The document analyzes the cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, and editing techniques used in the trailers for two horror films: The Woman in Black and Paranormal Activity 2. For The Woman in Black, tracking shots and close-ups are used to immerse the audience and illustrate characters' thoughts. Creepy sounds and a narration aim to build tension. Dark costumes, weather, and lighting create an ominous atmosphere. Fast editing, fades, and blink effects keep the trailer mysterious. Paranormal Activity 2 similarly uses handheld "home video" camera work and sounds to feel realistic. Dark footage and security camera clips make the audience feel unsafe. Rapid cutting builds excitement for the films'

1. The Woman in Black
Media Language
Trailer analysis

2. Cinematography:
Establishing shot opens the
sequence to introduce the
stereotypical setting of the
horror genre that is featured
in the film.
Tracking shots are used to
give the audience an insight
of the house and the
characters and to make them
feel like there is a journey
going on. The horse shot is
used to make it feel rushed
and important.
Also the use of close ups are
to illustrate the characters
inner thoughts and feelings
for the viewer, close ups of
creepy objects and toys are
found in the house are also
prominent to highlight the
sinister goings on that will
happen and how it involves
children.

3. Sound:
A sound almost musical
made by the toys, is used at
the beginning to create a
tense feeling for the audience
and to add pace.
This non diegetic sound is
followed of a female child
narrating the trailer, used to
create intensity and a creepy
feeling, this also relates to
stereotypes in the horror
genre and hints at what the
film is about.
The voice introduces the main
horror character as a
woman, which goes against
stereotypes.
The music speed up along
with the editing towards the
middle of the trailer to
increase tension and
excitement towards the film
for horror fans. The sound of
the weather is prominent
setting the scene.

4. Mise-en-scene:
Creepy toys are found at the
beginning e.g. monkeys,
clowns, dolls etc. all old
fashioned to show relate to
the spirits that are in the film
and also the time period the
film is set.
The characters all wear old
fashioned clothes again to
show the era and show they
are either poor or wealthy
for the time.
The ghost wears black to
show she is evil and takes
the lives of others, connoting
death. The bad weather
adds to the sinister feeling
and tension also with the
darkness and shadows
which are featured
throughout. All of these
factors relate to the horror
genre.

5. Editing:
There are many fade in and
fade outs in this sequence
used with fast pace editing
to speed up the tension and
promote the idea of action,
with short takes and cuts.
These fade outs make a lot
of the trailer feel dark and
mysterious it also creates
flashes of action when sped
up to excite the viewer and
make them want to watch,
typical of the horror genre.
The slow blink eye effect is
also use to make the reader
feel like/realise people are
always being watched.
Giving the spirit an
omnipresent, omniscient
impression.

6. Paranormal Activity 2
Media language
Trailer analysis

7. Cinematography:
The camera work chosen for the
film has been done by home video
cameras to create a more real life
feel to the film and to make the
viewer feel like it is happening to
them and they are there.
The hand held camera gives us a
distorted look during some shots
within the trailer which creates a
chaotic feel to the trailer which
emphasises the horror genre.
There are also flashbacks and
over the shoulder point of view
shots to give the audience an
insight into the story line of the
film and characters.
Shows mid shots of audiences
watching in the cinema to draw
viewers in as they are more likely
to trust it as scary film.
Sudden close ups of people are
used to make the viewer jump
and add to the horror feel.

8. Sound:
The trailer features lots of
distorted camera sounds like
white noise and crackling in the
beginning. With non diegetic
loud suspense noises to make
the viewers jump when sudden
moments happen.
In the clips of the audience we
can hear diegetic sounds of
members gasping and
screaming to hint to the trailers
viewers that it is scary and
worth watching.
You can hear the dog barking
when there is rustling around
the house to show something
bad is about to happen, almost a
warning sign for the viewers as
the dog protects the baby. This
sound is heard in many
traditional horror films, bad
animalistic things are going to
happen. This helps create a
nervous atmosphere which adds
to the typical horror genre feel.

9. Mise-en-scene:
The overall feel of the trailer is very
dark, all of the shots look as though they
are at night time, they all have a bluey
tint from the time of evening it is and the
quality of the camera, this creates a
fearful feeling as the viewer will know
bad things happen at night.
The clips of the audiences, make it easier
for the audience to relate as they are
seemingly of similar age and
background of the target audience.
The use of everyday clothes, items and
the use of home cameras makes it seem
very realistic makes the audience believe
that this could happen to them in their
own home as it is more relatable.
The fact that some of the clips of bad
goings on’s are taken by security
cameras is to make the viewers feel on
edge and un-safe typical of the horror
genre.
The use of baby items is to make the
viewer feel worried and relate/
emphasis more with the family s they
don’t want anything bad to happen to it.

10. Editing:
Throughout the trailer the cuts
begin to become more fast
paced and rapid, which is a
convention of teasers trailers
especially of the horror genre,
as it creates hype and
excitement.
This technique also means that
the audience needs to stay more
focused as they have a much
shorter time of seeing the
content of the shot. Thus making
the audience more interested.
It usually then fades to black
which makes the viewer unsure
of what is going to happen next
and adds to the sinister feeling.
Towards the beginning there
are lots of reaction shots of the
audience, a bit like shot reverse
shot pattern of the action and
what the viewer will feel like
when they watch the film.