{{Sinister Trailer AnalysisSinister Trailer Analysis

Official Trailer Length: 2:31Official Trailer Length: 2:31Budget: $3 MillionBudget: $3 Million

Release Date UK: October 5Release Date UK: October 5thth 2012 2012Release Date US: October 12Release Date US: October 12thth 2012 2012

Director: Scott DerricksonDirector: Scott DerricksonDistributor: Momentum Pictures (UK) Summit Entertainment (US)Distributor: Momentum Pictures (UK) Summit Entertainment (US)

Plot Summary: Plot Summary: True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt moves himself and his family into a house where a horrific crime took place

earlier, but his family doesn't know. He begins researching the crime so that he can write a new book about it to help his flailing career. He uses some "snuff" film footage he finds in the house to

help him in his research, but he soon finds more than he bargained for. There is a figure in each of the films but who or what is it? As a result, his family start to suffer (as does he) and

things take a turn for the worse. Will they survive?

Background InfoBackground Info

Ethan Hawke – Ellison Oswalt Ethan Hawke – Ellison Oswalt Juliet Rylance – Tracy Oswalt Juliet Rylance – Tracy Oswalt

Fred Dalton Thompson – SheriffFred Dalton Thompson – SheriffJames Ransone – Deputy James Ransone – Deputy

Michael Hall D’Addario – Trevor Michael Hall D’Addario – Trevor Clare Foley – Ashley OswaltClare Foley – Ashley Oswalt

Rob Riley – E.M.TRob Riley – E.M.TTavis Smiley – AnchorTavis Smiley – Anchor

Janet Zappala - Reporter Janet Zappala - Reporter Victoria Leigh – StephanieVictoria Leigh – StephanieCameron Ocasio – BBQ BoyCameron Ocasio – BBQ Boy

Ethan Haberfield – Pool Party Boy Ethan Haberfield – Pool Party Boy Danielle Kotch – Lawn GirlDanielle Kotch – Lawn Girl

Blake Mizrahi – Sleepy Time BoyBlake Mizrahi – Sleepy Time BoyNicholas King – Bughuul/Mr. BoogieNicholas King – Bughuul/Mr. Boogie

Main CastMain Cast

The Mise-en-scene is very important in this trailer as it needs to entice the The Mise-en-scene is very important in this trailer as it needs to entice the audience but not give too much away about the plot. The overall feel of the audience but not give too much away about the plot. The overall feel of the

trailer is perfect for the genre as it makes the viewer feel quite scared trailer is perfect for the genre as it makes the viewer feel quite scared which is the aim. It is rather mysterious as we rarely see the main which is the aim. It is rather mysterious as we rarely see the main

protagonist (Bughuul) yet we can tell he is very important throughout. The protagonist (Bughuul) yet we can tell he is very important throughout. The costuming is very well suited to the genre, for example Bughuul wears a costuming is very well suited to the genre, for example Bughuul wears a

long dark cloak and this makes him seem very scary. The main props long dark cloak and this makes him seem very scary. The main props throughout the film (the projector and the super 8 films) are very effective throughout the film (the projector and the super 8 films) are very effective as they make some of the key parts of the trailer seem distorted, just like as they make some of the key parts of the trailer seem distorted, just like the very idea of Bughuul himself. The locations in the trailer, such as the the very idea of Bughuul himself. The locations in the trailer, such as the back garden with the bodies hanging and the attic as well as the bloody back garden with the bodies hanging and the attic as well as the bloody

corridor all suggest that film will be quite terrifying yet mysterious at the corridor all suggest that film will be quite terrifying yet mysterious at the same time. same time.

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene

Cinematography plays a key role in this trailer. The establishing shot at the Cinematography plays a key role in this trailer. The establishing shot at the beginning of the trailer sets the whole eerie feel for the entire trailer due to the beginning of the trailer sets the whole eerie feel for the entire trailer due to the fact that it is dark and foggy, two things we associate with this genre. The fact fact that it is dark and foggy, two things we associate with this genre. The fact that the establishing shot is of the house, we know it is a key factor in the plot. that the establishing shot is of the house, we know it is a key factor in the plot.

There are also various handheld shots throughout the trailer during the parts in There are also various handheld shots throughout the trailer during the parts in which we can see super 8 film. This suggests that these shots are very important which we can see super 8 film. This suggests that these shots are very important and it gives the audience a sense of realism and they feel more connected to the and it gives the audience a sense of realism and they feel more connected to the trailer. There are various close up shots of children and Bughuul himself, once trailer. There are various close up shots of children and Bughuul himself, once again we can see that this means these characters will be of great importance again we can see that this means these characters will be of great importance

throughout. throughout.

The way the trailer is edited is very important as it can have a huge impact on The way the trailer is edited is very important as it can have a huge impact on the way the audience feels when watching it. The sudden cuts between scenes the way the audience feels when watching it. The sudden cuts between scenes make the viewer feel quite on edge as it jumps between calmer scenes such as make the viewer feel quite on edge as it jumps between calmer scenes such as

the family to more disturbing and violent scenes such as the content of the the family to more disturbing and violent scenes such as the content of the super 8 film reels and it makes people feel unsure of what they will see next. super 8 film reels and it makes people feel unsure of what they will see next.

This is very effective in a film of this genre as the viewers are supposed to feel This is very effective in a film of this genre as the viewers are supposed to feel scared. scared. Cinematography + EditCinematography + Edit

Once again, throughout this trailer both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used. Once again, throughout this trailer both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used. The non-diegetic sound is not constant, the creepy music/sound effects are only used The non-diegetic sound is not constant, the creepy music/sound effects are only used

in times when the main protagonist is physically on screen. This makes it obvious in times when the main protagonist is physically on screen. This makes it obvious that it is Bughuul who causes all of the fear and the other characters are not that it is Bughuul who causes all of the fear and the other characters are not

particularly scary. Dialogue from the actual film itself is used throughout in the particularly scary. Dialogue from the actual film itself is used throughout in the scenes in the trailer, for example when Ellison explains his findings/doubts to a scenes in the trailer, for example when Ellison explains his findings/doubts to a

professor and to a police officer which shows us how serious his situation actually is. professor and to a police officer which shows us how serious his situation actually is.

There is a lot of text throughout the Sinister trailer. This is very important the text is There is a lot of text throughout the Sinister trailer. This is very important the text is used to attract fans of other films by the same producers. For example, one text card used to attract fans of other films by the same producers. For example, one text card

says ‘from the producer of paranormal activity and insidious’. There is also a text says ‘from the producer of paranormal activity and insidious’. There is also a text card for the main tagline of the film. This is useful as helps the film become more card for the main tagline of the film. This is useful as helps the film become more widely recognised. The tagline in this instance is ‘Once you see him, nothing can widely recognised. The tagline in this instance is ‘Once you see him, nothing can

save you’ which is rather dramatic, intense and mysterious, which is perfect for the save you’ which is rather dramatic, intense and mysterious, which is perfect for the genre. genre.

Sound + Text CardsSound + Text Cards

TheoryTheory

Neale 1980 stated that ‘much of the Neale 1980 stated that ‘much of the pleasure of popular cinema lies in the pleasure of popular cinema lies in the process of ‘difference in repetition’ – process of ‘difference in repetition’ – i.e. recognition of familiar elements i.e. recognition of familiar elements and in the way those elements might and in the way those elements might

be orchestrated in an unfamiliar be orchestrated in an unfamiliar fashion or in the way that unfamiliar fashion or in the way that unfamiliar elements might be introduced’. This elements might be introduced’. This

theory correlates well with the theory correlates well with the Sinister trailer as it is very similar to Sinister trailer as it is very similar to previous popular horror/thriller film, previous popular horror/thriller film, but it is slightly different as it is not but it is slightly different as it is not

the common family that are the common family that are completely naïve and unaware, the completely naïve and unaware, the purpose of the family moving there purpose of the family moving there

was because the father knew, making was because the father knew, making familiar elements seem more familiar elements seem more unfamiliar to the audience. unfamiliar to the audience.