1. The Woman in Black
trailer analysis.

2. The trailer begins with two production company
names, with smoke behind the text. It then cuts to
a train with smoke coming out of the top. The
smoke behind the production company title helps
to tie these two shots together and it’s an indexical
sign of fire, which could suggest a theme of the
film.

3. O The trailer begins with this establishing shot. It
uses ambient/diegetic sounds of a train as it
appears on our screen. The non-diegetic music
creates a peaceful atmosphere as a voiceover of
the protagonist is explaining who he is and his
situation. This therefore gives the audience an
insight as to who the protagonist is.

4. O A close up is used to show his emotions, the
flashing lights indicate that he is on the train.
His reflection suggests there are two sides to
his character and it also conveys a ghostly
image, which complements themes in the
film, those being supernatural presences.

5. The house which can be seen as a ‘dark place’
sets up the audience’s expectations to be
spooked and they know that it isn't going to be a
pleasant story. As typically an isolated, run down
house doesn’t connote a happy atmosphere. By
showing that the house is isolated the sequence
creates a sense of fear for the audience. The
shots are all dull and gloomy which signifies
danger and also the close up of the cross in the
middle of the wetland exposes that bad things
have happened there before. Isolation is a
common convention of horror films, as its means
that the characters are more vulnerable and
there is no one to help them.

6. O This establishing shot shows an
old, abandoned house which connotes a dark
and mysterious atmosphere ready to engage
the audience. A setting like this is
conventional for the genre and encodes the
narrative with enigmas.

7. O A high angle shot is used which shows
the vulnerability of the male character.
The peaceful music stops as he walks
into the house, which could mean that
all sense of security has gone and bad
things are going to happen.

8. O Close ups are then used as the audience
follow him as he explores the house, the
music is tense and gets louder as it is building
to the climax. The use of his silhouette is
shown because it doesn’t allow the audience
to see his features, which adds a sense of
mystery to the shot. The black also contrasts
the background, making him stand out more.

9. O The music then
stops as he spins
the zoetrope, the
audience’s mind is
then taken off what
is going to happen
as they watch the
lamp go round. A
face then appears
combined with a
loud non diegetic
sound, which
instantly scares the
audience.

10. O The close up, two
shot of the characters
and the dialogue ‘
please don’t go back
to the house’ shows
that there is
something scary in
the house and the
audience will then
associate the place
with fear.
O The window between
the two characters
creates light, light
amongst a couple
connotes goodness.

11. O The close up of the
protagonist with the
image of a woman in
black behind is then
shown to give the idea
that he’s in danger.
Having the antagonist
in the background
creates voyeurism.
O As the close up of the
figurines is shown a
voice over then says
‘she’s there’ followed
by a shot of a crow.
Crows symbolically
signify death and fear.
This suggests that
death is a theme and
that the film is obscure
and gothic.

12. O After the crow is shown there
is a montage of fire, death
and diegetic sounds of
screaming. The music is tense
as the montage cuts quickly
making the audience
frightened.

13. O At 0.51s it straight cuts to a black screen with a small amount of smoke in the
background and white text saying ‘THE MOST CHILLING GHOST STORY
OF OUR TIME’. The text is very simplistic to begin with and doesn’t have any
effect added to it, but as the text begins to fade out it begins to disintegrate
and looks more effective. By using the white text on the black background it
makes it easy to read and it also fits in with the genre of the film. The white
colour generally connotes death and ghosts which ties in with the film’s
storyline. Also the use of black space allows the audience to consider the
film and the enigmas it proposes. Furthermore, the wording of the title lures
the audience in as it is a statement, which would make the audience want to
see the film, to see if it is true.

14. O Close ups of children are
presented to show the
defencelessness of the
victims in the film. As
children are vulnerable it
also makes the audience
feel sorry for them and want
to find out what happens to
them. The juxtaposition of
children is a trope of the
genre. The 3 girls look
haunted and step on one of
their toys, cracking it’s head.
Suggesting that they don’t
care about anything in their
way.

15. O The use of the wide shot and the low key lighting make this
shot seem scary and frightening for the audience and as
the children are outside at night it suggests that all is not
right with the world. Sympathetic fallacy is used here as the
dark, gloomy weather matches the mood of the sequence.
Again, the Forest/wooded location is typical of genre.

16. O The sequencing of these
two shots allows the
audience to see what is
happening from a different
viewpoint. The extreme
nature of these shots is
enhanced by the use of
cantered angles. The
footsteps are indexical
evidence of a supernatural
presence, that being a
child and this is important
because it shows that
there is a child haunting
the house covered in
blood, which adds to the
eeriness of the film.
O There isn’t much high key
lighting so this therefore
makes the shot seem
sinister.

17. O These close up shots
allow the audience to
see the characters
emotions as the
action climaxes.
O They are not framed
centrally which adds
to the verisimilitude
of the shot and the
immersion effect.

18. O Over halfway through the trailer a close up shot of Daniel
Radcliffe is used. This is then followed by the black screen and
the smoke effect. On the black screen the title says ‘DANIEL
RADCLIFFE’ in white. This lets the audience know who the
main actor is and it would attract fans of his previous work.
The title then fades out a shot of Daniel re-appears. By using
Daniel who is very famous, it is helping to promote the film as
well as intertextually referencing Harry Potter, which is his
most famous role to date. This film aims to counteract his
iconoclastic baggage and this is demonstrated by the clothes
he wears and the way he acts and comes across in the film.

19. The fast paced music
in these shots helps to
build tension and
prepares the audience
to be frightened. The
writing on the nursery
wall and the close up
shot of the child follow
the theme of children
in this
sequence, which can
make the viewer feel
uncomfortable as
children are vulnerable
and weak, which can
shock the audience
because of the content
and also make them
sympathise with them.

20. O The close up of the door handle as it is
turning is significant as it shows
supernatural presence in the house. This
therefore prepares the audience for a
visceral response.

21. O The high/ Dutch
angle allows the
audience to see that
the protagonist has
unearthed something
disturbing.
O The camera tracks
the protagonist
running away
frantically which
shows how scared
he is. The location
shows how isolated
he is and that it is
difficult for him to
escape. As themes
these are
conventional of the
genre.

22. O In the space of around 5
seconds straight cuts are used
with 3 different titles appearing
very quickly. This creates a
rapid effect that implies the film
is full of action which attracts
the audience. One title says
‘FEAR’ followed by a clip of the
film, another straight after this
saying ‘HER’ followed again by
a different clip of the film and
then the final title says
‘CURSE’. The audience are
encouraged to get actively
involved in the trailer by putting
these words together; by doing
this it is creating a sense of
fear within the audience.

23. O The wide shot and
mid shot show how
isolated the
protagonist is and the
mist gives the shot an
eerie feel. Isolation is
a common convention
of horror films, as it
makes it hard for the
characters to escape.
The use of mist is
also a common trope
of the horror genre as
it creates a sense of
mystery and
fearfulness, as things
can hide and watch
the characters.
Provoking fear for
both the audience
and the characters.

24. O The wide shot of the chair
rocking by itself highlights the
fact that there is a supernatural
presence in the house. This is
Iconic evidence as it shows
what it actually is, it is a chair
rocking by itself. Which
suggests paranormal activity.

25. The camera tracks the
protagonist from in front of his
position and as he is carrying
an axe which shows that he is
fearful.
A voice over ‘(she’s always
there’) is used while the
protagonist looks out of the
window. Deep rumbling, non-
diegetic sounds are
played, which builds the
tension. The handprint is
indexical evidence of a
person, which signifies that
someone has been there and
the concerned expression
shown on the protagonist’s
face shows that he may know
the person and has been
waiting for their return.

26. O An over the shoulder shot is used while a
woman’s face appears screaming. This
instantly scares the audience and
provides an opportunity for a visceral
response (we jump). The use of the low
key lighting complements the dark mood
of the scene.

27. O Every title in the trailer follows the same theme of a black background and white
text; very generic of horror films. The black background also adds to the sense of
suspicion and the thought of the unknown, subconsciously grabbing the
audience’s attention.
O At the end of the trailer the title of the film appears and gradually fades out, so
that the audience know what the film is called and if they want to watch it in the
cinema. Also as it’s the last thing that the audience see in the trailer, it will stick in
their heads.
O The film title name follows the same theme of the other title pages. However, this
page has a lot more smoke in the background. Half of the title is hidden behind
the smoke and then the smoke moves to reveal the film title ‘WOMAN IN
BLACK’. This screen is followed by another screen with the same layout which
says ‘February 2012’. This lets the audience know when the film is out. This shot
also includes the web address for the official ‘Woman in Black’ website and the
logos of the production companies involved, extra textually referencing them.