The first image of the trailer, which is a usual convention

of most trailers despite the genre is the titles. The

disclaimer in the title displays which audience the film is
suitable for. Due to the trailer being horror the age
restriction is R. The other title is the production
company intrepid pictures this is for credit for the
production companies but also for exposure as they
may become more popular once recognised.
The next image of the trailer suggest equilibrium. This is the first time we see a
plot narrative taking place. The shot is an establishing shot of a house. The
non diegetic piano keys connotes a peaceful tranquil situation. The long shot
of the family home also suggests this to the audience, The audience can also
relate to the theme of peace due to the location being a family home, one that
many of the audience member can relate to however due to the audience
knowing the genre due to the age restriction and the name, it can also make
the audience members feel nervous because of the equilibrium to start with.
Also highlighted by todorovs narrative theory suggesting that all plots have a
five part structure that follows - A state of equilibrium, A disruption of the
equilibrium, a recognition, a quest, the restoration of the equilibrium.

The next shots are transitioned with simple jump cuts, suggesting nothing
is out of the ordinary (another sign of the equilibrium) while the non
diegetic mellow piano plays in the background. The use of mise-en-scene
and props are used here to suggest themes of romance. The images of
the candles, the champagne flutes and the ring box all connote marriage
and love. This highlights a time of happiness and peace thus connoting
the idea of the equilibrium. The warmer lighting suggest seductive,
romantic underlying ideas. But this idea of romance is an non-stereoypical
genre convention for the horror genre. But suggests to the audience the
idea of romance will be based around the two central characters.

the next clip introduces the characters through the use of close up over
the shoulder shots. While we are seeing these shots we can also hear a
non diegetic voice over of a male voice saying i just wanted to tell you
something - you were my girl this tells us that these two characters are in
fact in love and we can see through the use of the camera and mise-enscene that they're the main characters. We do not know as of yet who the
hero or heroine is going to be due to their equal status. The romance
aspect is still unusual in a film within this genre but also allows the
audience to build an emotional relationship with the characters making the
trailer have much more of an impact as many people can relate.
The next shot of the characters highlights again this peace due to them holding
each other in an embrace. However the sound has a big impact on the disruption
of this peace and equilibrium. The piano keys do not stop but also added to the
non diegetic sound effect is a loud bang causing a jump scare. This is the first type
of usual convention in the trailer, and unusually it is quite late on causing
anticipation from the viewer. The large banging noise cause the characters on
screen to also stop and look scared making the audience feel slightly on edge as
well. The sound of the piano keys also continues after this now giving them a new
meaning. They act as something rather sinister rather than peaceful as the banging
noise is the first sign of the disruption of the equilibrium. Which is also the first sign
of horror due to the audience being jump scared over this.
The next shot jump cuts into darkness, while the sound is now a creaky old swing
set, and a voiceover of the women voice saying What is that This shows the
concern of the female character leaving the audience to now feel concerned as
well as the trailer suggests that the film will follow them on the journey as they
figure out what is happening. Due to the pace of the trailer so far of being very slow
it makes the audience anticipate what is to come due to them knowing the genre
and the usual conventions of a horror as being very fast paced and scary. The use
of titles are then used effectively here as it says inspired by true events this
instantly makes the viewer more scared as whatever is to happen has actually
happened in real life making it more possible for something like this to happenn to
them therefore making it more surreal and scary.

The next show is a synchronous match to the diegetic noise of the

swing set we have been hearing. We see the swing set in a pov of the
characters also building more of a emotional relationship with the
audience. The medium shot we see the swing set in give a more
sinister look as it is close to the house and the characters, and the
creaky sound of the swing set is enhanced when we see the location.
The desolate, abandoned looking area connotes maybe something
bad has happened there or something bad is about to happen. Due to
the lack of people around and the environment. Themes of isolation
and danger usually occur in abandoned desolate areas, like this of the
swing set.
The use of titles has again been used here to enhanced the viewers
understanding of the trailer and of the narrative. The titles help tell the
story, but also make it seem more scary due to the language used. for
example We always tell ourselves. theres nothing to fear, but
sometimes were wrong. the direct mode of address with the word we
which directly addresses the audience making them instantly feel
immersed and a part of that experience. The use of colouring here
gives a sinister feel due to the black with the misty white colour giving a
isolated feeling which links back the title of the trailer the strangers it
all feel very foreign and the tiles make the audience feel like they
should be scared.

The use of shadows and lighting in this shot really emphasise

the fear. The source lighting is coming from the wall light
giving a homely feel but is soon contrasted with the dark
shadow of the female character, who is very victimised in this
trailer. The male authoritative voice over saying i haven't
heard a dog bark or a car pass, nothing. suggests he's
dominant over the situation as he tries to understand whats
going on while the female character very much is helpless as
she locks the door.

The next shot of the female character again appears to be very helpless
and victimised, this is a usual convention of horror films and is very
apparent in this trailer. Unlike many other horror film trailers we can
actually see the disruption of equilibrium which is a face in the darkness
behind the women who is yet to notice a killer stood behind her. The
location is again the house showing that anyone can be affected as it
happens in their own home. The lighting is very low lit and suggest in the
darkness there are the kilers giving off bad connotations with the dark. The
pace of editing is very slow here making the audience anticipate the build
up of whats too come. Although if the slow editing continues audience
could get bored due to the nature of most horror films being fast paced.
The trailer seems to pick up its pace after the shot before. The non diegetic
sound effects come in after the silence and long take of the shot before.
This is when we begin to see the climax of the trailer and the climax of what
we can assume the film. We begin to see the problems which in this case
of this trailer are the killers with masks on. In this shot we can see a killer
stood in a desolate barn outside the house. It shows that nobody is around
and the killer stands out against the dull colouring of the barn, showing
they are of significance. In the next shot we see the same barn but the killer
is gone making the whole idea more scary due to the fact they have
disappeared and are still lurking around. This gives the theme of stalking
which is a common convention in some horror films.
As the use of music changes, we can sense a different part of the trailer coming
or in the film a different part of the five part narrative structure. In this shot the
non diegetic rumbles from the previous scene turns into a diegetic turning of
the vinyl on a record player. The audience can get a sinister feel from this
though due to what they're seeing on screen, the male character who at this
point is acting as a hero as he edges towards the source of the sound. At this
point we see the part of the narrative structure where the protagonists the male
and female try to restore the equilibrium, and the camera switches between pov
shots and long shots to really immerse the viewers in the situation making the
trailer moocher engaging and more likely to serve its purpose of selling the film
to the target audience.

The diegetic sound of the broken record continues onto the next fast pace
scenes of the most scariest parts of the films compiled into a sequence to
highlight just how scary the film is. Themes of violence come into the plot
when the use of mise-en-scene make use of props to show the acts of
violence, the knife hear suggests self defence and highlights the
restoration of the equilibrium but due to the compilation of the trailer,
everything is out of sequence so the audience still don't know if equilibrium
is restored. Making them more likely want to go see the film.

The end of the trailer is concluded with the title screen displaying the title of
the film so the viewers know what the film is called so they can go and see
it. The non diegetic broken record sound effect stops and is replaced with
a voice over in a women vice saying why are you doing this? with a reply
of because you were home giving some more small details about what the
film is about. suggesting the killers want to kill them because they're at
home. The title screen is quite chilling as it has a faint demonic face in the
background with the misty font saying the strangers the name of the film.