The trailer for The Woman in Black uses various film techniques to create an unsettling atmosphere and build tension. It introduces the dark and isolated Victorian setting through point-of-view shots and long shots. Unease is generated through the use of children's toys and a nursery rhyme in the voiceover. Fast editing, minimal sound, and dark lighting are employed towards the end to rapidly build tension without resolution. The trailer aims to attract audiences to the horror film through mystery and a sense of entrapment and looming threat.

1. THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Full textual analysis
-narrative
-camera shots
-editing
-sound
-setting
-lighting

2. WHAT A TRAILER CONSISTS
OF• A trailer is a form of advertising in which the purpose is to promote a new film to
potential audiences and aims to encourage people to buy the film or see it at the
cinema.
• The genre of a film is often represented in a trailer through the elements of mise-en-
scene and cinematography techniques. For example, the editing in a horror film is
likely to be fast paced and include camera shots such as extreme close ups, yet these
elements are not likely to be found in a film from the romantic genre.
• Similarly, the choice of actors in a trailer can also represent the target audience of a
film giving them something to relate to as well as providing a form of escapism as
suggested in the Uses and Gratifications Theory by Blumler and Katz. The actors
themselves can emphasise the genre if they are known for a particular genre of film.
For example, actor Jim Carey is known for playing a role in comedies.
• Trailers will often have a unique selling point (USP) to help it appear different from
others of the same genre. This helps to attract audiences because a new release will
appear different from previous trailers audiences may have seen before. Trailers will
often create enigma to entice audiences through mystery.

3. NARRATIVE
• The opening of the trailer introduces an audience to the setting through a series of point
of view shots. By doing this the audience feel more involved in the narrative as it feels
like they too are stepping into the Victorian house which appears dark, dusty, and
includes old furniture and children’s toys.
• The trailer has a child voice over narrating which connotes an idea of innocence and
purity through its nursery rhyme feel however the topic she discusses is quite sinister
when played along with images from the trailer.
• This creates an uneasy atmosphere for an audience and highlights the horror genre.
The narrator tells a poem which ‘she’ is constantly repeated, this adds to the sense of
unease as it is ambiguous who the voice over is talking about.

4. CAMERAWORK/CLOSE UPS
• The opening of the Woman in Black trailer uses several close ups of toys with each of
them fitting to the rule of thirds. The eyes of these toys each fit the rule of thirds grid
which makes an audience eyes go straight to this point when they first see them. This
allows an audience to gain a more personal connection but also makes them feel
uncomfortable. By using a close ups to display these toys creates a sense of unease
for a consumer as there is nothing else for them to look at as they are the only thing in
focus.
• The choice of using toys creates a feeling of innocence and purity as they are often
associated with childhood however the appearance of the toys is quite unexpected as
they are displayed in an opposite way to what an audience expects and as a result
creates a sinister atmosphere.

5. LONG SHOTS
• The trailer introduces the setting through the use of long shots. In the first long shot, an audience
can see that the from the greyness of picture that the atmosphere is dull and gloomy.
• This can be thought to set the tone of the film as being quite dark. This is particularly shown
through the cross, this is an example of dramatic irony as the cross being in focus highlights the
theme of death to the audience which the character is unaware of.
• Also, the surroundings appear abandoned and isolated suggesting that the character is trapped
and alone.
• This creates a sense of fear as it foreshadows the characters entrapment in the house and that
no-one will hear if help is needed.
• These shots also highlight the Victorian time period through the horse and carriage and the house
showing how the setting is old and perhaps holds memories or secrets.

6. HIGH ANGLE SHOTS
• The trailer uses high angle shots to show how the main character is powerless and
vulnerable.
• This is shown through an establishing shot as this highlights how small he is compared to his
surroundings whilst also emphasising how deserted the setting is.
• This is dramatic irony as the audience can see that something will happen that the character
is unaware of.
• Similarly, when he enter the house, he again looks small through the use of a high angle shot
portrayed how he is weaker and more vulnerable.
• The second shot could also be considered as a point a view shot as from an audience’s
perspective it appears that they are the ones standing at the top of the stairs which not only
makes them feel more involved but like they have a sense of power.

7. EDITING
• Towards the end of the trailer, the editing uses quick, fast cuts to help build tension.
• As these cuts are quick, it makes the reader question what it is that they have just seen. This
encourages an audience to go and watch the film whilst also creating a sense of fear.
• For example, multiple scenes are put together with a black out in between, this makes the
trailer continuous and flows well.
• Parallel editing is also used. Different things are happening in house at the same time.
• For example, the toys are moving in one room, the children’s tea party and the protagonist
travelling to the house. This shows that eventually all of these elements will meet so
foreshadows that something will happen.

8. EDITING #2
• Cross-cutting is also used in the trailer. This is where scenes are shown in a non-
chronological order to show the most exciting scenes in the trailer.
• In this trailer, the more exciting scenes are shown towards the end which this helps to
attract an audience and entice people to watch the film as as the most memorable
scenes are left until last.

9. SOUND
• The trailer uses the tune of a children’s music box for incidental music throughout.
The music would normally be associated with children and this connotes the idea of
innocence and purity however as it is quite calm and slow it creates a sense of
unease.
• This music is played in time with the movements of the toys. For example, on every
chime, the scene will cut to the next. This happens throughout the trailer so is a
constant reminder for the audience that children will play a significant role in the film.
The children’s tune is very repetitive so perhaps foreshadows that the Woman in
Black is always there.

10. DIGETIC SOUNDS
• The weather is also used as part of sound. The wind, lightening and rain are used as
diegetic sounds, which instantly creates a dark and gloomy atmosphere. If these
sounds were played alone, an audience are most likely to know that the atmosphere
is quite negative. This is suitable for this style of film as the weather is a typical
convention in setting the scene in horror.
• This is the only other sound played alongside the music box. The music box is
associated with childhood however when played along with the weather, some of the
child-like innocence is taken away which creates a feeling of unease.

11. SOUND #2
• During the fast paced scenes at the end of the trailer, the sound is
very minimal. In these scenes, an audience would expect to hear
the diegetic sounds of the fire, the rain and screaming of the
characters yet the music box just continues to play.
• This music box tune is asynchronous as is does not fit any of the
actions of screen. This makes an audience feel quite uncomfortable
as what they are seeing and what they are hearing are two different
things. Therefore, an audience is encouraged to use their
imagination to think about what is on screen.
• Silence is also used at the beginning and at the end of the trailer.
This builds tension at the start and shows at the end how the scene
is still quite tense. Todorov’s narrative structure can be applied to
this as the silences show how there is not an equilibrium. Silences
also encourage audiences to use their imagination.

12. MISE EN SCENE
• The setting always appears quite dark and isolated. This creates a sense of
fear as the town is abandoned meaning that the main character is distant
from society.
• The trailer shows bars that surround the house and bars around the houses
in the village. This can connote the idea that the characters are trapped as a
prison like feel is created. Similarly, the bars in front of the children highlight
how they too are trapped by the Woman in Black as they play a main role.
• The forest is also used as a setting which is another typical convention of
horror films. The trees surround the main character and this emphasises his
entrapment.

13. COLOUR & LIGHTING
• The colours used are very dark, particularly black has been used throughout and this
portrays a sense of danger and is often associated with death, with is appropriate for
the films storyline.
• The colour of the character’s costumes are often quite pale which could suggest how
they are becoming distant, and ghost-like which is relevant to the ghost story. The
main character however, stands out as he is dressed all in black showing how he is
an outsider.
• The lighting used is also very dark and this connotes the idea of the unknown as the
audience and characters in the film are unable to see what’s could be coming.
Similarly, the dark lighting is suitable for the horror genre as it adds to the gloomy,
negative atmosphere.

14. MODE OF ADDRESS
• Even though the trailer does not show a release date, by saying “Coming Soon”
suggests that the film is something that audiences need to start looking for.
• The trailer talks to the target audience by using their website and twitter account as a
synergistic technique.
• This form of advertising is relevant to the target audience as it can help people to
raise awareness of the film through social networking. Also, with twitter if people start
talking about the film, this all helps the promotion and raising awareness of the film.

15. INFLUENCES
• With the editing, the quick cuts create tension and create a countdown effect as this
transitions are building up to something that will make the audience jump. We think
this is successful as it makes audiences feel uneasy which is expected of the horror
genre. Fast cuts were also popular in our questionnaire so this needs to be
something that we consider using.
• This trailer does not use any dialogue, only diegetic and incidental sounds so this
encourages audiences to use their imagination. This is something that we are
considering to use in our trailer as sometimes using your imagination is more
powerful than seeing or being told information.