Research Targets

Mention representation, genre, narrative, mise-en-scene, camera, editing and sound in your approach to analysis of trailers to add to posts and evaluate those in your chosen genre.  Make sure you are exploring the appeal of posters and providing a semiotic analysis of magazines and posters.  Well done - a strong start to your journey.

Conjuring-Horror

The first shot is focusing on a door as a family are clearly moving into this new house. In this shot there is no use of non-diegetic allowing the audience to focus on the general family noise. This creates a more family feel and introduces us to the characters. We then hear children counting which links with what we are shown on screen as the children are clearly playing a game. This highlights to the audience the innocence of the family and how they are just a typical family that audiences members may be able to relate to. The non-diegetic sound that was being played then stops when the lady playing the game enters a dark lit room. In this shot the lady is placed on the left hand side of the screen while the wardrobe is in the middle allowing this to become the focus of the shot. As the lady turns her back the wardrobe door opens with a loud creak followed by a sinister silence. Despite this the character continues to play the game saying 'Clap' again which is followed by a slow eary clap further building the tension indicating the genre of horror. The audience can hear a breathing noise which the character believes is coming from her daughter however the audience know this is not the case. The audience then expects something jumpy to happen as the characters facial expression dramatically changes, however then her daughter appears behind her.
Then the use of non-diegetic sounds is introduced again creating a more creepy atmosphere, the use of the titles 'based on a true story' also helps to build the tension again. Using an establishing shot after this title is key as it is the first time the audience is properly able to see the setting and it is during night time in low key lighting. We can then hear background noise which the characters anticipates to be coming from her children however after walking into their room she soon discovers they are fast asleep. There is then a huge crash which comes as quite a fright to the audience and the character due to the prolonged silence that was before it. Childs laughter is also heard which has a uneasy feel to it. This is also a genre indicator as children and children's laughter is often associated with horror films. The women then goes downstairs to investigate further, the editing technique with flashing black screen further helps to build tension as the audience do not know what the next shot will be, the fast pace also helps with this. Suspense is created as the women walks towards the dark door as black connotes danger and death. As she turns to exit the door slams in her face and the bulb blows plunging her into complete darkness, then the audience hear her cry for help making the audience have sympathy for her as she is completely helpless. The screams is a general sound associated with horror films and a noise we would expect in this situation. As we see the match being lit we can see the flame shaking and hear the characters heavy breathing which indicates her fear. We hear a clap again, which links to earlier on in the trailer, and the flame goes out. The characters scream fades out and the noise of a children jewellery box starts as the name of the film is faded in. This type of music is often used with horror films due to the mixed messages of children's innocence and the fear of the film.


The mise en scene uses a large amount of warm orange and browns which indicates this film is not set in modern day. The family are all dressed in similar colours which connotes warmth and happiness, the house seems to have similar colour furniture. When the women wanders into the room with her blindfold on the wardrobe completely juxtaposes the rest of the room as its large and made of very dark wood. Even when the doors of the wardrobe are open the clothes within are also warm pinky colours. The pale arms that emerge when the character says clap are sickly pale and creepy looking suggesting that these arms do not belong to something human, the same arms seen at the end of the trailer.


Overall I think this is an effective trailer for a horror film as it creates a sense of mystery by not revealing too much making people more likely to go and watch the film so they can get some answers. Also as it mentions in the trailer it is a Warner Bros production which is a unique selling point of the film.