This document provides analyses of shots from the trailers of three horror films: "Saw", "You're Next", and "The Purge".
For "Saw", shots are analyzed in terms of cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, and editing. A shot of a villain at a computer builds tension through its dark lighting and countdown timer. Sounds build fear and suspense, while news headlines make the villain widely feared.
Shots from "You're Next" are also analyzed. A low-angle shot establishes a villain's power and control. Changing music creates tension. A shot introduces characters to connect with, though a fast-paced weapon shot increases fear.
2. ANALYSIS OF “SAW”-
CINEMATOGRAPHY
This is a medium shot showing a location and the
body language of the character. This shot enables
the audience to identify the location. The location
can be seen as scary as it’s dirty, rusty and old-
looking giving a scary effect. This connotes that the
film is going to be a horror.
3. SOUND
From this shot you can tell that a man has heard a
noise this is reinforced by the way the man is looking
behind him in what looks like an abandoned
location. This fits the Horror genre as creepy noises
build fear and suspense which could also scare the
audience.
4. MISE-EN-SCENE
The mise-en-scene in this shot portrays the villain as
powerful and in control, in front of a computer screen
with a timer next to him, the timer is in red connoting
blood, horror & anger. Also it is quite dark and making
the scene scary and spooky and the timer stand out.
This allows the audience to understand the narrative
and build tension by the countdown decreasing.
5. EDITING
In this shot, it zooms in on multiple news headlines, This
makes the audience focus on the stories in the paper
and connect the storyline, building tension and
creating fear of the villain itself. It also shows that this
villain is scary and widely spoke about as there are a lot
of newspaper articles featured in the shot, making the
villain become more feared by the audience.
6. ANALYSIS OF “YOU’RE NEXT”-
CINEMATOGRAPHY
This shot is a low angle. This shows that the creature
is in control and has the power. There is no direct
address as they are looking at something or
someone else, creating tension and fear for the
audience. This shot also draws attention to the mask
of the villain and allows the audience know that
they are armed, making the audience more fearful.
7. SOUND
From this shot you see the villain looking on at the
woman. The non diagetic music changes to a more
minor sketchy sound as the villain is appearing. This
creates tension and fear for the audience and this
alerts the audience that a disturbance is about to
happen in the trailer.
8. MISE-EN-SCENE
This shot allows the audience to see the main
characters which will be involved within the film. the
shot shows all characters holding hands suggesting
they are friends/family and they stick together. This
allows the audience to connect with the characters
as the bright lighting suggests they are harmless to
each other.
9. EDITING
This shot shows a weapon being aimed at a “good”
character. The editing shows a fast pace flickering
of blackouts and the weapon being fired. This
increases the pace of the trailer making it more
interesting and fearful for the audience.
10. ANALYSIS OF “THE PURGE”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
This is a high angle shot, with the male character
giving direct address which makes the audience
feel as if he is speaking to them, creating fear and
suspense. This angle stereotypically makes the
audience feel powerful and superior but this angle
makes the audience more fearful this connotes a
horror genre as this will spook out the audience.
11. SOUND
From this shot we see a door being shut. This implies
that there is a level of fear for the characters. This is
reinforced by the sound being increased higher, this
creates fear and tension as to whether or not the
door will shut in time, making the audience fear for
the characters.
12. MISE-EN-SCENE
In this shot it shows an expensive house as the setting
suggesting the owners are wealthy and that safety
precautions are being used on the property. The
lighting is dark creating scary and spooky atmosphere.
All the characters in shot are carrying a weapon and
walking towards the house, creating a “zombie” look
towards the trailer, this makes the characters more evil
and scary to the audience.
13. EDITING
This shot has got different shots edited into one, this
gives a security camera look creating tension as it
gives all angles of the location showing the
emptiness. This creates an isolated effect, creating
fear and tension into the trailer.
