The trailer for Paranormal Activity 2 uses techniques to build suspense and anticipation in viewers. It begins with 10 seconds of blank screen and fuzzy camera effects to mimic the found footage style of the first film. After showing a key scene from the previous movie, it depicts audiences in a theater reacting fearfully to the first film, encouraging viewers to want a similar experience. The trailer cuts between different rooms in a house at night, with subtle sounds and movements hinting at a growing threat, before a loud noise startles and a time jump raises questions. These mystery elements aim to entice viewers to watch the sequel to get answers.

2. The start of the trailer uses a blank screen for around 10 seconds of the trailer. In this 10
seconds every so often the blank screen goes fuzzed as if it is a camera. This to existing fans of
the first Paranormal Activity will straight away draw a link to the first film from this, as we know
in the first one the unique selling point was how the movie was filmed as if the main characters
were filming everything that happened on a camcorder. Therefore from this simple technique
that has been used it creates a suspense to the audience as they are waiting for something to
happen especially as they know Paranormal Activity is a very ‘Jumpy’ ,movie. No sound is being
used at the moment apart from the fuzzing sound when it happens on screen, the pure silence
also helps to grow the audiences anticipation.
After 15 seconds of silence and a blank screen the audience finally get the jumpy start. A
crucial scene from the last movie is shown, the whole scene is shown which takes around
10-15 seconds. By showing the end scene of the last movie at the beginning of the trailer it
shows to the audience that the first movie links very much to the second which by showing
this can be seen as a unique selling point to the audience as people who liked the first
movie will definitely like the second. It also shows that by this movie being linked to the first
all the questions the audience has about the last movie may be answered in this sequel,
which will also be a unique selling point to the audience. The audience can also tell that the
horror movie stereotypical themes will also be represented in this movie as it is a direct
sequel to the first one which had many typical themes in it.
Whilst in the scene, words begin to fade on top. ‘In 2009 You Demanded It’ this talks directly
to the audience which will obviously make them more interested in watching the trailer and
even seeing the movie as they can see the movie is considering what they want. The trailer is
using direct mode of address, to engage with the audience.

3. After some fuzzing from the last shot to the next, the next shot is of an audience sat in the
cinema watching Paranormal Activity, and showing their frightened reactions from watching
it. This is a smart and not a very used often technique. By them putting what the audience
members from the past, have been like when watching the movie in the cinema it not only
makes existing audience members want to relive this experience, it may bring in new
audience members as they are seeing others watching the movie and having a good time
therefore want the same, it is almost like putting reviews in the trailer but more real and
believable. By showing real people it gives a sense of verisimilitude to the reviews etc that
have been said about the movie.
After seeing many shots of audience reactions to the first Paranormal Activity we the
audience are finally shown a first look at the actual movie Paranormal Activity 2. The scene
used is iconic as it is the one used on the official movie poster to the movie. By doing this it
means the audience can finally see the movie poster come to life and it does not show
another part of the movie, not giving anything away. It also shows the audience that the
same themes are being used in the sequel, we see a natural bedroom scene which was very
iconic in the first movie as it has the most important scene involving ghosts etc, within it. We
also see that the theme of camera recordings is still being used. Also at the bottom of the
screen we see what time it is ’12:31’, this use of time indicates a very stereotyped idea in
horror movies that the bad things and darkness begin in the middle of the night.
All through the trailer it has been silent apart from the fuzzed sound that comes in every
now and again, this silence brings anticipation as the audience are waiting for something
scary to happen. This is a stereotypical horror movie idea, silence leading to the opposite.
After the before shot, we are taken to other locations in the house, in this shot we are
outside and the audience are looking for something to happen however there is nothing.
This however emphasises on the time at the bottom corner of the screen as it shows that
the time is the same therefore something is going to happen.

4. With the time once again being the same at the bottom of the screen, we are taken to
another room of the house via cam-recordings. In this shot it is silence once again
however, the pans start to move clanging slightly together, it obviously isn’t wind to the
audience as it is a horror movie. Therefore the moving of the pans indicates something is
going to happen however the audience have no idea what it is or will be. The same
themes are still being represented since the beginning (darkness and silences
representing horror movies)
We are then taken back to the babies room, by his room being repeated and this iconic
scene being on the film posters it shows to the audience that this room/the baby in the
room is very important to the movie. We also see slightly that the arm chair in the room
is ever so slightly moving which simply helps tell the audience some thing is about to
happen. By the dog being in the room it has a extended metaphor or dogs being
protective over young ones and in media pieces it is emphasised that dogs can see
ghosts/spirits.
The next shot fades in ‘nothing can prepare you’ these are simple play on words as
through these shots the audience have been anticipating something to finally happen.
This statement, simply grows the audiences suspense and anticipation.

5. We see both the baby and dog up from the comfortable positions. The dog is barking
at the door/the unknown This reinforces the ideology that dogs can see spirits and
ghosts. The dogs is barking which helps grow the audiences anticipation as the are waiting
for the climax to drop and reveal itself.
The next title page links with the before title page as together they create ‘nothing will
prepare you for what is next’. As this page alone only says ‘For What’s Next’ finally shows
the audience that what they have been anticipating for is about to be revealed now.
We are then taken to another shot of the living room and a quick cut takes us back to
the bedroom with a massive synchronous non-digetic sound which will obviously scare
the audience. However when looking at the time at the bottom of the screen the time
have finally changed, however it has dramatically changed it is now ‘3:53 AM’ from the
original ‘1:41AM’. This uses of enigma codes is going to make the audience question
what has happened in the last 2hours and that is what the audience will need to find
out. Therefore they will have to go watch the movie to find out what happens in those
mysterious 2 hours. We also notice the baby and dog are no longer in the room. All
these enigma codes are what make the audience want to see the film as they have
questions that need answering.

6. We are then taken back to a blank screen, where using the same camcorder fuzzing affect
a 2 fades onto the screen. Obviously telling the audience this is the sequel.
We finally then see the infamous title in its iconic font simply reminding the
audience what movie this is. The 2 is emphasised in the middle and is brighter
to remind that it is the sequel.
The audience are then shown the website to which they can visit to find out more about
the movie. By having a website it is also a marketing tool which can help create a buzz
about the movie. At the bottom of the screen we are also shown the institutional logo
which indicates to audience whether they may like the film as they can gather
assumptions by what other movies the institution makes.

7. Barthes theory of enigma codes is once again being used in this trailer as is has a clear connection to the first film this in
itself creates many questions as they want to know what is going on with this movie and why it has such a clear link to the
first movie. Many other simple enigma codes are used to asked the simple questions of what is happening.
Levi-Strauss theory of Binary opposites are used slightly in this trailer. The most important binary opposite which is used is
children and adults and within this it shows the innocence with a younger age. We see this when we look at the baby in
the cot, whilst we see the haunted woman come into the room.