This document analyzes the trailer for the movie Insidious through a breakdown of its editing techniques and use of sound. It notes various shots included in the trailer such as establishing shots of a house, close-ups of a protagonist's face, and a shot of a kid falling from a ladder. It also analyzes the trailer's use of non-diegetic sounds like ticking clocks and screeching to build tension, as well as diegetic sounds of laughing and creaking doors. Tone cards are included throughout the trailer at various timestamps to further develop the unsettling atmosphere.

1. Insidious Trailer Analysis
Cuts back to protagonist, moving
closer to his face. Build up to
something bad happening.
Tone card at 52”
Non diegetic sound
(ticking clock) whilst
kid is in coma, ticking
could represent time in
coma.
Diegetic
sound of
family
laughing. Kid falls off ladder
at 30”
Moment of
disequilibrium
Narrative starts at 15”
Preview card / age warning at 0”
Production log 5”
Tone card at 10”
Non-diegetic sound
of screeching
Tone Card at 1’17”-
Insidious text
Voice over of actions,
giving guidance to
what is happening
Baby screaming
creating worry and
shock to viewer
Period of equilibrium Period of disequilibrium
Non-diegetic sound.
Jump cut between
black screen and text.
Both at 10”
Black
out at
19”
Transition: Fading at
16”
Establishing
shot of the
house at 25”
Tone card at 20”
None diegetic sound
(ticking clock) creates
tension and a build up
for something bad
about to happen.
Tone card at 32’
Tone card at
38”
Tone card at 48”
Build up noise /
diegetic sounds of
creaking door.
Tone cards
at 1’00”
Baby monitor at
53” creates a
creepy
atmosphere
Guy with camera showing
all different angles of the
camera at 1’08” for 6
seconds
Shot reverse shot
between action
and tone cards
very quickly for 4
seconds.
Point of view
down the hallway
with voice over.
At 1’45” fast image
Comes up to scare
Audience.
Another shot
reverse shot
between action
and tone cards
for 7 seconds but
sped up to make
it dramatic.
Blank screen at
1’25”
Tone card at
1’21”
Quick action shots
for 4 seconds
including over the
shoulder.