Film Trailer Analysis 1

“A Nightmare on

Elm Street"

 

'A Nightmare on Elm Street'

 is a horror movie in which produces all the conventions of the “slasher” genre and is very effective in enticing the target audience. After watching the trailer  it’s easy to establish that the movie is a “slasher” as there is a main killer being “Freddie Cruegar” and victims that are clearly being attacked in their sleep. Throughout the trailer there are shots of the killers’ sharp claws that are used to kill the victims in their sleep. This becomes apparent in the trailer when the young girl falls asleep in the bath and “Cruegars” claw approaches her from the water. This indicates the sub genre being a “slasher” movie as well because of the sharp claw which is a weapon associated with “slasher” movies.

From these clips of the killer, the audience can clearly interpret the sub genre of the horror movie and it has effectively used the conventions to intrigue the target audience. In terms of mis-en-scene the lighting used throughout is very dim and dark which gives off an uneasy, evil nature to the audience. For example at the beginning of the trailer when Freddie himself was running from the people that wanted to kill him it was dark and the audience could sense and feel that something unpleasant was going to occur which it did when they burned Freddie in the house. The fire strongly showed evil and you could sense it unravelling in the flames as the target audience. The large house shown in the trailer is another feature which strongly relates to “slasher” movies as well as the young girls used which are common techniques in enticing the target audience as it provides a sexual element for the male target audience.

The actors used throughout the trailer were significant in enticing the target audience. There were a variety of actors but very distinctively you could establish there was a series of girls who were victims of this ferocious killer which would attract members of the male target audience. There were also very young girls used who seem innocent and uncertain of what is happening which is a very traditional technique used with “slasher” movies to entertain the target audience. To add to the effect of innocence among these girls there are two young girls featured in the trailer who add significance as there is a continued use of young girls singing in the background which can relate to this part of the trailer. Straight away in the trailer, the setting is set, where the camera shows what appears to be an old industrial site when suddenly the there is a strong use of non diagetic sound where Freddy runs around the corner before you can understand he is on the run. The narrative of the film is made clear as he is burnt by a group of people who clearly want him dead for a crime that he might not of even committed however the background to the killer is now set and the audience can begin to understand the film. After this opening action scene, the taglines emerge which brings an end to what had happened in the past almost and then quick cutting begins to occur to indicate the aftermath of this tragic death. There is a continued series of cuts that flash from scene to scene which grab the audience’s attention as different settings appear and different elements that are enticing the target audience further and further into the film as the narrative is slowly unveiled effectively. The setting in which the trailer begins in the industrial area is very effective in setting the tone for the film as being evil and dangerous with the dark nature of the industrial area shows. The chasing pack who are after Cruegar at the beginning of the trailer have weapons such as baseball bats which show their intentions and immediately give off a cruel impression of the film which consequently leads to the mob throwing what appears to be a fire grenade that devastatingly burns Cruegar to death which sets an horrific tone to the film and grabs the attention of the target audience immediately. As you see Cruegar burn to death, the facial expressions of the mob are very distinctive especially with one of the women in the mob who looks very upset and hurt as she sees this traumatic death unveil whereas the men seem to look very serious and as if justice is being served. This use of facial expressions is very effective when relating to the films narrative.

The camera is used effectively from the very beginning of the trailer as the camera cuts from different viewpoints of a certain location through quick cutting. The setting shown is dull, black and has elements of mystery that portrays a situation where society does not want to be and the way in which the main killer Cruegar appears into this mysterious location is very effective in showing the dull nature of the film to the target audience. Through the different shots at the beginning of the trailer you can see the way the director is trying to give off a strong representation of the area which appears to be a derelict site which clearly is not somewhere you will find people. It adds the element of mystery and darkness to the film through the different shots of this old, derelict industrial site.  There is a strong use of distinctive close up shots where the characters expressions and personality can be clearly distinguished which immediately gives off a evil mood and tone to the film as the mob burn Cruegar to death with some showing strong emotion and others a sense of justice. Nevertheless the technique is very well done in giving off a strong tone and meaning to the film. Through close up shots the element of excitement is more distinctive among the target audience as they feel more involved through theses close shots of the characters getting a real interpretation of their personalities. The cameras’ strong tendency to use the show the location through the different shots whilst also including the characters is continued throughout the trailer. Around half way through the trailer there is a long shot of Cruegar where the lighting is significant in amplifying the figure in the background of the shot whilst also showing the location which appears to be a boiler room full of pipes which again adds an element of mystery and danger which is a good effect in enticing the target audience. The use of camera continues to use the distinctive use of close up shots of the characters which helps the target audience feel the excitement of the film more and add further elements of danger which further intrigues the target audience.

The non diegetic sound used at the beginning of the trailer matches well with the scene itself as the action begins. As Cruegar runs from the angry mob the non diegetic sound is used gives of the feeling of action which is very relevant to Cruegars’ escape. In contrast the use of diegetic sound is relevant at the beginning of the trailer as it gives the audience more of an understanding about the characters where Cruegar appears to have been accused of something in which he never did. Through the use of diegetic sound here you get an understanding of fear on Cruegars’ perspective as well as anger and hatred from the mobs viewpoint. This dialogue is telling the past to the story which is very important for the target audience so they can understand the film and its ads excitement through the characters strong emotions. Throughout there is the distinctive use of the non diegetic sound of a young girl singing which combines with dialogue and voiceovers to add further effect throughout for the target audience. The combination of the voiceovers with the young girl singing is very effective in enticing the target audience further as it adds an element of mystery to the film as it goes against danger and evil with a young girl singing which is going to confuse the target audience. The music is peaceful however which contrasts the nature of the psychopathic killer Cruegar and the use of dialogue over the top gives the audience more of an understanding about the films narrative which will further intrigue the target audience to want to watch the film.

As the trailer goes on there are various techniques which add elements of tension and danger for the target audience. The fast paced cuts used throughout are very effective in adding tension as they correlate well with the sound which adds danger and excitement for the audience. There is only one significant strap used in the trailer which displays the directors’ name after the beginning of the trailer once the history of the clear has become apparent. The editing remains consistent throughout as there are a continued series of fast cuts and the occasional use of a dissolve which adds tension to the trailer. From watching the trailer throughout you can see that each shot never lasts more than about three seconds which is a common technique used in trailers to keep the audience captivated and focused on the film and it reflects the films narrative with fast paced distinctive cuts which relates to the killer himself being a character who is constantly on the move.

You can conclude that the overall effectiveness of the trailer is to a very high standard as it fully captivates the interests of the target audience and reflects the films narrative very effectively. It used typical conventions and techniques for slasher film trailers to great effect and is very clear and easy for the target audience to relate to the film and therefore watch it.