Research and Planning: Trailer Analysis 1

TRAILER ANALYSIS 1

The first teaser trailer that I will be analyzing is the Grudge III which came out in 2009. It was rated a 15 and Toby Wilkins directed it. I think that looking into this trailer in more depth will give me a larger insight into the media language that horror films which will help me when making and directing my teaser trailer.

GENRE

Although this film is classed as a horror/thriller, the certificate is still only at a 15. This is probably because they want to be able to target a larger audience. According to Steve Neale's theory, he states that films are made up of repetition and differences. Repetition is present in this trailer. We see this because the stereotyped horror elements stand out clearly. For instance the classic soundtrack which builds up speed and sound as we watch to build up tension, and the fast editing that has been used. Also, the story line is fairly similar to a lot of horror films since there are victims and then the villain . In contrast to this, we see differences such as in 'The Grudge' trilogy, the villain is a female character which isn't usually the case within a lot of films.

REPRESENTATION

Laura Mulvey's theory is that everything on the other end of the camera is shown at a male's perspective. This trailer supports this, but doesn't at the same time. For example, in this trailer, all the victims are female apart from a couple of male characters that we see. This suggests the vulnerability and weakness that women have as apposed to the man shown who doesn't seem bothered about all the deaths that are occurring which supports the stereotype that men think they are more dominating and fearless. In contrast with Mulvey's theory, most men would expect a male character to be the villain, and in these films, the villain remains being female.

NARRATIVE

Alike all trailers, we can follow Todorov's theory. This is because in this trailer we see part of the equilibrium which shows the audience parts of what the film is about and what to expect. Then we see many occurances of distruption and peaks that are part of the film. These are what grab the audience's attention and makes them want to go out and buy the movie or go out to the cinema and watch it. Alike Todorov's theory no climax or ending is shown in the trailer, since it keeps people watching on the edge of their seat and gets the tension rising. The story line behind the Grudge III is generally just a carry on from the first two but new victims are used as they are trying to get rid of the villain.

AUDIENCE

The target audience for this film is for people over the age of 15. This is because of footage which contains:

• sex and nudity 
• violence
• gore
• frightening and intense scenes

I don't think a particular gender would watch this movie as there isn't very bias approach to specifically male or female. On the other hand, I think that this film, with it being the third, the audience will be similar to the previous 2.

MEDIA LANGUAGE

Mise-En-Scene

•  Most of the teaser trailer consists of footage which has been shot in low key lighting which is very stereotypical for a horror film. Throughout the trailer it builds up lots of tension and makes the audience stay on the edge of their seats. 
• A lot of locations that are shown aren't open. They show very isolated places such as houses/lifts and solitary rooms which makes you seem more involved with what's going on. In addition you feel as thought you're making a stronger connection with the characters and this has a bigger effect on you as it's as though it's brainwashing the audience.
• The facial expressions of most characters shown in the trailer give the impression of shock/disturbance and as though they are being tortured. This also is what is stereotyped of horror films since the facial expressions of characters in a comedy would be more positive and happy. 
• The costumes are modern and the setting of the house also shows that the latest film is modern day. Strangely though, the majority are dressed in white, even the villain where as usually there is a distinct contrast for example; good = white, bad = black. 

Editing

• The trailer starts with a straight cut from the starting green screen telling the audience that the trailer has been approved to a black screen. 
• It looks like a slight wipe has then been used to brush the next shot on screen. This difficult to make out since it jump cuts to white and back again first.
• A series of jump cuts are then used. These make the tension begin to build as it just pin points the intense parts. 
• A straight cut it used at 00.15 to show Sarah Michelle Gellar outside a house and then a fade to black has been used before straight cutting back. 
• After we see the hand mysteriously edging out of her head, a series of jump cuts begin again.
• At 00.35, another fade to black has been used but it happens really quickly so it's difficult to tell the transition for definate.
• 3 jump cuts then occur and it then dissolves to the young boy sat on the floor and again to the women in bed. This is again really fast but it keeps the pace going so that the audience are kept intruiged. 
• Straight cuts are used a couple of seconds later and then speed up and turn into jump cuts.
• At 00.52 another disolve is used which again keeps the flow and helps the audience follow the trailer better.
• After that the teaser trailer mainly consists of straight cuts and jump cuts. Having a mixutre emphasises certain parts and it creates a more intense atmosphere. 

Sound

• First the clip starts of with a voice over which is non diegetic sound, this is consistent throughout the clip and helps the audience understand what is going on more clearly. It also works very well with the captions that appear on screen.
• Then a mixture of diegetic and non diegetic sound begins as the jump cuts are being played. You have screaming from the characters that can be heard, but this is accompanied by sound effects which have been added on later which give it a tense atmosphere.
• After the second time the voice over has spoken, you hear more dialogue has been used but this time it acts as a voice in the characters head. This would be classed as asynchronous sound. 
• More non diegetic sound effects are then heard again. 
• Later on in the clip at about 00.30 some incidental music is played to build the tension.
• At around 00.35 the score begins which gradually gets louder and louder which is accompanied by diologue from the characters, the narrative voice over and additionally thriller sound effects like banging (these could be diegetic, I can't specifically tell) and zapping noises. This becomes loud at around 00.53 just before the sound effect of a cat screeching or a eerie door is heard. 
• Screaming from characters and the voice over then speak again around 1.06 and spooky non diegetic sound effects are used till the end of the clip to keep the tension alive. 

Cinematography

• In the first lot of jump cuts that we see most of the shots close ups since as they flick through, what the audience see are glimpses of strangers whilst the screaming can be heard. We also see a low angle mid shot of a youngish girl reaching our way. Although we can tell from the way she's shown, that she's not the villian and in fact would be quite vulnerable, I think a low angle has been used to make it look more as though she is reaching out of us, immediately engaging us with the trailer. 
• There is a slight zoom as we see the person in the shower.
• A high angle is shown of the shadow on the wall suggesting power and it instantly makes us feel worthless and helpless compared to it which again makes us feel as though we are part of the trailer in a way. 
• The camera quickly tilts to show Sarah Michelle Gellar as we see her at a mid close up so we can see her confused expressions clearly. This then changes to a wide shot showing a long shot of Gellar so the audience can visually see the difference in size between the character and the house. This makes her look really unable and unpowerful.
• The first time we see the villain move is when she comes down the stairs on her stomach. We see a mid shot here but the camera is slightly tilted at a low angle to show that she has the dominance.
• A close up is then used on the victims head as we see the hand appear out of it. This has been done for effect as it shocks us and keeps us watching. The framing is quite tight here as well. 
• When we see the girl in the lift, we can sort of class it as a two shot as we see the young posessed looking boy also in the clip in the reflection. 
• An extreme close up has then been used on the boys eye as it advertises the second film. We see here that the colours red and black have been used to suggest further danger and intense moments throughout the trailer.
• As more jump cuts are shown, we see a mixture of close ups of the villains face to shock us and then mid close ups of the victims to see their body language and facial expressions. These then for a couple of seconds turn into mostly head shots which have a really good effect when they flicker through. And we then see a mid close up of the victim as her turns around and we see how scared she looks.
• A long shot and a high angle have then been used to show her vulnerabilty and desperation for it all to stop. By showing this, it creates sympathy for the character but it also makes the audience want to see what happens if they haven't already seen the previous two films. 
• The camera slightly crabs upwards to show the hand reaching for the foot which is above her. The framing tightens and the camera focus' as a close up on both the hand and foot before going back to a mid shot of the young girl screaming.
• A wide shot is then used of a light corridor where we get to see the villain's whole body. The way the girl holds herself and the way she's presented shows that she's abnormal and haunted. 
• A mid close up is then shown of the hand coming round the door and is followed by more mid close ups by the latest victims in the 3rd film. 
• The framing then closes in on the young boy who is sat on the floor in a ball, and shows him as a mid close up so we can see the fright and how scared he is in his facial expressions. 
• A mid close up is then shown of the girl villain, as the jump cuts start, theres a slight low angel looking up at her to show power. 
• The camera then crabs the stairs as there is movement from the villain. Since the camera and base are moving as well as the character, it gives a more dramatic effect.
• When there is a shot of someone drowning in the bath, it has been taken at a slight high angle to show death or panic. This creates a more tense atmosphere and gets the audience asking more questions about what's going on.
• Theres a close up of the man in the car and his reaction as we see him move back and see the young ghost like boy sitting next to him. 
• The close up of the hatch we see with the brown haired lady and the villain in the room is a good shot as we can only see through that small gap which makes the scene look more intense as it appears like the framing is a lot tighter than it actually is.