The Sixth Sense Film Trailer Analysis

When the trailer starts, we are shown an accident on the street long with a traffic jam. There is a police officer lighting a torch, to maybe show that they are looking for evidence at the scene. We are instantly aware that the film is from the psychological and supernatural sub-genre, through that takes place between Cole and his mum in the car.

Sound
First we are introduced to the torch which is lit up by the police officer. The sound of the fire, sparkles and ambulance and police sirens alarm us that a serious incident has happened. When Cole begins to explain about the old lady who was killed in the accident and his mum asks whether he can see her and he replies back saying ‘Yes’ there is use of digetic sound and then a 8 second silence from Cole, before he continues to say ‘She is standing next to my window’. From this point we are given a better insight of the plot-line, that Cole has a sixth sense of seeing dead people and has the ability to communicate with their spirits. This later on supported by the fact that Cole openly admits it when he is quoted whispering ‘I see dead people walking around like they are regular people’ to his psychologist Dr Malcolm Crowe. We are also shown as the target audience that Cole does not discuss this issue with his mother I don’t tell her things because she doesn’t look at me like everybody else, and I don’t want her to, I don’ t want her to know’. This quotation is significant because it shows that Cole only has faith in Dr Crowe and no one else, not even his mum because he feels she does not understand him. There are constant used between each scene, which overpowers the booming sound when Cole reveals his secret. In addition, there is constant non –digetic background music which is used throughout most of the trailer and again adds to the atmosphere which is tense and chilling to create suspense and so showing a typical convention of a horror film trailer. When Cole’s mother asks Cole ‘what’s wrong’ we get the incentive of a caring and worried mother, trying to help and protect her son. We are then introduced to the psychologist when Dr Crowe asks Cole ‘Do you ever talk to your mum about how things are?’ Here, we get the initial point that Dr Crowe is here to help Cole and guide him through this time. There is faint digetic sound of the shopping trolley to create realism. Odd stabs are used to make sure the audience remain fearful and engaged. The background music gets increasingly louder and at a faster pace as Cole explains his secret in more depth, which shows how terrifying this is for him, which allows us as the target audience to be fearful with Cole. When we see Cole in his room, looking at the string puppets, the music stops and we just hear Cole whispering more about his secret, until the sudden stab is used again, and Cole jumps back and screams, this is the first encounter we see of one of the dead people Cole sees, on the floor placing a box in front of him, and this time the non-digetic sound is a different type of background music to the first few scenes of the trailer. The music is more at a balanced volume and speed. The sound is tense, but not as the first few scenes, it is more mysterious. When Cole says, ‘What if they don’t want my help?’ The non-digetic sound gets increasingly louder, giving the impression that the dead people are actually evil, as Cole says before ‘they want me to do things for them’ which can be interpreted in many ways (referring to evil ways or positive good ways). The door slightly opening but then creaking loudly is adding to the scary effect as we do not see anyone but we are aware of what it could be. Digetic sounds of the beeping from the car as it comes towards Dr Crowe, then there is a stab used on to the next cut when he says ‘is there anyone there?’ again makes the target audience frightened. Suspense is created through again the use of digetic sound when someone is banging on the door. The gun shot is used through the use of speed when another final stab is used again to then cut to the next scene which ‘The Sixth Sense’.

Camera/Editing
There is a two shot of Cole and his mother talking in the car which presents to us a conversation, and in this case we are introduced to Cole’s secret. The high angle shot of the balloon floating up to the ceiling, could indicate spiritually where the dead go, after they leave the world, they go to heaven. A long shot is used as Cole and his psychologist are walking down the street. This then leads to a two shot of Cole and Dr Crowe, standing still trying to solve what’s wrong with Cole. In addition this is followed by a long shot of the first dead body Cole sees, which allows us to get a sense of what Cole is going through, and be able to feel the same fear as what Cole is feeling when he runs away from it. A close up shot is used on Cole’s face when he says ‘I see dead people’ shows the terrifying and serious side to his current situation. There is a long shot of Cole, when we see him through a few puppets, which is then followed by a medium shot of when Cole hands a box in his hands and is walking in a room, with a few other people. An extreme long shot of Cole Standing in the isle, and Dr Crowe sitting down on the bench in the church talking about what interpretations there could be and why Cole has a ‘sixth sense’ and whether it is good or bad. It also allows us as the viewer to give a better insight in the scenery. This then takes it to an ‘over the shoulder’ shot where they are still having the same conversation; we can see this taking place behind Cole. There is another two shot of Cole stroking the dead man’s head in his armchair. This is then again followed by another ‘over the shoulder’ shot from the same conversation as before with Cole and Dr Crowe, but this time it is shown from behind Dr Crowe's shoulder, this shows the significance and importance of both characters roles. Finally this is ended by another two shot of Cole and the doctor when Cole whispers ‘please make them leave’ and the doctor says ‘I’m working on it’. There are a lot of fast cuts used throughout the whole trailer. In the middles of the film trailer there is a montage of quick speedy cuts which is a typical and traditional convention of a horror film trailer, which adds to the tension to make it more effective. The repeated stab at the end is used, which is also another repeated convention of a horror film trailer.

Mise-En-Scene
As the film trailer opens, we see police cars, police officers, ambulances and sirens and so we are immediately aware that a serious incident has occurred. We are introduced to Cole’s home which is very plain and dull; we do not ever get introduced to any man or father figure at this point, only until Dr Malcolm Crowe enters, who is Cole's psychologist. The clothing that Cole wears is normal for a little boy but the colours range from dull combinations such as black, brown and grey. This can connect with the fact, that he is not happy at this point in his life and feels like he needs someone to help him. During the course of the course of the trailer we see a church, which is significant as it represents that Cole comes from a religious background where his mother is taking Cole there to show his belief in his religion by singing in the church choir and to teach him good morals. It also allows us to understand that the church is there as a support line for Cole, that he should always keep his faith even in his darkest moments. The puppets that he sees hanging symbolize the dead people he sees hanging at certain times during the film. When Cole sees the dead girl under the bed and pushes towards him a box, we are then aware from this point that the dead people that he can only see want him to do things for them. We get the impression that they want to Cole to stay connected with them, so he can help and communicate with them. The shot that we see of someone banging on the door is a typical convention of a horror film trailer; it creates that feel of fear and suspense.