Analysis of the Trailer for "Hush"

Camera Shots:

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.