Thursday, 11 October 2012

Trailer analysis : Fright Night (1985)


Mise-en-scene
  • Night time – typical of horror films as it is dark and there is little life about, and the darkness creates tension as the viewer can’t see alot so they don’t know what will pop up (mysterious feeling is set)
  • Set at a house – adds realism, the viewer can relate to the film, making it seem scarier as they could be in that situation
  • Prop - A metal crucifix cross is held up by one of the main characters – suggests that the film is based around something sinister or unholy
  • Another prop used is a gun. An older main character fires the gun, which conforms to the generic horror convention of weapons and death

Camera shots/angles
  • Zooming in shot of the open window – anticipation, builds tension as the viewer waits to see what is in there. Also could be a POV shot of the villain/werewolf walking towards the window
  • Two shot of main character (Charlie) and his mum, then another two shot of him and his girlfriend – introduces main characters
  • Many clips from film – gives viewers a taste of the film/brief idea of what happens
  • Low angle shot of the werewolf – makes the viewer feel vulnerable and introduces the main situation/what the film is based on

Editing
  • Title of film at the end of the trailer – makes viewer watch the whole trailer to find out what the film is
  • Title is in red jagged font – connotations of blood, evil, sharp edges gives connotations of destruction and pain /weapons
  • Quick cuts between many clips mid way through the trailer – shows what the story line is, implies the film is fast paced (alot of action, which doesn’t conform to normal horror movies)
  • Long zooming in shot of window at beginning – lack of cuts builds tension, makes viewer focus

Sound
  • Narration over the trailer from a man with a deep and scary voice – asks rhetorical questions to viewers which gets them thinking, also gives an idea about what happens in the film
  • Loud diagetic scream – played over the shot of the main character suddenly turning around to see where it came from. This shocks the viewer and makes the viewer want to continue watching to find out what it was. This implies there is terror/pain
  • Non-diagetic noises of the wind – fits in with setting (storm at night), creates eeriness. This is the use of pathetic fallacy to create a specific mood/atmosphere

Genre / how specific audiences are targeted
  • Conforms with Lisa Kernan’s quote, “…a unique form of narrative film exhibition, wherein promotion discourse and narrative pleasures are conjoined” – the trailer is a mini narrative of the film. The meaning of the film/main issue is introduced through many clips from the film
  • Conforms with the normal conventions of a horror trailer, as the story line is shown and characters are introduced



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