Horror Movie Analysis – Paranormal Activity 4 Trailer

Horror trailers are structured in the same style, starting with the story line everything normal, something changes within the lives of the victim, moving onto the scary moments giving parts away usually showing the best bits which they will use to attract the audience. Towards the end of the trailer comes the big scare which finishes the trailer off, summing the movie trailer up giving the audience a taste of what to expect within the trailer. Between the clips at the start of the paranormal activity trailer cut away are used but they are not used within the same way as we know them a clean cut away.

There has been an added effect which has been incorporated within the cutaway (white noise). This gives the audience of some effect which links into the title ‘paranormal activity’ giving the first sneak preview, already starting to make the audience weary about what is happening. The noise starting to also build up the tension using loud screams to make the audience jump as soon as the trailer begins this also gives us the idea that the trailer is about to get worse as the tension has already started to build and its only just began. The trailer then switches back to day time where everything is back to normal, showing clips building up the story by using one line dialog from the film showing us what the story is based on and what the plot of the story is. This gives the audience the basics of the storyline also this gets the audience thinking about what could happen throughout the rest of the movie, showing them when they see more of the trailer because it may not be what they expected.

By using different dialog from throughout the movie it is then showing different scenes and conversation between a short periods of time using contain containing 30-40 seconds. Breaking the trailer up, text has been inserted which is on a black background with very plain white writing almost in a typewriter font which you may think the which also adds to the plot giving more of an inside to what the movie is going to be about. By doing this it makes the audience piece all the information which they have given together creating the horror movie which they want to watch. Loud noise are used throughout the trailer to give the target audience a fright, by only using them at certain parts it builds the suspense making the audience feel nervous and on edge as they do not know what to expect next. To build up the tension between the trailers after watching a happy part of a normal trailer the scary tension building parts start.

Finishing the horror movie with a big build up to the end scare but using little scary clips which start very weak but then building up the tension throughout when the clips start the trailer is using the codes and conventions of a stereo typical horror movie. Ending with the big scare towards the end which maybe gives you a clue of the demon or what happens to the victim. Showing on the end of this trailer which is showing who the demon is and that something is going to finish with a big scare at the end showing the viewers that it’s going to be a stereo typical paranormal activity film, with a demon and also it have control and has processed the human.