When creating a horror trailer, not only the visual aspects hold importance but the sound in which is layered on top of those visual images allows for an ambience and atmosphere to be created and imposed upon the audience. The sound within horror trailers allows for seemingly normal visual media to be transformed into a vision of media that affects the audience emotionally as well as allowing the audience to remember the images as enhanced and frightening, therefore filling the purpose of a trailer and making the audience want to go and watch the subsequent film upon its release. The chosen trailer in which the sound will be analysed for will be "Annabelle 2 Official Trailer - Teaser (2017)" because it uses sound to enhance otherwise simple and basic image structures. Furthermore the trailer uses the sound within the media form to develop existing images to ones in which the audience will remember and create memories with which will in turn lead to the need to watch the subsequent film when it is later released.
Because the above trailer is known as a "Teaser Trailer", the length of the media form is only 1 minute and 6 seconds, or 66 seconds. Within the 66 second trailer (excluding periods of silence) there are 17 individual sound examples which are split into two main sections. The two main sections in which the above trailer is split into is firstly 00 seconds up to 38 seconds with the second beginning at 41 seconds and finishing at 55 seconds, the two sections are split by a period of silence while after the 55 second point comes children's music from 57 seconds up to the 66 second end point. This therefore allows for the audience to receive the trailer in two sections, the first being the set up and initial viewing of who turns out to be Annabelle as well as the section section which is more revealing and active within the trailer.
The initial sound in which the audience hears is crickets, this lasts for 4 seconds (00:00-00:04) and is often used to promote eerie emotions of loneliness and collective fear within a trailer. In addition to this the crickets simply show the outdoors suggesting again the middle of no where or a scene setter within the trailer. The next sound is a clock which instantly states eeriness within a trailer, especially if it is slow and long winding. The clock lasts between 00:04-00:35 and the prolonged sound creates tension within the trailer in which the audience grow in anticipation.
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The next sound heard within the trailer is a child humming, this is done in an eerie but playful way allowing for the audience to get the sense of tension but to know that a child is involved which strikes an emotional bond, this sound period lasts between 00:05-00:36 and creates a fearsome feel. The following sound within the trailer for Annabelle 2 is dialogue, this is the only example within the trailer in which the mother says, "Annabelle". This emotes with the audience because they know that this is the films title and so they know that this is the subject of the entire film once more creating tension within the trailer. This sound lasts from 00:17-00:18
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After dialogue comes the sound of cutlery, this is an ordinary household sound allowing for the audience to relate to this sound. However, the fact that it comes after such fearsome sounds creates confusion with the audience, they see the building tension but it is juxtaposed with the cutlery sound therefore creating a complex and randomised emotion within the trailer. This particular sound lasts from 00:18-00:19. The next sound is the beginning of an eerie sound track which lasts from 00:19-00:28. This is the first sound track within the trailer therefore allowing the audience to know that "something" is coming. Furthermore it creates an eerie ambience within the trailer after the more common cutlery sound.
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After the eerie music comes a mysterious bang, this sound lasts from 00:22-00:24. This bang is subtle within the boundaries of the trailer but adds fear and emphasises upon an already fearsome trailer that is crowing in context and layers. In addition to this, the bang changes the feel of the trailer from a eerie trailer to one which is more "in your face" and prominent. The next sound after the bang is a creaking door, although this sound is normal in everyday life; inputted into a trailer with a growing ambience, the door only adds to the tension within the trailer leading to the audience growing in emotion in relation to the trailer, Annabelle 2. This particular sound within the trailer lasts from 00:25-00:28 seconds and so it is near the mid climax of the trailer.
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After the door creaking comes more eerie music using strings. This element of sound lasts from 00:27-00:38 and creates an ambient sound within the trailer aiding the construction of tension from the audience. Passing the halfway stage within the trailer; the audience are yet to experience the "climax of the trailer" and so are still paranoid as to why this hasnt occurred as of yet. After the eerie strings music comes a period of silence lasting from 00:38-00:41. This period of silence really hits the audience with emotion, lots of sound and then suddenly nothing. This therefore has a similar effect to multiple layered sounds furthermore allowing the tension to reach its ultimate peak.
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With the use of silence building the tension, this crack of the girl within the trailer sets off the second period of the trailer in which the sound is much more active and horror like. The crack lasts from 00:41-00:41 and although short it really creates a active atmosphere within the trailer therefore allowing for the engagement of the audience. After the crack comes more strings, this period of music lasts from 00:41-00:55 and is used as a base layer of sound in which multiple layers are added on top of it. This creates a base in which familiarises itself with the audience who are at this point often in fear and excitement.
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Once more a cracking sound of the female subject within the trailer is used to furthermore the unhuman like features of the girl at the table. The crack is heard from 00:42-00:42 and once more is very short. The use of a small and sharp cracking noise can make the audience jump therefore creating the feeling of a horror film on top of what would otherwise be basic images. After the noise of the female cracking comes the smashing of teacups and household items within the room. This period of sound lasts from 00:44-00:44 and although short it allows for another layer of sound to be textured as well as creating more unusual sounds by which to engage the audience when watching the trailer.
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For the third time within the trailer the cracking noise is heard from the female subject within the horror, this period of sound lasts from 00:45-00:48 and although this is a longer period of cracking it is a repetitive sound and therefore has an effect upon the audience. The audience hear the noise again and knowing that it was bad the previous times, they know that this is a negative sound within the trailer furthermore creating a fearsome ambiance within the trailer. Rattling follows the cracking as household objects move and shake, this period of sound lasts between 00:49 and 00:51 and allows for the audience to moore over sense the mood of the trailer and build an atmosphere of fear while watching the trailer.
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The penultimate sound heard within the trailer is a scream, this period of sound lasts from 00:51-00:54 and allows the audience to realise that the trailer is one of fear and horror. Something bad has happened within the trailer and the audience realise such events therefore allowing for the trailer to reach its purpose of enticing an audience to watch the subsequent film upon its release. The final sound in which can be heard within the Annabelle 2 trailer is the childish music in which the trailer ends with, this sound period lasts between 00:57 and 01:05. The emphasis of the childish music brings the trailer back down to earth resulting in an eerie ending. This form of ending therefore makes the audience want to watch the subsequent film upon is release.
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In conclusion to the analysis of sound within the trailer, "Annabelle 2 Official Trailer - Teaser", we as a group have reached the final thought that sound is paramount in a trailer in terms of enhancement of basic images and media forms. When looking at the trailer, simple and somewhat basic images are used but when layered and textured with sound and music (both diegetic and non diegetic) the trailer becomes something of context and depth in which the audience can both engage with as well as fear from therefore fulfilling the purpose of a trailer, to make the audience want to watch the subsequent film upon its release.