When researching other trailers I found that there were certain similarities that they all used in order to stay within convention and the genre. Here is what I found:
Establishing shot
Close ups
Arch shot
Predominantly low-key lighting
Quick cuts
Fades to black
Captions
A creepy, unsettling score
Heightened foley
Dialogue/narration
A secluded location (typically in the woods) - however a haunted house is also popular
I will attempt to use some of these features in my trailer in order to keep within convention and to keep the genre clear.
Young British boys and girls travel
to an isolated cabin after being promised a night of heavy partying. Instead of
the fun they hoped for, they meet a killer out to reap vengeance on them for
the death of his brother.
Camera Shots:
Establishing shot- big estate house, wealthy, old
English but the gothic themes (on the fence for example) gives it an eerie
undertone and the grey sky adds to the spookiness of it.
High angle shot- makes the characters seem
vulnerable and gives the effect that someone/something is watching them.
Tracking- following the characters on
their journey to the cabin, makes it more dramatic and gives the viewer the
sense of time passing.
Establishing shot- cabin in the woods, alone,
secluded and run down. Mist in the background making the scene eerier and more
ominous.
Close up of antagonist- forebodes to danger and
presents the character as intense and the viewer can read their facial
expression better, giving them a better insight into the role
the character will play (in this case, the antagonist).
Birds eye view close up shot of the bottle spinning- intensifies
the action and highlights the significance of the item.
Close up of the hand stopping the bottle from spinning- makes the action sinister as it is quick and sharp, unsettling the
viewer.
Action shot of the gun shot- highlights the action and
intensifies the scene.
Birds eye view close up of the girl's eyes- conveys her fear and
desperation strengthening the terror and panic.
Close up of the saw- shows desperation and the want/need
of escape. Adds to the drama and strengthens the action.
Lighting:
Low-key lighting- set at dusk and night which gives
the trailer an ominous atmosphere. Creates a dark, creepy environment,
unsettling a viewer.
Editing:
Fades to black between some clips-this creates a sense of
time passing.
Quick cuts- intensifies the action and builds
tension. It also keeps the viewers attention.
Cuts between action and the bottle spinning-
this quickens the pace and builds tension.
Sound:
Dialogue- short, snappy lines. To the
point which quickens the pace of the trailer.
Narration at the beginning of the trailer- this
sets the scene and allows a viewer to get a sense of the storyline.
Foley- the sound of the bottle spinning is
intensified, building the tension and fear.
Mise-en-scene:
The Cabin- Old, secluded and run down.
Placed in the woods to give it a sense of no escape.
Costumes- Suits and dresses, contrast with where
they are (in a run down cabin in the woods). They are also wearing coats, which
indicates that it is cold and therefore gives the trailer an eerier feel as
winter connotes death.
Location: One location throughout- a small run down cabin in the
woods on an old English estate. It is secluded and isolated which adds to the
creepy atmosphere created by the grey sky and mist.
A girl is mysteriously killed after recording herself playing with an
ancient Ouija Board, which leads to a close group of friends to investigate
this board. They later find out that some things aren't meant to be played
with, especially the 'other side'.
Camera Shots:
Establishing shot- girl walking up to a house;
implying that this house is a key part of the story.
Slow zoom in close up on face- shows emotions of
characters and creates a sense of foreboding; something bad is going to happen
to this character.
Low angle candid shot- unnatural,
creepy, unsettles the viewer. Gives the viewer the idea that someone or
something sinister is watching this character.
Eye line match- she looks at what she has
stepped on then the viewer sees the item again and her hand picking it up.
Close up of her looking into the
board piece- distortion of her eye creates a sense of something unnatural and
freaky.
Extreme close up of her face- shows her fear and
highlights her as the target.
Close up of lights- shows importance
of the item and forebodes the fact that this is what is used to kill her.
Long shot of her hanging- highlights her
death as being an important component to the storyline and plot.
Arch shot of the board- shows
significance and gives it a creepy atmosphere, as the board is not
straight/square on in the frame.
Low angle shot of the friends walking into
the house at night- creates an eerie atmosphere and connotes danger.
Tracking shot of the friends sitting at the
table- sets the scene. Shows the close relationship between them as
they all sit at one end of the table.
Birds eye view shot of the board with all their
hands placed on the piece- shows their unity and hints that the action is about
to begin.
Close up of piece moving- eerie, creepy.
Highlights the tension and unsettlement.
Wide angle shot of the lights turning
off in the dining room where they are sitting- highlights the beginning of
the action in the trailer. Creates nervousness and anxiety.
Handheld shot- used to create a
sense of anxiety, nervousness and distortion.
Action shot of chandelier falling- builds suspense
and gives the viewer the idea of paranormal activity (which the film is about)
Close up of the board moving by
itself- scary and unnatural. Moves at a fast pace intensify the level fear.
Lighting:
Low-key lighting- set at night
creating a greater sense of fear and giving the trailer an eerie, dark
atmosphere, foreboding danger and horror.
Editing:
Fade to black- shows time pasting and
creates a sense of past events.
Quick cuts- intensifies the action,
builds tension and keeps the viewers attention.
Inserts of old pictures of people
playing with the Ouija Board- shows the history behind the game and indicates
that it is an urban legend and gives the trailer an ominous, sinister
atmosphere.
Captions over inserts- helps the viewer
to understand the history behind the board and gives the trailer eerie
undertones. It also directs the viewer in what the film will be about.
Foregrounding/Backgrounding- the viewer sees
the ghost of a girl walk behind one of the characters at the table. The ghost
is foregrounded, even though it is in the background of the shot, by the close
up of the character at the table being blurred and out of focus whilst the
focus is pulled to the background. This gives the viewer the sense of nervousness,
as the characters are unaware of this ghost, making them seem vulnerable and
naive.
Green screen and CGI- used to create the
effect that the scene has been recorded and the viewer is watching it on the
camera itself. Creates a sense of the past and makes it immersive.
Sound:
Dialogue- at the beginning
is used to set the scene, a normal conversation between the two girls; sets the
equilibrium. As the trailer develops dialogue becomes shorter, quicker and more
desperate building the tension in the trailer. A lot of questions are asked and
unanswered making the audience also ask the same questions and leave wanting to
find out more.
Foley- the kitchen door
opening by itself. Makes the action more intense and creepy.
Score- runs throughout
the whole trailer. Intensifies when there is action (e.g. when she is being
murdered at the beginning and when the power switches off towards the end).
Makes the trailer more sinister and sets the correct tone for a horror trailer;
frightening and spooky.
Mise-en-scene:
House- looks homely and sweet but also it's old, creepy and where someone had
been murdered giving it an ominous, spooky feeling.
Bedroom- girly, lots of luxury items and pictures on the wall indicating
that she is social and a typical teenager.
Location:
Primary Location- The house at
night; eerie, sinister and frightening. Where one of the characters were
murdered which adds to the ominous atmosphere.
Secondary Location- The school; emphasises how young the characters are, increasing their vulnerability,
gives a viewer a clearer idea into their mindsets and attitudes.
Establishing shot- little cabin in the woods at
dusk. Isolated, secluded, alone, peaceful yet eerie and unsettling.
Close up of the murderer taking the
phone- shows significance of the item, takes away a form of her communication
isolating her more and making her more vulnerable.
Eye line match- Maddie looks at the door
then we see the door, highlights the significance of it being open and creates
a sense of uneasiness.
Close up of the open door- creates tension
and unsettles the viewer.
Arch shot to see the murderer- tension is built.
Point of view shot- murderer knocking on the
window whilst she is inside, creates a sense of entrapment and gives the
murderer dominance.
Close up of the murderer- quick, sharp,
sudden. Makes the viewer jump and feel uncomfortable.
Close up of the knife- creates a
stronger sense of danger and the need for self protection.
Close up of faces- shows discomfort
and nervousness and conveys the emotions of the characters.
Lighting:
Low-key lighting- set at night and power
switched off in the house. Creates a dark, creepy environment and increases
nervousness within a viewer.
Editing:
Quick cuts towards the end- builds tension,
makes it more dramatic and keeps viewers attention.
Prevalence on Maddie- highlights her as
our protagonist, connects the viewer to her.
Shot/Reverse shot- looks at Maddie
then at the Murderer. Builds suspense and makes the viewer feel uneasy.
Captions near the end of the trailer- interrupts the
action creating a greater sense of uneasiness and puts the viewer on edge
wanting to find out more.
Sound:
Ambient sound- birdsong, peaceful, serene
and quiet.
Ambient sound- strong wind, disrupts nature
and creates a sense of change and unrest.
Change from birds to crickets- changes the scene from day
to night, makes an eerier environment.
Heavy breathing- builds tension and creates unrest within the viewer.
Conveys her fear and panic.
Score- low tones, creepy and
unsettling.
Foley- knife being pulled out.
Highlights the significance of the item and makes the action more dramatic.
No dialogue (which goes against conventions of a trailer)- gives it a sense
of lack of communication, as she is a deaf mute, makes her more vulnerable and
an easy target.
Mise-en-scene:
Living room- clean, comfy and homely.
Picture of Maddie and her sister- shows that she has strong,
close relationships.
Murderer's mask- creates a sense of mystery and dehumanises him, as we can’t see his emotions or facial
expressions. Creates a bigger divide between the two characters.
Location: One location through out the trailer- a cabin in the woods. No
signs of other cabins or civilization nearby, isolated, secluded, creates
a sense that the protagonist is all alone. Although the woods seem
peaceful in the beginning, with the sound of bird song and the sun setting, it
has an eerie and unsettling atmosphere when it becomes night.
“Hush” is an old-fashioned home invasion thriller. The protagonist,
Maddie, is a deaf-mute writer living in a secluded home. She has been deaf
since the age of 13, and we get a bit more of her history and the way her mind
works when neighbor/friend Sarah comes over for a brief visit. After Sarah
leaves, Maddie goes back to cooking. We see a screaming Sarah run toward her
kitchen door, pounding on it for help, but Maddie is completely unaware, even
as a crossbow-wielding maniac slices Sarah’s throat about ten feet from her
neighbour. He even knocks on the door but Maddie doesn’t respond. The masked
killer becomes fascinated with Maddie, and decides he wants to prolong her fate
and play games with her. He starts by stealing her cell phone and texting her
pictures of herself that night. Then, even after he has revealed himself to
Maddie, he doesn’t just kill her. In “Hush”, the psychotic killer’s motives are
vague, so if he’s just a lunatic killing for fun.
Camera Shots:
Lots of close up shots are used but they contrast
depending on where they are in the film. For example at the beginning of the
film there are close ups of Maddie turning on the oven, preparing the food and
pouring a glass of wine; this suggest a calm, relaxed tone. However, by the end
of the film the close ups are of her broken leg, other injuries
and her panicked and distressed facial expressions.
A close up arch shot is used in the beginning sequence to
build tension as we loose the background and see more of the side of Maddie's
face. This slows the pace from the quick close up shots and makes
the audience suspect that something is wrong.
Tracking shots are used throughout to follow
the protagonist in the high action scenes and to also establish that she
dominates the film.
Over the shoulder mid-shots are used a lot
during the film. For example, when Maddie is meeting up with her friend a mid
shot is used because they have to use sign language and the frame must
fit this in. An over the shoulder shot is used in conjunction to
this so that the audience can easily follow the conversation.
Lighting:
Low-key lighting is used throughout the whole
film. At the beginning it is set at dusk and the rest of the film is set at
night. This creates more tension, as the protagonist is deaf and therefore
would rely on her sight, however this is not possible when the killer cuts the
power. It is also conventional for a horror film to be set at night.
Editing:
A slower pace of editing is used at the
start of the film created a feel of equilibrium and therefore created a more
dramatic feel when the main event occurred. However, there are quick cuts
between the close up of Maddie preparing the food, but it still seems relaxes
and unthreatening.
Eye-line matches were used to allow the
audience to get a better understanding of what is going on. These were missed
out in some parts of the trailer to leave a sense of anticipation and mystery.
The protagonist, Maddie, was given prevalence basically
throughout the whole film. This connected her to the viewer and made it clear
that she was the protagonist and that the audience should feel sympathy for her.
Sound:
Foley is used throughout the film
as it is about a deaf woman and therefore this is amplified so that it is not
like a silent film. For example, the text tones are amplified. By turning
up these notifications and by using the Apple sound effects, the audience
can relate to, it establishes a familiar sense of place, only to be
shattered once the killer appears.
The lack of dialogue heightens the tension in
the film, as the protagonist cannot express/defend herself well or hears the
killer approaching; therefore the audience feels high suspense.
The score starts off quite serene and you can hear
birdsong, which is very peaceful. This contrasts to the fast past, dramatic score near
the end of the film, which build tension and suspense.
Mise-en-scene:
The costumes were pretty simple which conveyed a calm,
easygoing way of life; the characters were being themselves and weren't
trying to show off to anyone.
Maddie's home was comforting, homely, clean and simple, also conveying
her way of life. This was a strong contrast for the horrors, which took
place in there. Props, like photo frames, high-end
electronics and modern furniture was used to portray a sense of wealth and
comfort.
Location: One location used throughout the whole film; Maddie's cabin in the
woods. There are no signs of other cabins or
civilisation nearby therefore, creating a strong sense of isolation.
Although the woods seem peaceful in the beginning, with the sound of bird song
and the sun setting, it has an eerie and unsettling atmosphere when it becomes
night.
Tzvetan Todorov's narrative theory suggests that all narratives follow a
structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced,
progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally
reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored.
These are the steps for all traditional stories:
1. Equilibrium (everything as it should be)
2. Disruption by an event (disequilibrium)
3. Recognition of disruption
4. Attempts to repair disruption
5. Return or restoration to a new equilibrium
Most films follow this structure however, in trailers the last stage is
usually missed out in order to create a sense of mystery and suspense; making
people want to come and see the whole film.
