shot, this helps to
introduce the setting and the characters. It is also
filmed handheld which gives authentic feel to the
film. The date and time stamp in the bottom right
corner of the frame also gives the suggestion that
this is a found footage film, thus hinting at the
horror genre. As this is a family video the
audience immediately will feel a connection with
the people introduced.
The lighting is High-key which counter-acts the
horror genre, as it is often conventional to use
Low-key lighting. The children’s toys props are
used to convey innocence to the viewer, and also
make the audience wonder if the children will be
involved in the story, feeling sympathy for them
as they see them as innocent due to the brightly
coloured clothing and brightly coloured toys.
We then see a close up shot of one of the
children, the camera almost makes her look
menacing, as she is looking down but directly
into the camera. This could make the audience
feel uncomfortable, and could suggest the
common theme in horrors of a ‘creepy’ child. The
shot is still using a handheld camera, and still in
the style of a home video. However we can tell
this style of shot is coming to an end by the blur
in the image. This could put the audience on
edge as they may be unsure about what they will
see next.
The lighting is still high-key, and there is no clear
sign of the horror genre yet. The pink top still
connotes innocence of the young girl, and the
audience would still feel sympathy.

2. Emma Collins. Year 13 COWA.
This high angled, wide shot helps show us the
whole room. This makes the audience feel as if
they are the outsider looking in. The blue tint to
the shot suggests that this is a night vision
camera, this sticks to the convention that horror
is set at night. The props In the room show the
audience that this is a child’s bedroom. This
makes the ominous scene seem more shocking as
the audience will feel dread and worry for the
infant.
The lighting is very low-key and creates shadows.
This helps set the ominous atmosphere of the
scene. This keeps the audience on edge, and
makes them react when the women is pulled to
the ground.
People who are fans of the films, will also
recognise this scene from the previous film.
This low angled shot doesn’t allow the audience
to see the characters in the shot. This makes the
audience feel almost left out, and uneasy as they
will not know what is going on. This is a common
theme used in horror, it is used to keep the
audience on edge and unknowing to the story.
The lighting is High-key which is unusual for a
horror as it presents the idea of being safe,
however this could be a clip from the beginning
of the film before all the action happens.
However as they are burning a photo and there
are props such as a cross and candles suggest to
the audience that a kind of Christian ritual is
happening e.g. an exorcism ( A conventional
theme in supernatural horrors)
This shot seems to follow on from one of the
previous shots earlier on in the trailer. It keeps
the high angled shot with the same position from
before. Using two shots from the same scene in a
trailer could confuse the audience as they will
want to know what is going on with the story.
The lighting is still Low-key, however the lighting
from the doors has gone creating a chiaroscuro
effect. This puts the audience on edge as it’s a
horror convention of something emerging from
the darkness to frighten the audience. The props
are the same from the scene which was shown
earlier on in the trailer. This keeps with
continuity.

3. Emma Collins. Year 13 COWA.
This scene is back to the old handheld home
video. We can tell this by the recognisable time
stamp and date. The shot is a mid-shot, however
due to the light we cannot see this.
This scene is used to create suspense; the
extreme Low-key lighting creating chiaroscuro
keeps the audience on edge and makes them
think something will jump out on them. The
torchlight is also a conventional prop in horror
films; this used makes the audience think that it
may shine on something to scare them. The red
camera recording light helps to create realism
and authenticity. The way the little girl is shining
the light under her face created the iconic
chiaroscuro monstrous face of a villain which is
used in older horror films, such as Hammers
Dracula for example.
This scene follows on from the image above. It is
using the same mid-shot.
The lighting is still very low-key however some
natural light is used coming from outside the
door. This allows the audience to see the figure
and be shocked by its reveal. It also creates
suspense for the story as the audience will want
to know what happens to the girls.
The use of the regular family home setting, such
as the bathroom makes the audience feel
sympathy for the family as these events are
happening in their home. Something everyone
could put themselves in their position and relate
to.