Film Trailer Analysis: Ouija

In the beginning of the trailer we are introduced to a couple of characters through the use of an establishing shot of a house, this is accompanied by a soft melodic piano tune which makes the scene seem innocent but also eerie. The two characters share a small bit of dialogue which helps emphasise their relationship as a whole and allows us to relate more to the characters. As the scene develops we see a closeup of one of the characters however the camera seems to be focusing on something situated behind her as the door almost seems to move by itself which makes the scene more tense for the audience and also suggests that something may happen to this character. As the character heads upstairs we see an object on the floor, seeing as the camera pays particular attention to it we assume that it has a pivotal role in the film. This is further shown when we see the character die suddenly after looking through the object, this is shown to help immerse the audience into the trailer and adds effect on the object shown.

This is followed by the familiar Universal logo which may help to persuade the audience into watching the film as they may link the film with other successes associated with the film company. The scene shifts to the supposed funeral of the character form the beginning as her friends are shown mourning her death, however their conversation also acts as an informer on what the film is about as one of the characters whom we assume to be the protagonist due to her involvement from the start stating that there is "still a way to contact them". The characters relationship is also highlighted as we can see them being a close knit group and so we can empathise a lot more with their characters as we may be able to relate more to them.

Afterwards we are shown an over the shoulder shot of a Ouija board which helps set the movies storyline to the audience whilst there is a sudden rise in volume of the non-diagetic sounds to help showcase the board more to the audience. This is further emphasised by the captions used whilst the scenes play on in the background, including some background on the board and why it was used. The main characters are introduced fully to the audience as they gather around the board, with the protagonist supposedly calling out to their friend. One of the captions suggests that it is used to communicate with the'other' side, adding emphasis on what we assume to be where the dead are but keeping it a mystery to the audience as to whether or not it will work. As the scene develops we see a birds eye view shot of the characters, which makes them seem somewhat vulnerable to the audience and emphasises that what they are doing is dangerous to a degree. Non-diagetic sound is constantly accompanied with the movement of the Ouija board as it it used, which helps make the scene tense to watch and adds as sense of evil into what they are doing.

Furthermore the entity in the board is shown to have significant power as it is able to turn off lights at will, the entity is shown to possess some sort of revenant form as we can see it move behind the situated characters. This is typical of a horror movie as the danger the characters usually face is often not seen as it helps add effect onto what happens to the characters. The trailer also includes the idea that the producer was involved with the 'Texas chainsaw massacre' to help appeal further to the audience of the horror genre. As the scene gradually carries on we see that the character from the start originally found the board and thus we as the audience link the board directly with her death. The protagonist then mentions that she "woke 'something' up", suggesting that the entity may not be human and so may be dangerous to the characters. As the scene continues we are once again shown some sort of revenant whom seems to be haunting the characters with the same message 'hi friend', this allows us to empathise with the characters more as we can see them to be in genuine danger and so we can relate more to the characters. With each sighting of the entity the sound gradually gets louder, helping to possibly infer that the creature is getting closer to them and this is showcased to a higher extent when they are told to break the 'connection'.

As the scene carries on we hear the protagonist state that they have to play the game "one last time", this acts to possibly foreshadow the deaths of the characters whilst also leaving it open to the possibility of saving themselves. The scene gradually becomes more intense as we see a long shot of them using the board whilst we are shown an intriguing shot of a bloody child walking down the stairs, which contrasts the innocence of a child with the idea of danger caused by the blood it smears on the wall. This may be a visual metaphor as to the characters as they may resemble the innocence whilst the entity is the blood which is connected to them. The scene constantly uses non-diagetic sound to add effect onto what is happening and as we see a chair move we can relate the film to other films in the paranormal style of horror movies, which may make it appeal to a wider array of people.

The scene develops further when we see a closeup of the protagonist where she looks through the eye piece of the board much like the character at the start, suggesting some sort of event is about to happen. This is then changed to a pov shot of the protagonist as she looks towards the chair which moved where we see the form of the entity as it attacks the group, the scene picks up pace where we can see the various attacks on the characters which helps add emphasis on the danger they are in whilst also enticing the audience into watching the movie.