Friday 1 October 2010

Teaser Trailer Analysis - Paranormal Activity 2




From the very beginning of trailer tension is being built. The opening scene consists of an empty black screen lasting roughly 10 seconds; over the screen a visual effect is used. The only way I can described this effect is that it represents a brake up of signal, nebulous white strips moving around the screen. This effect suggests that all is unsettled. Roughly 3 seconds into this scene, non dietetic footsteps are heard, gradually getting louder as the scene continues. This is an iconic sound technique used in typical horror, thriller productions. This feature suggests that the darkness is approaching, builds anxiety in the audience as it becomes louder.  The picture then jump cuts to the very last scene of the first paranormal activity whereby a body is thrown at the camera from across the room, parallel to this there is a great  ‘bang’ which enables the first audience to again associated the movie with fright, establishing the genre and concept behind the main motion picture. The idea that someone can be so easily flung across a room raises questions of whom or what could do this? This causes the camera to aggressively shake and go on to the floor, it remains at a canted angle and gradually zooms into the open doorway where the character was thrown from, however, to the viewers surprise, the doorway is empty. This is the first paranormal event of the trailer as no clues are given to how this happened. Again, the ‘fuzz’ effect is used alongside what I would expect is gushing wind, suggesting abandonment of the victims hope and emptiness of this creatures heart.

The text ‘in 2009 you demanded it’ fades in white over a black canvas, almost like the appearance of a ‘ghost’. In time with this a sudden sound effect is used, expectably used to keep viewers on their toes. The scene then wipe cuts using the fuzz effect when we are established with a wide shot revealing an audience watching the original Paranormal activity. It is shown in night vision to allow us to see that the audience is not yet disrupted by the fear of the film, as though an equilibrium has been set. However, this is promptly disturbed as the scene straight cuts back to the prior canted shot of the open doorway, and then suddenly cuts to an extreme close up shot of the possessed female character, edits at this point are becoming much faster in contrast with the action . It then straight cuts back to the audience, this time the audience is clearly troubled as there reaction indicates. Displaying this reaction gives future audience an idea or expectation of the level of effectiveness of the upcoming film.

            The scene then again goes black for a few seconds, where we are then introduced with a different location through a montage of CCTV camera shots straight cutting around a house, this effect of CCTV may suggest that they has been previous unsettling occurrences within the house and this has been used as a method to scare off such intruders. On each of these scenes, a time is displayed on the top right side of the screen. This gives a sense of reality causing the audience to feel vulnerable as they feel that upcoming events may later effect them. Edits are slow and there is only natural dietetic sound such as grass hoppers when outside, while a sound effect has been used to indicate the change in scene i.e. to another camera around the house. All seems to be ‘normal’ around the residence until we are established with the kitchen. Although minute, the pots and pans are clanking together, and there is nothing to indicate why. This suggests that although there is this equilibrium, there is a slight disruption, one that cannot yet be explained.

           Next, we are made known to a typical infant’s room where all appears to be settled. Inside the room there is a dog facing the door sleeping and an infant lying asleep in a cot. This shot is held for longer then most allowing the audience to familiarise themselves with the environment. Suddenly the iconic heavy footsteps from the beginning become start, once more gradually getting louder. This builds huge suspense as the audience will expect the fright similar to earlier in the trailer where the same effect was used. The rocking chair in the room begins to sway mysteriously proposing that something is within the room. This idea of something being inside the room brings the audience to concern for the vulnerability of the infant in the cot. In time with this, the dog wakes up and becomes alarmed and cautiously moves closer to the door. The concept of the dog becoming unsettled with know clear signs to why suggests that it is something paranormal, unseen to the human eye. It then straight cuts to text ‘nothing can prepare you’ using the personal pronoun ‘you’ in order to alarm the audience and address them directly, putting them in a vulnerable position. It then straight cuts back to the room where footsteps are no longer heard but the infant is now standing in the cot facing the open doorway while the dog is now becoming aggressive, growling whilst stepping back as though threatened. This shot is held for a couple of seconds where it then straight cuts back to text, this time reading ‘ for what’s next’ and then immediately wipe cuts to the living room inside the house where all is silent and still putting the audience at ease as they expect all is well. Then, rapidly in time with sinister thunderous sound effect it straight cuts back to the room where the dog and infant appear missing, only the toy above the cot is moving and a dark female figure is standing in the doorway. This leads the audience to assume that harm has come to the child. This figure is very similar to the one shown earlier in the trailer, only this time the character looks much darker suggesting that whatever has possessed her is now in full control. The use of fast edit and loud strikes frights the audience and empathises the proceedings.

            The screen then goes black until ‘2’ first appears followed by ‘Paranormal Activity’ in white bold writing. This text flickers as though disturbed and gradually fades. Once this fades, the website address and company logo appears. Encouraging the audience to visit the website to familiarise themselves with the film as well as promoting the production studios of the movie, i.e. to look into other movies they have produced. Throughout these last scenes there is a voice over. However, the voice speaks no language of which I am familiar with, and in a deep changing tone. This suggests that whatever is speaking is an alien to us and is of no understanding to humans.

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