Analysis of the Trailer for "Ouija"

Storyline:

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.