Insidious Trailer Deconstruction

The key feature that makes this trailer scary, is definitely the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds that are present. When the title firsts appear at the beginning of the trailer, there is a low, quiet non-diegetic drone that adds suspense to the images on screen. This is then replaces by a metronome ticking, adds tension for the audience. As this sound continues it suddenly becomes contrapuntal to what we see on screen. The main characters are laughing and chatting however, this serious tense ticking is still continuing over the top of these sounds.

There is an obvious mood change in the trailer - when Dalton falls off of the ladder. We know this due to the non-diegetic quiet drone which is paired with a sad voice over, creaking of the doors and floor boards and screaming. It is at this point that the editing speeds up to fast pace straight cut edits. The low drone in the background turns into fast pace, low pitch, non-diegetic sound, the volume of this music also increases.

The camera angles play a large part in the trailer. For example, a high angle shot of the mother shows the audience that she is vulnerable and scared of the things that are happening around the house.

The transitions used at the beginning of the trailer is a fade to black in order to show that everything is calm and relaxed. However, as the trailer continues and the tension builds, the editing changes - the transitions become fast pace straight cut edits in order to add more clips and bring the audience to the edge of their seats.

At the end of the trailer there is a quick and constant change between clips of the film (tension scenes) and the title of the film. This happens about 3/4 times in order to build suspense and tension for the audience. The music then suddenly cuts out, leaving the release date on the screen.