Micah and Katie, a young couple, experience increasingly disturbing paranormal activity in their suburban home that is captured on video over three weeks. Point-of-view camera shots are used to make the audience feel like they are experiencing the events along with the characters. The trailer starts calmly but builds tension through unsettling sounds and cuts between scenes to scare the audience and make them want to find out more.

1. Trailer AnalysisTrailer Analysis
Paranormal ActivityParanormal Activity

3. NarrativeNarrative
• Micah, a day-trader, and Katie, a student who claims that a ghostly entity has hauntedMicah, a day-trader, and Katie, a student who claims that a ghostly entity has haunted
her since her youth, are a young couple who live together.her since her youth, are a young couple who live together.
• When Katie suggests the ghost has followed her to their two-story tract house inWhen Katie suggests the ghost has followed her to their two-story tract house in
suburban San Diego, California, Micah buys a video camera in the hopes ofsuburban San Diego, California, Micah buys a video camera in the hopes of
capturing paranormal activity on film, a project that will ultimately last threecapturing paranormal activity on film, a project that will ultimately last three
weeks.weeks.
• They become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehowThey become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow
demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night.demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night.

4. Camera workCamera work
• Point of view shots are used as the characters are filming
the house themselves. This allows the audience to
connect with them as they begin feeling like they are
part of the narrative.
• The camera movements are shaky; this reflects the fact
that the characters are filming. This is conventional, as
horror films aim to make the audience feel involved
and share the nerves the characters are feeling. This
allows the film be more realistic; this is important,
because the audience will feel like they can relate to
the characters and will fear that it could be happening
to them.
• The wide shots of the bedroom allows the audience to
see exactly what the characters are experiencing
• Mid-shots and close-ups are used to show the audience’s
reactions whilst watching the trailer. This emphasises
the effect of the trailer.

5. EditingEditing
• Montage is used in order to show scenes from the film
without giving away too much information, this will
have attract the audience as they will want to find out
more.
• The trailer begins with a calm, steady pace. This is
conventional because horror films usually start with
showing a calm and normal setting that will
eventually be destroyed by evil. The more frightening
scenes are shown at the end and they are more likely
to be remembered by the audience as this is the last
thing they see. This is conventional, as people watch
horror films because they want to be scared.
• Dissolved transitions to white noise are used; this will
remind the audience that it is a home video. The
audience is more likely to form a close connection to
the characters as they know they are filming it
themselves.
• Cutaways emphasise the fast pace of the trailer and they
will make the audience feel uncomfortable.

6. SoundSound
• Background music is not used; this is because the film is meant to be realistic, a normalBackground music is not used; this is because the film is meant to be realistic, a normal
home doesn’t need background music in order to create an atmosphere. Silence ishome doesn’t need background music in order to create an atmosphere. Silence is
often used in horror films as it helps build up tension.often used in horror films as it helps build up tension.
• The diegetic sound of the audience screaming reminds us that it is a horror film,The diegetic sound of the audience screaming reminds us that it is a horror film,
therefore screams are conventional.therefore screams are conventional.
• Bangs and loud noises are also conventional sounds as they will make the audienceBangs and loud noises are also conventional sounds as they will make the audience
jump and are likely to be heard when something frightening is about to happen, sojump and are likely to be heard when something frightening is about to happen, so
they act as a cue for the audience.they act as a cue for the audience.
• The use of white noise creates a sense of mystery and also reminds the audience thatThe use of white noise creates a sense of mystery and also reminds the audience that
the characters are filming the events themselves.the characters are filming the events themselves.

7. Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene
• The setting used is a regular family home, this will make the
audience connect with the characters and they are likely to feel
like the events could be happening to them.
• The characters are also young and modern, the audience this film
is aimed at is also young so they are more likely to relate to
them.
• Props such as the computer and the furniture in general suggest
this is a modern house.
• The chandelier in the hallway is a traditional convention, implying
that the film combines new and old features which will appeal
to a wider audience.
• The bedroom is the place where most supernatural events are
happening. It is conventional to see the bedroom in
supernatural horrors as it is meant to represent safety and
create a sense of comfort, however it is presented as the
opposite.
• The lighting is mainly low key, as this connotes danger and a sense
of mystery. However, in some scenes high key lighting is used
to highlight the subject.
• The colours used are quite plain and simple, adding to the modern
feeling.
• The trailer approaches the audience through the slogan
“Experience it for yourself”. The use of direct address will
persuade them to watch it, it also creates an intimidating tone