1. Media Language Investigation
Leila Alimadadi

2. For this investigation, I will be analysing 3 different horror trailers in the
following headings:
• Cinematography
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene
• Editing

3. The Woman In Black Trailer

5. Cinematography: The trailer starts off with an establishing shot of the surrounding location to give the
audience a look into where the action will take place and familiarize the setting to the audience when
they come to watch the film in a cinema. Additionally, tracking shots are also used to give the
audience an insight of the haunted house that is the main setting of action of the film, which enforces
the feeling of anxiety and fright about this house. Throughout the trailer they are cuts between
establishing shots and close ups which are important in the genre of horror as the facial expressions of
the characters are the central focus in reaction to the setting. By using close ups to show characters’
faces, the fear and distress they feel is emphasized to the audience. Close ups are additionally used to
focus on ‘scary’ objects that play a role in the actions and disruption of the film. (Disruption linking
into Todorov’s theory of narrative.)Two shots are used in the trailer to display conversations that are
had by the characters and are effectively used in this trailer as we tend to hear a conversation that is
followed by an insert cut of what they were talking about, in this case the house and who may be in it.
Editing: As a film of a horror genre, we would expect that most of the editing would have been done
in the post production stage. A typical convention that has been used in the trailer is the fade outs
between each scene to create a tense and spooky atmosphere. The use of the colour black for these
fade outs also adheres with the horror genre as it is a typical colour that is commonly used and
associated with horror. The face past editing of the shots towards the end of the trailer has been
done in order to build on the tension created through the narrative of the ghost of a young woman.

6. Sound: The overlapping of sound at the beginning of the trailer creates tension for the audience as
they are anxious to find out what that particular sound is, in this case it is ambient sound of the engine
of a train along the tracks, within the field of vision. This technique is a typical convention used in
horror film trailers in order to create tension and build fear within the audience watching the trailer.
Sound is of huge importance in horror trailers as it is used to draw on the anticipation of something bad
about to happen and adds tension to the watching of it. In this trailer, a non diegetic sound of a nursery
like song is played in the build up of the disruption, creating a tense atmosphere before the music turns
to a more series down beat rhythm that fits with what is going on in the narrative, after the disruption
has began, in this case the protagonist has learnt of the spooky events happening. In particular parts of
the trailer where the scenes are cut through either an action or motivated cut, the non diegetic sound
stops for a few seconds before speeding up again making the audience jump or panic as they watch..
The sound of a child’s voice is also used in the trailer which enforce the scary and eerie atmosphere
created as we can hear the voice but not see the child. The use of children’s voices and nursery like
music is a stereotypical convention of horror film trailers.
Mise en scene: the different elements of mise en scene including location, characters and props are
all evidently of the horror genre. For example, the chosen setting of the isolated surroundings and
the scary/haunted house are stereotypically associated with horror and scary films. The overall feel
oft he trailer connotes old age, death and fear which has been effectively portrayed through each
elements of mise en scene. Symbols such as the Cross are typically associated with the genre of
horror. The use of dark colours and shadowing of figures and objects creates a tense and spooky
atmosphere. In addition, the stormy like weather is also a typical convention of horror films that we
see in many films. The use of such elements make the audience feel nervous and frightened.

7. Paranormal Activity Trailer

9. Cinematography: The camera shots in the trailer are ones that look like they were recorded on a
hand held video camera. This relates back to the narrative of the film being like a home made video
that looks realistic to the audience. The use of the hand held camera gives the shots a more shaky
feel, making them look distorted. The trailer sees the film being shown in a pre-release screening to a
large cinema audiences. Master shots and close ups are used to show the scared expressions of the
audience whilst they watch the trailer, conveying the film genre of horror. In particular, the parts that
make the audience scream or jump are shown to evoke the emotion of fear.
Editing: During post production, a lot of editing has taken place to effectively convey the genre of
horror. Shots have been edited to look distorted by adding in a blue/green tint. Additionally, shots of
the bedroom have been edited to look as if it were from a night vision lens. The transition from the
cuts of the actual film to the shots of the audience watching it have been edited using motivated cuts.
The black fade outs and fuzz shots are common convention of the horror genre that are evident in
this trailer. The fast pace editing towards the end of the trailer show the narrative reaching its climax
point and has been done to build up the viewer’s tension as they watch. Text/copies have also been
included of film critic opinions that warn the viewers of what to expect from the film. The language
used in the other copies help create suspense and enigma to the film’s narrative.

10. Sound: A mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound has been used from the dialogue between the
two characters to the screams of the audience watching the film in the pre-release screening.
Ambient sounds have been added to create an eerie and tense atmosphere. Non diegetic sounds
including ‘boom’ sound effects have been added towards the end of the trailer as the plot is
beginning to build up in tension and fear for the audience watching. Sound stings synchronised with
pulsing moments of the trailer. We hear the female’s voice over a sound bridge as the shots
transition from one to another. This adds further nervousness to the audience.
Mise-en-scene: Regular cinema screening makes the trailer look realistic - the use of the dark
lighting. Suburban location of household looks realistic and relatable to audience. The use of
normal day to day clothing and home video cameras make the trailer realistic to the
audience. This further emphasises the scariness of the film as the audience will believe that
this could happen to anyone. The use of a Ouija board as a prop involved in the narrative also
connotes the horror genre as it is typically associated with the communication of spirits and
paranormal genre.

11. The Strangers Trailer

13. Cinematography: the opening of the trailer sees a two shot of a male and female character sharing a
romantic moment when the male receives a call from his mother. At this point the narrative appears to
be one that would be of the comedy genre due to the young teenage characters used and the awkward
phone call he has with his mother. We cut to an establishing aerial shot of the city, which displays a
typical normal everyday setting to the audience. Similar to the previous two trailers, we tend to hear a
conversation between two character followed by an insert cut to what they were talking about, in this
case the neighbour who acts as the film’s villain. The close ups of the protagonist’s face present the fear
he has as he learns more about his new neighbour who has been behaving strangely. The introduction of
the neighbour, in a low angle shot connotes the power he has and enforces the feeling that we should be
frightened of this character. The tracking shots are used to the audience an insight into the house and
enforce the feeling of fear and anxiety about what really goes on in the house.
Editing: The use of the colour black for the fade outs between the shots adheres with the horror genre.
As the plot evolves, the transitions between each shots is of a much faster pace which has been done in
attempt to create tension and anxiety as the audience watches the trailer. The shot of the hand against
the window has been edited to look distorted and as if it we are seeing the hand from a night vision
lens, relating to the genre of horror. Editing is a essential part of making the trailer look like a horror
hybrid , such as making the villain’s eyes’ red and the fire explosion scenes. The final shot of the villain
crashing into the back of car with the victims is an example of a shot in the trailer that was edited
effectively to make the audience jump.

14. Sound: Dialogue is typical of both horror and comedy genre, however this type fits more into the
comedy genre as the conversation between the two characters may make the audience laugh. The
sound transitions from the dialogue to the diegetic sound of a bell ringing, as a sound bridge as we
hear the bell before we see the setting of the classroom. The volume of this soundtrack varies as it
tends to decrease in volume when we get dialogue between the conversations of two characters. At
certain points of the trailer the music stops which creates a dramatic pause and signifies the
importance of that certain shot. Voiceover is also used in the trailer as we hear more about the new
mysterious neighbour and what he could be up to, giving the audience an insight. Once the disruption
of the plot is evident (disequilibrium) the soundtrack changes to a more downbeat and serious tone, as
the protagonist finds out that he’s neighbour could be a vampire. Screaming and blast sounds are used
as the shots transition at a fast pace, adding tension for the audience who are watching the trailer.
Towards the end of the trailer, as the protagonist looks to find a solution, the music transform into a
more calm but fighting tone as he tries to gain power. The trailer finishes off with diegetic sound of
dialogue and screaming sound effect.
Mise-en-scene: A variety of locations are used in the trailer due to the combined genres of comedy
and horror. The setting of the city and school relate more to the genre of comedy as we’d expect
comedy films to be set in these types of locations. Whereas the setting of the house where the victims
are kept locked away along with the darkness of the night scenes fit more within the genre of horror.
The use of the props also relate to the horror genre, such as the weapons purchased by the hero for
protection. Costume is also key as the villain is made to look pale and mysterious which are
stereotypically features of a vampire as well as the fangs and red contact lenses. The overall mise en
scene portrays the two genres, in particular horror from the dark and eerie atmosphere created .