Mise-en-scene horror trailer analysis

By Philip Lynn

Setting

We are early on shown the house that the protagonist and his family have moved into. It use the typical setting of a separated rural house. This setting and the fact that the protagonist has just moved in, making them appear vulnerable and alone, as they are separated in an environment they aren’t familiar with. This makes them key victims for the antagonist as there is no one to help them or know of their troubles.

Lightning

The lighting also hints at the antagonist’s way of attacking. The antagonist first makes them self-apparent in a dark room. This implies the antagonist attacks at night where the protagonist can’t see them and is least able to protect themselves meaning they are most vulnerable to their attacks. This relates to further scenes in the trailer. When low key lighting is used the audience is aware the antagonist could be close, setting them on edge and builds suspense. through making the audience suffer what the protagonist is suffering it makes that feel the terror of the situation.

The lightning of the device is also key. As it significantly turns red when the antagonist starts talking. The red signifies blood representing the fact it is of the horror genre and there is likely to be a lot of blood from this point on now the antagonist is awakened .

Props

One key prop that stands out is the box that allows the protagonist to talk to the dead. The fact that the antagonist communicates through the box, and never actually makes them physically apparent , suggest they don’t directly attack the victims but before to haunt them and create fear for the protagonist. This style and attack makes it very difficult for the audience to anticipate what it will do next as he never physically see where it is. This builds the scare factor and tension jumping the audience when the antagonist attacks.

Costume and make up

The antagonists face is very pale and unattractive creating a character that appears unnatural and sets the audience on edge when it is seen. She is wearing dark make up around her eyes and her hair is dark and untidy implying a dark unsanitary character again boosting her abnormity that adds to the scare factor when she jumps out.