Horror Trailer Analysis'

Saw 1 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/embed/b1lgXhFbXy4

Narrative Structure:
The trailer displays no equilibrium or moment of disequilibrium; it straight away goes into disequilibrium for added fear-factor. However, at the short space of 4 seconds into the trailer, we are shown newspaper articles which hint at the previous equilibrium, whilst simultaneously setting the story line for the film.  Complying with Barthes Enigma Code and Pleasure of Text theory, the trailer leaves a mystery element to it by not showing new equilibrium, so we having the pleasure of watching the film without knowing the how it ends.

Sound:
The trailer uses a variety of sounds, varying between diegetic and non-diegetic. Rumbling, non-diegetic background music is used occasionally throughout the trailer to build a sense of tension and fear amongst the audience. A particular diegetic clock ticking down sound is used half way through the trailer to comply with the idea that ‘Jigsaw’ gives his victims a limited amount of time to escape, or they die. Whilst it could simply link to the time his victims have left, it could also be a metaphor for the crazy, disorientated state the killer is in, as the sound is very repetitive and could essentially ‘send someone mad’. Diegetic industrial noise is frequently used, such as cages rattling or tools being used, which justifies the film’s title; ‘Saw’. Right at the end of the trailer, we hear a non-diegetic sound of a clown’s laughter. Whilst this could simply be representing the clown mask ‘jigsaw’ wears, it could also be playing on the public’s fear of clowns, as many people in society have a fear of clowns.

Editing:
The trailer is very fast moving, and many jump cuts are used, to disorientate the audience and create suspense, but also with a hidden metaphorical meaning of the film involving panic and mental instability. As the trailer gets closer to the end, it uses fast jump cuts to random objects which all together have no meaning unless you’ve seen the film. This technique complies with Barthes Pleasure of Text theory, as after we have been shown these items, we begin to ask ourselves questions, such as ‘What are they for?’ Many tone cards are used in this trailer, the first one being at an early 5 seconds. All the tone cards are of the same design and use an intelligent ‘times new roman’ style font. With the font choice displaying a possible intelligence about the killer, we are forced to believe that this horror is of a more twisted, psychological genre, rather than a gore, slasher genre. All the tone cards are black and dark green coloured, slightly blurry, and almost look of a liquid nature, displaying a metaphorical meaning of drowning and suffocation.  

Location/Codes and Conventions:
Instantly, at the start of the trailer, we are shown an old-fashioned TV sitting on a broken chair, showing the audience that the location is old, run down and deserted. Cages and wires and smoke are frequently used, playing on the structuralist horror idea of imprisonment and the smoke displaying mystery and the unknown. At 12 seconds, we are shown a figure in a black cloak, but we can’t see the person’s face, almost grim reaper looking, conforming to the themes of death and fear. At 18 seconds we are shown a point of view shot panning along the ceiling, almost as if someone is lying on a trolley being moved along, as industrial looking bright white lights flash on. This point of view shot is metaphorical for a hospital like setting, due to the brightness of the lights and white ceiling, but also again conforms to the death and medical theme of the film.

Paranormal Activity 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90r3CnPI0AM&ob=av3e

Narrative Structure:

The trailer displays both moments of equilibrium and disequilibrium simultaneously, jumping between the two repeatedly to disorientate the viewers. The trailer is narrated by characters’ voice overs, and jump cuts are made between shots of the new film, and shots of the previous 2 paranormal activity films, to demonstrate what this third instalment entails. Like the Saw 1 trailer, this trailer conforms with Barthes Enigma Code and Pleasure of text theory, by not showing the viewers the moment of new equilibrium, so they have the pleasure of going to watch it themselves to find out what happens.

Sound:

Beside the characters’ voice overs used to demonstrate a basic narrative of the film, there is non-diegetic sound of a camera cutting out at every jump cut throughout the trailer. This is used to demonstrate the films ‘hand-held video camera’ theme, but also used to build tension, as it is an unsettling noise. Occasionally, the trailer uses diegetic sound of the characters’ screams to create a sense of fear. Children’s laughter is faded out and echoed at one point during the trailer, not only signify the arrival of a moment of disequilibrium, but to also frighten the audience, as echoing sounds can be considered frightening. Non-diegetic background music of low pitched rumbling is also used surrounding around every tone card throughout the trailer; it is effective in creating fear amongst the audience. Further non diegetic noise is used in the form of what sounds like a heavy cage door being shut, as a shot of a dark, unknown figure appears. This is used to stun the audience not only with the image, but with the ear-piercing sound also.

Editing:

Throughout the trailer, similarly to many other horror trailers, the editing consists of mainly very fast jump cuts. For example, in this trailer at one point, we see 3 different jump cuts within the first 5 seconds. The fast paced attitude to editing is used to create a sense of severe disorientation for the audience. We only see one very long sequence shot, which isn’t cut for about 28 seconds. This long shot has a purpose of unsettling the audience, but also creating more of a narrative for them, as we see the children playing ‘bloody mary’ not taking it seriously, but then we see a dark figure reflecting in the mirror, showing the seriousness of the situation. Even with only a few tone cards throughout the trailer, the tone cards are till effective. They are black, with white writing, and a very technological style font, showing the ’hand-held camera’ theme to the film. The text fades in and out on the tone cards to create a sense of the unknown and disorientation, as it almost looks slightly blurry. The tone card at the end, displaying the name of the film, uses font which shifts about quickly and reflects and reverses itself very quickly. This is again used to create a sense of disorientation as the editing of the shot is very quick.

Location/Codes and Conventions:

The use of a handheld camera in the trailer, and even throughout the film, creates a sense of realness and reality for the audience; maybe even suggesting that it could happen to anyone. Especially used throughout the trailer is the effect of night vision on the hand-held camera. This effect is conventional for horror as it is dark, mysterious and frightening for some people. The location, being placed in a normal American family’s home, can be unsettling for the audience, as it suggests it could happen to anyone, like the hand-held camera suggests. The long shot in the trailer, of the children playing ‘bloody mary’ uses a mirror. The use of a mirror in this shot, and in horror movies as a whole, plays on the audience’s fear of mirrors in the dark; that they don’t just reflect your surroundings, they see other things too.