Trailer Analysishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoBCEdt_BC8

Screenshots:

Trailer AnalysisCinematograaphy Mise-en-scene

The first shot of Jessabelle is a high angle close up of her on the phone, from the beginning of the trailer audiences understand that she is a weak character as she is asking someone for help which is reinforced by the high angle shot. There are then a series of shots through a cars wing mirror of her father with his hands on a wheelchair, this suggests that he has the power and Jessabelle is still the weaker of the two characters, this is a typical camera shot to use on horror trailers.The establishing shot of a clear road with only Jessabelles fathers car suggests to the audience that their house is distanced from modern society, this is also reinforced through the car looking quite old. Further into the trailer we are given a series of close ups on a box under her bead which we later learn have VCR tapes of her mother, this tells us that the tapes are important.

Mise-en-scene is a key element in any horror trailer or film as it helps to identify the genre.Examples of this from the trailer are the creepy wooden house which Jessabelle is living in, this is a typical convention as most horror films or trailers use a haunted house as the catalyst for the narrative. The sinister box of tapes which we later see Jessabelle watching is also a typical convention as it triggers something in the house, also as she is watching the tapes her mother reads out her cards and reveals that there is something else watching her in the house. Mid way through the trailer a male character reveals a headstone with ‘Jessabelle June 12 1988’ written on which is her birthday, this is a typical convention as it scares audiences in to thinking that something has made a date and is set out to kill her, this would also scare the audience as it is human nature to be scared of death and know when you might dieThe wheelchair with a moving figure is also a typical convention of horror films as the audience knows no one else is in the house and from Jessabelles reaction shot the audience also become scared.

Trailer AnalysisEditing and Sound Theory

This trailer adheres to the following theories:

Todorov - Narrative

Propp – Character roles

Levi Strauss – Binary opposition: Weak-Powerful,

Evil-Good, male-female.

Male Gaze – Jessabelle is weak

Editing and sound in horror trailers are a key element. The sound used in this horror trailer are mainly non diegetic for example in the beginning of the trailer there is a soft piano playing . There is then a continuous countdown sound which suggests it is the countdown to Jessabelles death which eventually fades out .There is then a non diegetic wisper of her mother saying ‘Jessabelle’ wispers are also a common sound used in horror films and trailers.Diegetic screams from Jessabelle are played which builds up tension for the audience waiting to see what she is screaming at, when she is screaming there is also non diegetic music.Towards the end of the trailer Jessabelle is in the bath and the house is silent except from the diegetic sounds coming from a tap, silence is also a convention used in horror trailers as it also builds up tension while the audience is waiting for something to jump out which is very typical in the horror genre.The editing in horror trailers are paramount in horror trailers as it anticipates and builds tension.In this horror trailer the editing starts of slow and as the trailer narrative grows the editing becomes very quick and overwhelming for the audience. There is also a black fade used in the beggining of the trailers which gives a quality to it that is like a blinking eye watching over her.

Trailer Analysis

RepresentationTarget audience/Genre

ConventionsAge : 15+Horror genre fansAt the beginning of the trailer it says

from the producers of Paranormal activity, Insidious and Sinister. This would appeal to the horror fans

Conventions-Devil/evil in the houseHauntingCreepy video tapesHeadstone with name and date onTypography – typical horror

typography and block capitals

This trailer adheres to the male gaze theory. This is because Jessabelle is mostly looked at through a high angle shot, she has to rely on others (men) to help her e.g. When her father was pushing in the wheelchair to the house, also when she had to rely on her father to come and pick her up from the hospitle. Her father in the trailer is also looked at through continuous shots in low angles which tells the audience that he holds the power.