Enigma

Narrative Enigmas In Trailers

Trailers• Sinister https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYxydrVlDk

• The Conjuring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k10ETZ41q5o

• Oculus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYJrxezWLUk

• Dead Silence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b_HVtHmK30

What are the narrative conventions? (story conventions)

There is one common theme that supernatural horrors tend to use, which involves a home where the previous residents had died there and a new family moves into that home. This causes paranormal events.

Dead Silence Oculus

Sinister The Conjuring

What is the narrative structure? (how are they presenting the story to you and why in this

order?)• Usually in the equilibrium, introduces the setting, characters and their lifestyle this is a

introduction to the audience.• During the disequilibrilium, they show the parts where all the things go wrong and the most

entertaining scenes. • Usually the enigma is what happens to the family? Did they move out? Will it continue to

happen?

Dead Silence Oculus Sinister The Conjuring

What unrestricted narrative is there? (what do they want you to know)

• The unrestricted narrative in supernatural horror films are the parts that are basic and explicit. Such as what makes it horror or what type of paranormal activities happen/What causes it to happen?

•The begining of the trailer lets the audience know that something is wrong with the mirror and that it causes the paranormal activities because it makes the character see things that dont really happen in real life.

• A girl being dragged reveals that the paranormal ‘thing’ is caused by a demon.

Oculus

The Conjuring

What restricted narrative is there? (what do they not want you to know and why?)

• They also dont show much of the creature but if they do then it is in quick pace so it doesnt give too much away as they would prefer to leave that when the audience will watch the film.

• In ‘The Conjuring’ the demon is only shown for 1 second and its only half of his face.

• In ‘Dead Silence’ the demon is very blurry but still visible for the audience to see so it catches their attention and fit the purpose of a horror.

What are the enigmas the audience is left with?

There are different enigma’s to every supernatural horror.

•Why does this older women always appear when the dolls appear.• What does she have in common with them.• Is she the villan ?• The reason why she is part of the enigma is because she doesnt appear often in the trailer and we dont see her full face.

Dead Silence

• Why do they look like a younger version of the teenagers?• What does the mirror really do • The reason why we dont know is because there are so many events happening in a quick pace that the audience cant see clearly what specificly is happening to them.

Oculus

What are the enigmas the audience is left with?

• Where did that creature come from and how did it get into that house. • Why didnt the previous residents try to get rid of the tapes when they knew its very harmful. • Why did the father continue to investigate even though he knew it was dangerous and could harm his

family.

Sinister

•What made it so disturbing. • Why does the women see things that others don’t.

The Conjuring