Sinister
“Sinister” is a well-known and highly rated supernatural horror film that was released in the UK on the 5th October 2012. Having watched the film previously I thought I’d analyse the trailer and give my opinion about four aspects to do with the trailer, these being the editing, camera composition, sound and mise-en-scene.
Mise-en-scene
Establishing Shot
The mise-en-scene of this horror trailer in general sticks to the conventions of the supernatural horror sub genre, as the whole trailer has an eerie feel to it right from the start. An establishing shot of a bungalow in the dark is used where the film is set. The time of day and the type of house used are both regular themes in modern day horror films, as the directors want to make the viewer feel as if this could happen to them in real life. The darkness of the setting could be seen as use of pathetic fallacy to outline the overall theme of the trailer.
Characters
The characters in this trailer are seen in modern clothing, which confirms that the film is set in the present, and due to there being a shot of a police officer in the trailer, this brings in the element of realism to the trailer, making the viewer question if this could be happening in the real world. They are also quite dull and create realism within the trailer, which again affirms the question of could be happening in the real world.
Ellison Oswlat played by Ethan Hawke who is the main character and the dad in this trailer, wears casual clothes, which imply that he and his family are middle class. He also wears glasses which connotes intelligence, but when he looks at the “Bughuul” who is the antagonist of the whole film, he is never wearing his glasses which could insinuate that when he sees “Bughuul” his vision is distorted and not actually real.
The mother wears bland clothes that represent normality and makes the story believable for the viewer. Her clothing makes her come across as a normal mother who is apart of a normal family.
The daughter wears casual, typcial clothing like the rest of the family which further suggests that this is a completely standard family and constructs uncertainty throughout the trailer, as a supernatural being such as "Bughuul" doesn't haunt and torment ordinary people.
"Bughuul" is not seen in the trailer close up until the last shot of the trailer where he quickly darts his head in front of the camera. This is done to scare the audience watching the trailer, and to give them a glimpse of the jump scares that are in the film. From what is seen in the trailer, "Bughuul" wears a dark suit that represents his hostility towards the world. It also demonstrated how he is so evil, because he consumes the mind of young children and has killed families since the 1960s as it stated in the trailer. The reason that "Bughuul" is seen infrequently in the trailer, could be because he lives through images and videos and then haunts the mind of the people who see them. As well as this, it could be because he doesn't want to reveal his identity to people, so that no one can be made aware of his presence.
Props
There aren’t many props used in this trailer, however there is one that is constantly highlighted in the trailer, and that is the old-fashioned cine projector that displays the videos of past families that have all lived in the house, and have all been killed. This is a prop that is used in a lot of modern day horror films to connect the present with the past. This is because the directors are trying to generate a sense of truth to the film by creating stories that occurred in the past. The films are in poor quality as they were filmed years ago, as "Bughuul" has haunted and murdered more than one family in his time. The cine projector implies that "Bughuul" isn't actually real, it is just a mental creation by the father that only he truly sees and believes in.
As well as this, another prop in the trailer is a laptop that the dad uses for research into the murder cases for his book, and “Bughuul” appears recurrently when both props are used. This connotes that “Bughuul” is ever present and targeting its next prey which in this case, is the family in the film. It also creates tension as now the audience could see "Bughuul" more during the film, as it differs up where it appears.
Setting
In the trailer there is one main setting which is the house where the family live, as well as this there are also two other settings within the house. These are the garden, where the pool and the tree are which are both places where "Bughuul" has murdered families who have previously lived in the house, and the office where the dad watches tapes and makes notes for his book. All of these settings are places where "Bughuul" is seen in the trailer and indicate that "Bughuul" will not stop his hunt until he has consumed the mind of the children who live in the house.
The house itself is open and dark which creates a chilling atmosphere for the viewers, and also builds tension throughout the trailer as we know there is something abnormal with the house, and that is apparent when the dad views the tapes. This is because "Bughuul" is visible in the clips from the tapes. The house is also fairly isolated and is fairly stereotypical for a house in horror films that are made in this day an age. The isolation of the house could be viewed as frightening, especially because there are a lot of trees and foliage surrounding the house. This is because an isolated house that has these features to it creates a frightening and cold atmosphere, because where there is darkness and emptiness there is usually a suspicion of something unnatural that goes on.
The garden is fairly open and has a large tree where in the past a girl who lived there swung on. The tree is also the setting for where the most recent family were murdered by "Bughuul". The garden connotes horror conventions, as it a large yet empty area that creates a spine-chilling atmosphere during the trailer.
Colours
The colours used in the trailer are generally quite dark and construct an ominous feeling. However, the colours start off quite light and gradually become darker which makes the trailer harrowing. The colours adhere to horror film conventions, as dark and lifeless colours are heavily associated with horror films in this day and age.
When the family are first moving into the house, it is clear that they are doing so during the day. Then as the trailer proceeds onwards, the mood changes as well as the time of day, this can be seen as a use of pathetic fallacy. This is because darkness connotes disturbance within the house. The colours then get darker when the dad is watching some of the clips that reveal previous families who have lived at the house.
Towards the end of the trailer is when the colours are at their darkest, which could be to suggest the end for the family. This creates tension and the audience sense that the climax of the trailer is near. At the end, the trailer reinforces horror conventions when "Bughuul" is seen close up on the screen in the third jump scare of the trailer. The colours used here are very dark and intend to scare the audience, which it does effectively.
Camera shots, movements and transitions
Establishing Shot
The trailer "Sinister" features a variation of camera shots, movements and transitions, all for different effects on the audience. A trailer that uses these shots is usually successful in attracting and entertaining its audience.
The establishing shot of the trailer is a still long shot of the house that the film is set in, which tells the audience watching where to expect the action, and because it is first seen in darkness, this suggests that there may be something haunting going on with the house. This supports horror film conventions, as each shot is used to build up the each jump scare, and the establishing shot is no different.
Long and Mid Shots
Long and mid shots in horror films are mainly used to show the antagonist at a mid to long range so that the character isn't given away, to build suspense and frighten the audience.
An interesting long shot that is used in the trailer is when a family that previously lived there is shown on screen hung from a tree, as they have been murdered by "Bughuul". The zoomed long shot captures only half of the family's bodies and the footage jumps on the tape which is done to shock and startle the viewers. This shot is effective as it only shows a glimpse of what "Bughuul" is capable of for a small amount of time. In the trailer, the dads reaction is one of horror as he panics and covers his eyes when seeing the clip. This aspect of the trailer adheres to horror film conventions, as it is a segment of the trailer that creates panic.
Another long shot that is used is when the dad holds up a picture of "Bughuul" in the foliage in the garden, and as he puts down the picture, a long shot of "Bughuul" in the garden frightens the dad, and will have undoubtedly caught the viewers off guard. This is an effective long shot, as it catches a glimpse of the character of "Bughuul" so that now the audience is aware of what it looks like. It also helps build tension, as the threat of "Bughuul" and his power is now clearly apparent.
A mid shot at 2:11 in the trailer is used, and shows the daughter and Stephanie, a girl who used to live in the house who was consumed by "Bughuul". The shot captures the daughter, Stephanie, and a drawing of "Bughuul's" head alongside the family who have been hung from the tree. This shot is effective as Stephanie is only in the corner of the shot and her physical appearance is chilling due to her pale face. The shot also confirms to the audience that "Bughuul" is consuming the mind of the daughter, and soon she will be like Stephanie.
Close-ups
Close ups in horror films are used to show facial expressions, usually of horror and concern of the characters, as well as to scare the audience through the use of jump scares which are used a few times in this trailer.
When the dad is talking to the police officer, a close up is used to show the stress and concern on his face. It highlights him frowning which insinuates that he isn't comfortable about the situation he is in, after watching the tapes of other families being murdered. The close up helps the audience to feel the emotions that the dad is experiencing and gives them a closer look at the character. The use of a close up here to show the dads angst supports horror conventions, as close-ups in horror films usually show negative emotions of the character that is being shown.
Another close up is used right at the end of the trailer when "Bughuul" is shown on screen for the first time close up. The shot is a jump scare where "Bughuul" moves from the projector screen to the foreground of the shot quickly to scare the viewers. This is done so that the audience can see "Bughuul" and his terrifying appearance up close, and to strike terror into the dads mind. By using this shot last, the trailer ends off on a climax which will intrigue the audience. It also reinforces horror film conventions of having a jump scare in the trailer, and because it is right at the end, the effect it has on the audience is significant.
Camera Movement
In the trailer, the camera is generally quite still and there aren't many tracking shots as most of the clips are short and concise. This is done to help the audience focus on the shot that is on screen, and so that there is pace to the trailer.
An example of camera movement is when the camera zooms in on the dad, to reveal the horror on his face at the sight he has just seen. The shot exhibits his first reaction to seeing "Bughuul" which also frightens the audience, as this too is the first time they see "Bughuul" in the trailer. This short section of the trailer demonstrates how just seeing a supernatural being is shocking and chilling, as these sorts of beings are thought to be myths, not truth. The darkness of the shot supports horror film conventions, as it reflects the atmosphere at the time, one of absolute terror.
Another example of camera movement is a tracking shot that illustrates the family trying to leave the house. The camera here is moving violently to convey the panic of the family to the audience. The shot is short and only reveals a small amount of the trepidation that the family are experiencing. The shot as a whole supports horror film conventions, as it makes the audience experience the emotions that the family are experiencing in the trailer.
Transitions
The trailer is fast paced due to the transitions from shot to shot, which are mostly cuts, and some fade to blacks, both of which are common in horror films. Each scene is short and a cut is mainly used to move to the next scene, which helps to build up tension, as pace always does this, and so that the doesn't get boring for the audience watching.
From 0:38-0:56 in the trailer, a series of cuts are used to create pace. They are used when the dad finds old camera footage of the families being murdered, and the cuts help to shorten the time between the dad collecting the clips and playing them. The use of cuts is effective as it helps to build a narrative to this part of the trailer and leads each shot onto the next. Each shot is short and clearly shows the actions of the dad and also builds tension as the audience is able to see what has previously happened at the house. By using cuts, the directors are sticking to horror film conventions, as these are a common transition in all horror films.
Another transition that is used in the trailer multiple times is a fade to black. This is a traditional transition that is used in horror films, as the fade to black itself is associated with darkness and can cause uncertainty for the audience. From 2:05 to 2:14 fade to black's are used effectively to the beat of the non diegetic sound that is playing at the same time in the trailer. It is used the reach the climax of the trailer where "Bughuul" is seen on the screen, as it builds suspense as the viewers heart is pounding as there is so much uncertainty with this part of the trailer. The shots that are used here are shots of the cine projector, to illustrate that the tape has run its course, maybe as well as the family. It then highlights the dads complete panic as he tries to get away from "Bughuul" and then lastly it demonstrates to the viewers that the daughter has finally been consumed by "Bughuul".
Editing and Sound
Editing
The editing in this trailer gradually gets faster as the trailer goes along, and overall is frantic in presentation, to build suspense and to make the audience endure the emotions the family in the trailer are experiencing. The trailer reflects the jump scare theme well, as there are three main jump scares that are shown, which will entertain and scare the audience. The trailer adheres to a play-like structure, as it starts off at a gradual pace, then it picks up in suspense, as well as pace which all lead to the climax of the trailer which displays the best jump scare to end a thrilling and frightening trailer.
The shots in the trailer are for the most part, short and succinct, which helps to create pace to the trailer. There are only a few deviations of the short shots, most noticeably at the start of the trailer, which is done to build the narrative, and when "Bughuul" is seen on screen from a distance, in a mid or long shot. This may have been done to emphasise its importance, as "Bughuul" is the antagonist of the trailer.
There are three titles used in the trailer to help explain the story to the audience. The first being at 0:15 to simply state when the family moved in, which was "9 Months Later" as seen on screen. Before this, there are shots of a family who lived at the house previously, who the audience finds out are murdered when a segment of a police report is read out, this confirms that the family moving into the house are falling into "Bughuul's" trap. There are then two other titles that read "once you see him" and "nothing can save you". This heavily reinforces that "Bughuul" is a supernatural being who takes the lives of people who live in the house in the trailer. The titles can be seen below.
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Sound
The sound in this trailer is both high and low pitched as well as harsh to the viewers ears. The pitch of the sound depends on the part of the trailer, as at the start of the trailer the sounds are generally low pitched, but as the trailer progresses, the sounds become higher pitched and louder. This is done to scare the audience and conveys horror film conventions well, as these sorts of sounds are used frequently in horror films.
As the trailer proceeds, the non-diegetic sound plays a pivotal role in signalling what is going to happen next. This is done so that the audience know what to expect, however, in parts of the trailer, the absence and the sometimes quietness of the sound tricks the audience into thinking that they know what is going to occur, when in fact there is likely to be a jump scare on screen. There is a section of the trailer from 1:35 to 1:46, where there is a steady drum beat that coincides with the cuts of each shot, on top of what one of the characters is saying, this is done to build suspense and to further fasten the pace of the trailer.
Below are sound clips from the trailer that I feel are the most important bits of diegetic and non-diegetic sound in the trailer. There are 9 sound clips that vary from high to low pitched, with drum beats and screeches, all to build suspense in the trailer, and all of these sound clips support horror film conventions effectively.