Insidious movie trailer analysis

S
Insidious movie trailer analysis
The first shot we see of the trailer is the institution behind the film ‘film 
district’. Film district has re-designed their logo in order to make it fit the 
movies genre making it seem quite dark and using the colour red which 
connotes many horror movie themes. By doing this it gives the audience an 
idea that the movie is going to be a dark one (horror) without having to watch 
anymore of the trailer, it especially helps when eerie dark sounds/music is 
easing into the background. By putting the institutional logo at the beginning 
of the movie it allows the audience to make their own assumptions on the film 
as they will think of other movies this institution has made and whether they 
like those movies. 
A fade in transition is used to slowly show the name of the movie ‘insidious’ 
the background is not very clear as to what it is however it is red and the 
audience may see this as blood. This choice of look is most likely used to just 
keep the genre clear to the audience. 
Sound affects are used to match the movement of the changing words (a 
sound that very much fits the genre of the movie) the words change very 
quickly making it hard for the audience to understand what it says. However 
the words do say ‘insidious is..’ this obviously will give the audience very 
much questions as they know nothing about this movie and they most 
definitely do not know what insidious is.
In the next shot us the audience are finally introduced to a character. By 
him being the first person we are introduced we assume he is the or one of 
the main characters. To the audience he seems like an ordinary man due to 
his appearance and the settings. We the audience can see that this 
shot/scene is non-linear and is at least half way through the move. A man 
who we do not see asks ‘are you ready’ again, for obvious reasons this will 
set up a lot of questions for the audience as they do not know what is 
going on and they want to know what this man needs to be ready for. Still 
no questions have been answered for the audience. 
A cut is then used to zoom into a metronome ticking. This again will set up 
many questions for the audience as when we think of metronomes we think of 
how they are used by musicians to help keep a steady tempo. Which will then 
make the audience wonder why he needs a steady tempo. Whilst the 
metronome is ticking all other sounds which were before playing in the 
background are now gone which helps emphasise on the stereotypes creepy 
quite sounds that horror movies usually have. This gives the audience 
anticipation on what is going to happen next. They will expect something loud 
as it is so quiet in this shot. 
With the quiet ticking sound still playing in the background a cut goes to a 
faint bloody background like before. Writing then slowly fades onto the 
page ‘’From the maker of Paranormal Activity’’. This is a very typical 
technique used to simply bring in a audience as if the audience liked 
Paranormal Activity then they will like this movie also. It also gives the 
audience another idea on what the movie may be like.
We are then shown an establishing shot of a house. This is a very 
stereotyped shot which is used in very many horror trailers as it shows the 
audience the house which tells the audience where everything bad is 
mainly going to happen. It also uses the stereotyped idea of a family 
household being terrorized by bad spirits of some sort. However at this 
point of the trailer no questions have been answered to the audience and 
they still have no idea on what is going on, they only have assumptions and 
interpretations. 
In the next shot we meet two more characters which help the audience 
identify the horror genre stereotype of the movie having the ideological family 
within them. When looking closely and the setting of this shot we see loads of 
boxes scattered around the house. This tells the audience that this family has 
just moved into their house. This again is something that is very stereotypical 
within horror genres; a family moving into a new house where they will be 
greatly disturbed. This use of using stereotyped methods within trailer makes 
the audience to some extent know what this movie will entail without having 
to outright show and tell them what is going on. 
Several quick cuts are used to show a happy family, showing how they have 
a happy life. Through using the very quick cuts it emphasises not only on 
the happy family but on the fact that something bad is about to happen. 
The audience know something bad will happen for the simple fact it is a 
horror movie.
We are then taken to a silent close up shot of a ladder to which a little boy (the 
son) is climbing up, the ladder breaks and the break of the ladder is very loud , 
which indicates to the audience that this is where the trailer will begin to show 
what insidious is or at least the disruption of this movie. The before shot were 
very bright which helped emphasise the happiness within them whereas this 
shot is in the stereotypical dark quiet basement, which obviously emphasises 
on the genre of the movie and what is going to happen. 
To reinforce the fact that the bad stuff is not going to happen within the 
trailer, the before shot in repeated. Showing the title of the film whilst the 
words are flickering and changing showing the ‘insidious is insidious’. This 
obviously makes the audience question what is insidious, as even though 
they have some ideas on what the film is about they still do not really know 
anything about it. 
‘He is not in a coma the doctors don’t know what it is’, this in itself makes 
the audience question what is wrong with him. Low-key lighting has been 
used all through this trailer so far to emphasise its dark orientation. By the 
movie emphasising on what is wrong with the boy it reinforces the idea of 
innocence being corrupted as in horror movies it is usually the children that 
are taken over.
The mother is then walking through the hallway of her house. Low-key 
lighting is once again used to emphasise the idea that something bad is going 
to happen and what genre this movie is. We see inside a room that she is 
going to go into as she can hear a noise, however from this shot and 
viewpoint we can not fully see what is inside the room which just leaves the 
audience in anticipation as the believe something is going to jump out. When 
looking closely at this shot we see a hidden message. A stop sign is in the 
room facing the camera, this is obviously a message to the audience telling 
them something bad is going to happen. This trailer and shot uses many 
enigma codes 
The shot then goes back to the mother. By using quick cuts from the mother 
back to the room it builds up anticipation and suspense for the audience. As 
they are waiting for the ‘jump’ (what makes the audience jump) to happen. 
The audience are disappointed as they have been tricked. When the 
mother walks into the room is simply a rocking horse which is rocking on 
its own. However it creates more enigma codes, why is the horse 
rocking? Or how is it?. This simply makes the audience wonder when 
something it going to jump out at them.
The ‘insidious is’ shot is repeated once again to reinforce the 
idea that whatever insidious is it is something important to the 
movie. 
In this shot we the audience are finally starting to find out what bad is 
meant to be happening as so far we have not found anything out. The little 
boy goes into his room, to which we are then shown this shot of a window 
with the blinds closed. It is night time which obviously reinforces many 
stereotypes of darkness coming out at night time within horror movies. 
Quick cuts are then used whilst using eerie music whilst the mother is 
walking through the house as if she is looking or waiting for something to 
happen. Something then happens, which is what the audience have been 
waiting for a very long time. However now something has finally 
happened the audience still don’t really know anything crucial about the 
film, which is starting to make them want to find out even more.
The climax of the music then rises to help contrast with the tempo of the 
urgency the mother is in. Rushing into her child’s room who is crying, this 
shot does not answer any of the audiences questions, it simply helps 
fasten the tempo of the trailer now, showing the audience parts of the 
disruption in the movie. 
In the next shot, the shot links very much with what is being said. Allowing 
the audience to get a bit more information about what is going on, we see 
that there is a strange being in their house, after their son. By showing this 
shot in the scene the audience find out what this film is about; being it be 
about a son who has a spirit/being attached/after him. Low-key lighting is 
still being used to emphasise the horror genre. 
In this shot the audience finally see the recognition of disruption in this 
movie. To where the family now wish to seek help to resolve their 
disruption.
Like one theorist said about every movie having the same 7 characters 
in it, in this shot we finally meet ‘the helper’. The person who we 
expect in horror movies to resolve everything as they have had great 
experience in it before. This part of the trailer just helps give the 
audience more information about the film as it reinforces many 
stereotyped ideas used in many horror movies. Eerie music is still 
being played in the background to simply emphasise what genre this 
movie is. 
Lots of quick cuts are used again to show the disruption in this film. In 
this shot we see the dad looking in either a mirror or windows and 
seeing his reflection, however their is also a reflection of a mysterious 
scary being over the top. The use of enigma codes makes the audience 
want to know who this being is and what they have to do with the 
movie. Even though the audience are finding little bit about the film 
they still have no idea what is going on which simply makes them 
have more suspense. The idea of darkness is repeated in this scene 
also to reinforce many horror themes. 
Climatic synchronous music is being used again to make the 
anticipation and suspense grow more as well as reinforce the genre and 
theme. ‘Insidious is’ is on the screen once again as all the way through 
this trailer that is what the audience has been wondering and they still 
have not found out.
More quick cuts are used which match with the fast paced synchronous 
music to match the fast tempo of the movie. In this shot we see a picture 
that obviously a child has drawn however the picture is rather disturbing 
which reinforces to the audience the idea that something is wrong with the 
child. 
Another quick shot is used to finally show some type of scary being to the 
audience as they still have no idea what is after them or affecting their 
family. This then gives the audience knowledge of what it is. It makes them 
also question why hasn’t the dad noticed it yet. All these quick helps gain 
suspense from the audience as the majority of their questions still have not 
being answered. 
The next shot, is now silent which really contrasts with the frantic sound 
being played in the before shots. This gives the effect that this is possibly the 
last shot/ scene in the trailer as we have had many quick shots before this. 
We are back to the dark lighting which reinforces the genres stereotypes. 
Tracking is used in this scene moving forward, to grow the audiences 
anticipation, as they know something big is about to happen.
‘it’s not the house that is haunted, it’s your son’. By this being said it 
gives the audience the information they have been waiting for on what 
is really going on and now they know. However with all the quick cuts 
showing all the action that has been used it makes the audience want 
to know everything about the film now that they know what is going 
on. 
Lots of quick cuts are used with synchronous sound to match the fast 
tempo to simply show the audience more interesting scenes from the film 
without giving away to much. 
Once again we see the iconic ‘Insidious is’ for the last time.
Insidious is everywhere. The audience finally understand why the 
‘insidious is’ have been repeated all through the movie. ‘Everywhere 
April 1’ after having many cuts growing their anticipation and giving 
the audience many unanswered questions, they are then left with 
when the movie will come out which basically tells them that if they 
wish to find out they have to come and watch it. By the trailer not 
really telling the audience fully what the movie is about it makes the 
audience want to see the movie even more and helps sell the movie 
to them. 
The last shot of the trailer is the institutional information letting the 
audience know the information they may not be interested in. It lets 
them know the producers, directors actors etc. It also gives the movies 
website on there to allow the audience to find out more if they wish too 
about the movie, which helps create a bigger buzz about the movie.
Not only does the trailer reinforce many stereotypes and idea but it too reinforces the idea and thoughts that many 
theorists had. One theorist that is used within the trailer is Todorov and his theory was that a movie had 5 stages within it, 
the equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair and new equilibrium. However, in this trailer we only meet 3 of 
those stages, the equilibrium disruption and recognition or the disruption, as if the trailer showed all 5 stages, it would not 
leave the audience with the suspense they need in order to go and see the movie. Therefore, by showing 3 of the 5 stages it 
shows they are using Todorov’s theory within there movie however only using 3 of those stages in order to engager the 
audience into the film. 
Barthes theory of enigma codes is used in all movie trailer as this is what creates the suspense and by the audience 
having so many questions unanswered it makes them want/need to see the movie in order to get their questions 
answered. Therefore, throughout my analysis I have pinpointed which questions are being asked. 
Levi-Strauss theory of binary opposites is used many times throughout the trailer. Innocence and Corruption when it 
comes to the child being possessed. Also a binary opposite of the supernatural Vs. the natural as we see through the 
trailer that there is almost a battle to defeat the supernatural in order to get their life back to normal. Many other binary 
opposites are used which I have pinpointed through certain screenshots in my anaylsis.
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Insidious movie trailer analysis

  • 2. The first shot we see of the trailer is the institution behind the film ‘film district’. Film district has re-designed their logo in order to make it fit the movies genre making it seem quite dark and using the colour red which connotes many horror movie themes. By doing this it gives the audience an idea that the movie is going to be a dark one (horror) without having to watch anymore of the trailer, it especially helps when eerie dark sounds/music is easing into the background. By putting the institutional logo at the beginning of the movie it allows the audience to make their own assumptions on the film as they will think of other movies this institution has made and whether they like those movies. A fade in transition is used to slowly show the name of the movie ‘insidious’ the background is not very clear as to what it is however it is red and the audience may see this as blood. This choice of look is most likely used to just keep the genre clear to the audience. Sound affects are used to match the movement of the changing words (a sound that very much fits the genre of the movie) the words change very quickly making it hard for the audience to understand what it says. However the words do say ‘insidious is..’ this obviously will give the audience very much questions as they know nothing about this movie and they most definitely do not know what insidious is.
  • 3. In the next shot us the audience are finally introduced to a character. By him being the first person we are introduced we assume he is the or one of the main characters. To the audience he seems like an ordinary man due to his appearance and the settings. We the audience can see that this shot/scene is non-linear and is at least half way through the move. A man who we do not see asks ‘are you ready’ again, for obvious reasons this will set up a lot of questions for the audience as they do not know what is going on and they want to know what this man needs to be ready for. Still no questions have been answered for the audience. A cut is then used to zoom into a metronome ticking. This again will set up many questions for the audience as when we think of metronomes we think of how they are used by musicians to help keep a steady tempo. Which will then make the audience wonder why he needs a steady tempo. Whilst the metronome is ticking all other sounds which were before playing in the background are now gone which helps emphasise on the stereotypes creepy quite sounds that horror movies usually have. This gives the audience anticipation on what is going to happen next. They will expect something loud as it is so quiet in this shot. With the quiet ticking sound still playing in the background a cut goes to a faint bloody background like before. Writing then slowly fades onto the page ‘’From the maker of Paranormal Activity’’. This is a very typical technique used to simply bring in a audience as if the audience liked Paranormal Activity then they will like this movie also. It also gives the audience another idea on what the movie may be like.
  • 4. We are then shown an establishing shot of a house. This is a very stereotyped shot which is used in very many horror trailers as it shows the audience the house which tells the audience where everything bad is mainly going to happen. It also uses the stereotyped idea of a family household being terrorized by bad spirits of some sort. However at this point of the trailer no questions have been answered to the audience and they still have no idea on what is going on, they only have assumptions and interpretations. In the next shot we meet two more characters which help the audience identify the horror genre stereotype of the movie having the ideological family within them. When looking closely and the setting of this shot we see loads of boxes scattered around the house. This tells the audience that this family has just moved into their house. This again is something that is very stereotypical within horror genres; a family moving into a new house where they will be greatly disturbed. This use of using stereotyped methods within trailer makes the audience to some extent know what this movie will entail without having to outright show and tell them what is going on. Several quick cuts are used to show a happy family, showing how they have a happy life. Through using the very quick cuts it emphasises not only on the happy family but on the fact that something bad is about to happen. The audience know something bad will happen for the simple fact it is a horror movie.
  • 5. We are then taken to a silent close up shot of a ladder to which a little boy (the son) is climbing up, the ladder breaks and the break of the ladder is very loud , which indicates to the audience that this is where the trailer will begin to show what insidious is or at least the disruption of this movie. The before shot were very bright which helped emphasise the happiness within them whereas this shot is in the stereotypical dark quiet basement, which obviously emphasises on the genre of the movie and what is going to happen. To reinforce the fact that the bad stuff is not going to happen within the trailer, the before shot in repeated. Showing the title of the film whilst the words are flickering and changing showing the ‘insidious is insidious’. This obviously makes the audience question what is insidious, as even though they have some ideas on what the film is about they still do not really know anything about it. ‘He is not in a coma the doctors don’t know what it is’, this in itself makes the audience question what is wrong with him. Low-key lighting has been used all through this trailer so far to emphasise its dark orientation. By the movie emphasising on what is wrong with the boy it reinforces the idea of innocence being corrupted as in horror movies it is usually the children that are taken over.
  • 6. The mother is then walking through the hallway of her house. Low-key lighting is once again used to emphasise the idea that something bad is going to happen and what genre this movie is. We see inside a room that she is going to go into as she can hear a noise, however from this shot and viewpoint we can not fully see what is inside the room which just leaves the audience in anticipation as the believe something is going to jump out. When looking closely at this shot we see a hidden message. A stop sign is in the room facing the camera, this is obviously a message to the audience telling them something bad is going to happen. This trailer and shot uses many enigma codes The shot then goes back to the mother. By using quick cuts from the mother back to the room it builds up anticipation and suspense for the audience. As they are waiting for the ‘jump’ (what makes the audience jump) to happen. The audience are disappointed as they have been tricked. When the mother walks into the room is simply a rocking horse which is rocking on its own. However it creates more enigma codes, why is the horse rocking? Or how is it?. This simply makes the audience wonder when something it going to jump out at them.
  • 7. The ‘insidious is’ shot is repeated once again to reinforce the idea that whatever insidious is it is something important to the movie. In this shot we the audience are finally starting to find out what bad is meant to be happening as so far we have not found anything out. The little boy goes into his room, to which we are then shown this shot of a window with the blinds closed. It is night time which obviously reinforces many stereotypes of darkness coming out at night time within horror movies. Quick cuts are then used whilst using eerie music whilst the mother is walking through the house as if she is looking or waiting for something to happen. Something then happens, which is what the audience have been waiting for a very long time. However now something has finally happened the audience still don’t really know anything crucial about the film, which is starting to make them want to find out even more.
  • 8. The climax of the music then rises to help contrast with the tempo of the urgency the mother is in. Rushing into her child’s room who is crying, this shot does not answer any of the audiences questions, it simply helps fasten the tempo of the trailer now, showing the audience parts of the disruption in the movie. In the next shot, the shot links very much with what is being said. Allowing the audience to get a bit more information about what is going on, we see that there is a strange being in their house, after their son. By showing this shot in the scene the audience find out what this film is about; being it be about a son who has a spirit/being attached/after him. Low-key lighting is still being used to emphasise the horror genre. In this shot the audience finally see the recognition of disruption in this movie. To where the family now wish to seek help to resolve their disruption.
  • 9. Like one theorist said about every movie having the same 7 characters in it, in this shot we finally meet ‘the helper’. The person who we expect in horror movies to resolve everything as they have had great experience in it before. This part of the trailer just helps give the audience more information about the film as it reinforces many stereotyped ideas used in many horror movies. Eerie music is still being played in the background to simply emphasise what genre this movie is. Lots of quick cuts are used again to show the disruption in this film. In this shot we see the dad looking in either a mirror or windows and seeing his reflection, however their is also a reflection of a mysterious scary being over the top. The use of enigma codes makes the audience want to know who this being is and what they have to do with the movie. Even though the audience are finding little bit about the film they still have no idea what is going on which simply makes them have more suspense. The idea of darkness is repeated in this scene also to reinforce many horror themes. Climatic synchronous music is being used again to make the anticipation and suspense grow more as well as reinforce the genre and theme. ‘Insidious is’ is on the screen once again as all the way through this trailer that is what the audience has been wondering and they still have not found out.
  • 10. More quick cuts are used which match with the fast paced synchronous music to match the fast tempo of the movie. In this shot we see a picture that obviously a child has drawn however the picture is rather disturbing which reinforces to the audience the idea that something is wrong with the child. Another quick shot is used to finally show some type of scary being to the audience as they still have no idea what is after them or affecting their family. This then gives the audience knowledge of what it is. It makes them also question why hasn’t the dad noticed it yet. All these quick helps gain suspense from the audience as the majority of their questions still have not being answered. The next shot, is now silent which really contrasts with the frantic sound being played in the before shots. This gives the effect that this is possibly the last shot/ scene in the trailer as we have had many quick shots before this. We are back to the dark lighting which reinforces the genres stereotypes. Tracking is used in this scene moving forward, to grow the audiences anticipation, as they know something big is about to happen.
  • 11. ‘it’s not the house that is haunted, it’s your son’. By this being said it gives the audience the information they have been waiting for on what is really going on and now they know. However with all the quick cuts showing all the action that has been used it makes the audience want to know everything about the film now that they know what is going on. Lots of quick cuts are used with synchronous sound to match the fast tempo to simply show the audience more interesting scenes from the film without giving away to much. Once again we see the iconic ‘Insidious is’ for the last time.
  • 12. Insidious is everywhere. The audience finally understand why the ‘insidious is’ have been repeated all through the movie. ‘Everywhere April 1’ after having many cuts growing their anticipation and giving the audience many unanswered questions, they are then left with when the movie will come out which basically tells them that if they wish to find out they have to come and watch it. By the trailer not really telling the audience fully what the movie is about it makes the audience want to see the movie even more and helps sell the movie to them. The last shot of the trailer is the institutional information letting the audience know the information they may not be interested in. It lets them know the producers, directors actors etc. It also gives the movies website on there to allow the audience to find out more if they wish too about the movie, which helps create a bigger buzz about the movie.
  • 13. Not only does the trailer reinforce many stereotypes and idea but it too reinforces the idea and thoughts that many theorists had. One theorist that is used within the trailer is Todorov and his theory was that a movie had 5 stages within it, the equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair and new equilibrium. However, in this trailer we only meet 3 of those stages, the equilibrium disruption and recognition or the disruption, as if the trailer showed all 5 stages, it would not leave the audience with the suspense they need in order to go and see the movie. Therefore, by showing 3 of the 5 stages it shows they are using Todorov’s theory within there movie however only using 3 of those stages in order to engager the audience into the film. Barthes theory of enigma codes is used in all movie trailer as this is what creates the suspense and by the audience having so many questions unanswered it makes them want/need to see the movie in order to get their questions answered. Therefore, throughout my analysis I have pinpointed which questions are being asked. Levi-Strauss theory of binary opposites is used many times throughout the trailer. Innocence and Corruption when it comes to the child being possessed. Also a binary opposite of the supernatural Vs. the natural as we see through the trailer that there is almost a battle to defeat the supernatural in order to get their life back to normal. Many other binary opposites are used which I have pinpointed through certain screenshots in my anaylsis.