2. The lighting, being very low key creates a
gloomy atmosphere. The dark natural
lighting suggests the time is at night, a
typical convention of horror films as this is
when the protagonists are most
vulnerable.
The establishing shot of a wooded area
shows the secluded and isolated setting.
This is a very distinctive convention of the
horror genre as it makes the characters
appear to be vulnerable and defenceless
as it is clear to see that no one else is
there to help them or call for help. This
creates a greater fear in the audience
because they then know that no one can
help save them from the upcoming events.
3. We are shown snapshots of petals
on the bed and a candle lit dining
table which suggest that the main
characters are alone on a romantic
evening together. This helps the
audience sympathize for the
protagonists as they seem really
tranquil and are having a good
time when suddenly they become
in danger.
In becoming more involved in the
relationship, the audience tend to
find themselves more engaged in
the events of the film as they are
willing for the couple to survive at
the end.
4. The first part of the trailer uses back
ground music of high pitched, but slow
music. The tone of the music
automatically sets a negative
atmosphere in the trailer as the slow,
tension building track makes it sound
as if something is coming.
With the background music still playing,
we hear the couple talk intimately
about their relationship together. This
would help the audience to relate to
them as they may have similar
relations, but also make them feel more
involved in the film because of how
open this relationship is to the
audience.
5. By keeping the diegetic background
music playing, it continues with the soft
and idyllic setting that is being portrayed
and this then makes the introduction of
the danger become more dramatic. Also
the negative sounds contrast on the idyllic
setting of the scene (happy couple,
romantic evening) and so foreshadow to
the audience that something is going to
happen soon.
The connotations of the loud bang are
fear and danger and helps to create fear
in the audience.
The sound effects then change to sound
of rusty metal screeching, this makes the
audience realize that whatever is coming
is getting closer as the sound effects are
getting louder. The female protagonist
looks out the window and an eye line
match is used to see a swing moving,
which creates the idea that something
was there and is now gone.
6. To have the desired effect of creating fear in
the audience, the words “inspired by true
events” shows up on the screen. This will help
to make the audience feel uncomfortable as
they know that the story line is real and
actually happened. In doing this, as the events
take place the audience will find themselves
believing that it could happen to them.
Some more text comes up on the screen
saying: “we always tell ourselves” – snapshot-
“there is nothing to fear” the writing is very
askew and off balance and so suggests that
the events of the film will reflect on this. The
whole time the text is appearing the screeching
metal noise of the swing is still occurring. This
creates an ominous atmosphere because it
creates the illusion of someone being there but
the audience are unable to see them, creating
fear.
7. The sound also keeps the audience intrigued in
the film as the sound carries on from before so
gives more than just text to look at and the sound
is very individual sound.
Fast paced editing is seen mid way through the
trailer with a montage of different shots. This
creates the illusion that all these events are
occurring at the same time, or it is all happening
very fast. This creates tension and fear in the
audience because they have a lot of disturbing
images and information to take in and it can be
quite overwhelming for them.
8. At the very beginning of the trailer, an
establishing shot is shown from outside the
house using hand held camera. This gives
the effect that someone is stood outside of
the house watching from outside. Hand held
camera is a reoccurring shot used in the
trailer creating a more off balance image, but
also to create the feel that the audience
themselves are seeing it through the eyes of
an individual helping them to get a greater
feel of what they are going through. This
makes it more personal for the audience.
A lot of wide shots are used to show the
setting, as it is very isolated reminding the
audience of the protagonists vulnerability, but
also to show the antagonists in the back
ground behind the unknowing victim. This
creates fear in the audience as they can see
the villain behind the main character where
as the character themselves cant and this
makes the audience feel helpless as they
know there is nothing they can do to help the
protagonists.
9. Eye line matches are also very
common in the trailer as they
help to show what the
characters are seeing and
gives the audience a more in
depth version of the events.
One eye line match is shown
when the female looks out of
the window to see a figure
standing in the road in the
distance, and then as she looks
again the figure is gone. In
doing this, the audience can
experience the same feelings
that the main characters do
because they feel they are in a
similar position to them.
