Film Trailer Analysis 3

“Friday the 13^th”

“Friday the 13^th” is another popular slasher movie in which has attracted a very large target audience. It uses the codes and conventions of slasher movies very effectively and the films narrative is very well structured. You can clearly get the representation of evil and darkness from first impressions of this trailer as the trailer creates tension throughout which really does effectively intrigue the target audience. Right from the beginning where the scene of the lake is set followed by the small house the genre of the film is signalled to the target audience as the location appears in the middle of nowhere. This is extremely common for slasher movies as the location does frequently tend to be somewhere where “no one can hear your screams.” This is effective in adding tension and horror to the situation and makes the victims seem even more vulnerable and the killer more ferocious. There is a profound use of darkness where light seems to act as “the way out” as it often does in many slasher movies as you can see the torch lights being used in the early points in the trailer as well as flashing lights. They offer a way out or contrast to the darkness which represents evil and danger.

The trailer is effective in how it cuts from setting the scene early in the trailer of the lake and the small hut to inside the hut where the first character is featured and the non diagetic sound adds that extra element of mystery. When the scene of the lake was set the sound was peaceful and of birds chirping which is a common convention in slasher film trailers but the sudden cuts to the more intimidating, mysterious background music relates to the darkness which has just entered the trailer. About 20 seconds in there is a medium close up shot of a person pushing a door open in an intimidated, reluctant fashion where the diagetic sound of the door creaking adds extra tension. The shot gives off the impression that something may be lurking in this house and it intrigues the target audience to what horrors lie within. About half a minute into the trailer the young, seemingly innocent girl appears to be running with her torchlight away from something. This is very common among slasher movies where young females are running away from danger as it intrigues the male members of the target audience being as the females are frequently quite attractive. The torchlight is again being shown in the darkness and gives off that distinctive impression of a way out for the girl. The camera use in this shot is also very effective as it shakes in conjunction to her running which is really effective in luring in the target audience as it gives off that impression that the audience can really get a feel for the girls fear.

The films narrative is being unveiled to the target audience slightly as the girl continues to search and be horrified about her situation in which she is stuck in an area with a ferocious killer. This continues throughout the trailer and really does intrigue the target audience into thinking what the horror she is running from is. 40 seconds into the trailer there is a cut into the first strap line of the trailer where the producers name “Michael Bay” is featured although the background continues to be dark and keeps to the movies representation very well and therefore the line runs smoothly rather than disrupting the flow of the trailer. The editing of the trailer really picks up from here where the pace increases of the cuts drastically as the horror slowly unfolds about the killer. The trailer is however well structured in how it does not give too much away about the film; it only gives the target audience an idea about the narrative and gives away enough to grab the audiences’ attention as do many slasher movie trailers. There is another prominent strap line featured 46 seconds into the trailer where it reads; “and the directors of Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” where the words “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are emphasised in the bold white font and really stand out to the target audience. Yet again this a common but very powerful technique by directors when making movie trailers as in grabs the attention of more members of the target audience and its not even talking about the film itself which is very effective. This is because some slasher movie lovers can clearly relate to “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and being as there are thousands of fans of the film out there, they are going to therefore being intrigued by this film, being produced by the same director therefore they can expect the same high standard. This technique therefore is very successful in getting more members of the target audience to take interest in the film as other members of the target audience can relate to similar films and therefore want to give this one a go.

There is then a very brief shot due to the fast paced editing as mentioned before of a police officer standing in next to his vehicle with torchlight. This shows how dark and intimidating the location is that even a member of authority needs some sort of light to protect themselves from the darkness. It also replicates danger as the officer would not be there unless something was wrong so the audience can start to understand that the horror is starting to be unveiled. There is then a distinctive shot of the girl running away into the darkness where the camera then zooms in on an old sign which reads, “Camp Crystal Lake” which furthermore unravels the narrative for the target audience as they can see that they are in a camp and it seems apparent that the young victims are unaware of this. The camera zooms in on the sign with the very high pitched sound in the background getting louder which raises the audiences attention at this stage which makes the sign seem all the more significant and important. There are two clear shots at about 50 seconds of one of the young girls from a medium shot in the rain where she appears petrified from her facial expression and anxious followed by a close up shot of a young man with black hair whose expression is also of great fear and surprise. This shows to the target audience that the victims may have an idea of what is after them through there facial expressions. At about 56 seconds into the trailer there is a very powerful shot where the non diagetic background music stops and the sound is at a minimal which creates tension. There is almost a blackout but for the swinging light on the ceiling which can be clearly heard followed by a very brief but powerful low angle shot of “Jason” the killer himself. The shot shows him in his mask and scruffy clothing and really does add that element of danger to the trailer. It also gives of the impression that “Jason” is lurking in the darkness and the light is what unveils him to his victims and adds vulnerability to his character. The darkness in which he seems to lurk in is what makes him seem dangerous and barbaric although the light unveils him as a humanistic figure although the audience get the impression that the killer would rather remain unidentified.

About 70 seconds into the trailer there is finally some action in which reveals “Jason’s” barbaric killing nature. There is a scary, high pitched noise, as the shot cuts to “Jason” approaching the young girl screaming with a weapon. The non diagetic sound in the background almost sounds like a steam train which can relate to “Jason” approaching his victim vigorously at lightening pace. The horrifying nature of the character is finally unveiled to the audience to some extent and very powerfully which is going to grab the audience’s attention. As a member of the target audience you get the impression that “Jason” is a very disturbed character who feels great anger and that he is unleashing this upon these young, innocent victims in an unforgiving, ferocious manner. The trailer only gives a slight insight to the film’s narrative due to the techniques used with the fast paced cuts, not letting the audience think to much about the trailer and let them unravel any mysteries as well as there only being one significant murder shown at the end which still is not certain so therefore there are a lot of question marks about the background to the story. However the location is set very effectively and the characters have been identified clearly enough, which combined with the fast paced action shown in the trailer, is going to entice the target audience. Also there is an ongoing voice over used throughout the trailer of an old lady who talks about “Jason” almost as a disturbed mother which yet again intrigues the target audience as there is no explanation for this technique. The overall representation of the film from the trailer is very powerful as the elements of fear, tension and danger are displayed in a abundance and the trailer manages to keep the audience on the edge of their seat throughout and manages to keep the target audience focused without giving to much away about the films narrative which in itself is a very powerful technique.

Film Trailer Analysis 2

“Halloween”

“Halloween” is one of the most recognised slasher movies to date that is very powerful in luring in its target audience through implementing the codes and conventions of slasher films very effectively. Rob Zombie, the films director, uses a very typical narrative for slasher movies with this film with the main killer escaping from a mental institution where he unleashes chaos on an area where he once lived whilst searching for his sister. Straight away the dark and evil nature of the film is indicated to the target audience as the prominent strap lines are shown with the words, “inside every one of us, there is a dark side” with the diagetic sound being used with the voice over which adds to the dark representation. The voice over is deep, and very blunt which does signify happiness but distress and grave danger and this is accurately portrayed to the target audience. The strap lines immediately give out an evil and dangerous representation of the film which is effective when trying to lure in the target audiences attention.

The location is then shown which is a very typical technique used in slasher film trailers where their appears to be a relatively large house and the action immediately cuts inside where the atmosphere appears dim and evil. Slasher movie lovers can immediately relate to this sort of location as it is a very common convention. Another signal used to indicate the sub genre to the target audience is where the knife appears from the drawer in the house with the distinctive sound occurring as it is drawn which yet again is going to intrigue the target audience. The narrative structure of the trailer is very clear and becomes very apparent as the trailer goes on where throughout there are victims getting killed by a psychopathic killer but it omits the reasoning for this ferocious slashing and leaves question marks for the audience about this killers motives and also about the victims themselves as not to much is given away by the director which is going to lure in the target audience further. The structure is however very conventional for a slasher movie as being a member of the target audience and a slasher movie lover you don’t want to be given too much information about the narrative as you want to get more from the film itself and its terror which can be illuminated if the trailer is not effective nevertheless the structure of this trailer is very effective in adding the sense of mystery, darkness and grave danger.

Throughout watching the trailer the audience can pick up on the effective use of mis-en-scene elements that further intrigue the target audience. The use of colour and lighting in this trailer is very strong and distinctive as the entire trailer appears relatively dark and dim which almost no sunlight which gives off a very clear impression about the film itself being dark and dangerous where light acts almost as a way out in contrast to the darkness representing great evil. At the end of the trailer when the house is shown yet again from a medium-long shot there is light outside and the girl appears to try and get out only to be pulled back into the darkness of the house by the ferocious killer which is very effective in creating tension and further intrigue for the target audience. At the start of the trailer for about the first minute the shots are very strategic in that the audience cannot gain a clear representation of the characters due to the shots not showing their facial expressions which makes it harder for the audience to understand the characters within. 24 seconds into the trailer the shot of the character pulling the knife out from the kitchen cupboard is shown where there is a clear pull focus on the knife as the director wants the audience to understand the brutal nature of the film with this weapon being used to devastating effect. Half a minute into the trailer the horror becomes evident as there are brief shots through quick editing showing the killer in a mask with the prolific weapon evidently slaying their victims which is very conventional among slasher movie trailers where an insight to the horrifying nature of the film is indicated. This is followed by the trailer slowing down yet again as another situation unfolds before the girl realises she’s in danger from the killer and screams where yet again the editing speeds up. This is effectively used by the director as it keeps grabbing the audience’s attention and focused on the trailer. The girls in the trailer featured appear to be relatively young with long hair and attractive to members of the target audience which is a common technique used in slasher movies to keep the male members of the audience interested so therefore they are common victims in slasher films.

About 45 seconds into the trailer the strap line of “pure evil” appears as the voice over continues where in the background the mask of the killer is shown in the darkness which is an interesting technique as you can relate the strap line to the killer easier and further add horror to this psychopathic character. After this, the film unravels a lot more for the target audience as the voice over that is featured throughout the trailer appears to be the psychopathic killer as this becomes clearer in the trailer as it goes on. The killer is shown putting on his mask and then shown with its blank expression of evil which is very effective in giving the audience a clearer representation of this traumatic killer. The cutting goes on from here to become very quick as the killer is identified to the audience so some of the events in which the killer is involved in become apparent towards the end of the trailer. For example the killer appears to take a girl from a car and also carry one away into the darkness where the poor girl’s fate seems inevitable as the personality of this psychopathic killer becomes all the more interesting to the target audience. There are constant flashes in the trailer that show not just one but many young girls being either killed or taken and the tension increases throughout the trailer. Right near the end of the trailer, at about 70 seconds, there is a very clever shot which shows the killer behind the unaware, innocent girl who is seemingly showering as she appears half naked in the house. Then right at the end of the trailer once the film name has been announced through the strap line there is a still shot of the house for about 3 seconds. Tension is very high at this point as there is no sound when suddenly the young girl featured in the shot half naked appears trying to escape before the killer pulls her bag into the house. The director has linked the shots very well and the audience can appreciate the horror in which the victims are in for through shots like these. The small element of nudity is also going to further intrigue the male members of the target audience as combining young, attractive women with violence and horror is going to grab their attention very effectively.

There is a strong use of non diagetic sound throughout the trailer as there is a voiceover of a male voice which is deep and husky which is very effective in creating tension and that element of evil. This voiceover mainly applied to the strap lines which featured throughout the trailer although there was background music in which didn’t have much of an impression towards the beginning of the trailer although as the trailer went on the music became more immanent where the sound gave the impression of evil lurking around every corner. There is the common exaggerated use of sound which is frequent in slasher movies as the knife is drawn during the beginning of the trailer, which is effective in raising the audience’s awareness of the knife and understand the horror and danger it brings to the film. About a minute into the trailer the killer is represented for the first time very clearly in its mask and the voiceover changes to what appears to be the killers’ creepy voice. The sound is non diagetic although the sound was very relevant to the scene in the trailer and effective to a large extent as the representation of the killer is getting further built on so the target audience can understand the horrific nature of this killer through hearing its voice and being able to get a clear representation of the killer. You could argue that too much is given away of the killers’ representation as its appearance has been shown and voice is seemingly correlated to the scene nevertheless the ruthless nature of the killer still leaves question marks as the trailer didn’t give much away about the narrative itself, it only showed very brief clips of the killer in action but no explanation of these ruthless murders which is going entice the target audience.

The editing compliments the narrative structure of the film itself being a mixture of fast paced and slow edits that compliment the trailer and add elements of tension and horror combined with the strong use of diagetic sound from the girls in agony screaming throughout the trailer.

Through watching the trailer throughout you can gain an appreciation for how the director has used the different cuts at different points. The shots are shown for longer when the director wants the audience to understand part of the location which is effective for setting the scene such as 18-22 seconds into the trailer where the cuts are slow as you can see the house and the girl in her room. This contrasts later in the trailer where the killer starts getting ferocious and his movements are quicker as he seemingly murders his victims. The fast paced edits are in conjunction with these apparent murders which is effective in not giving too much away to the audience but also adding a new dimension of fear for them. Half a minute into the trailer, there is a shot of the killer approaching a young girl sitting down from behind and as he attacks her with three quick movements the cuts correspond to this with three quick cuts as well as the non diagetic sound adding three distinctive noises. This is a very strong technique combining these elements because it adds tension, a great sense of danger and horror to the trailer and is therefore going to grab the audience’s attention further. The camera use is very effective when focusing on the murder weapon being the knife as there are two significant pull focus’ which want to stand out to the target audience with one being right before an attack, which is clever as the knife seemingly ‘tells the story’ of what horror is going to unfold next. 54 seconds into the trailer the camera unveils the killer from a close up shot from a still camera shot which adds the element of evil and danger to the killers’ representation. Before this was a slight low angle shot of the killer from a mid shot range which yet again gives the impression of power to the killer and shows the target audience that the killer is in control in this film.

In conclusion to the “Halloween” trailer you can clearly see that it has implemented all the significant conventions of a slasher movie and to a very powerful extent. The codes and conventions are followed through the implementation of quality techniques which give off the impression of fear and terror. The narrative structure of the film is reflected very clearly in the trailer itself, being a fast paced, action packed movie where a psychopathic, ferocious killer seeks revenge. Through analysing the poster, I believe the use of sound and editing is the greatest compliment to the trailer and the most powerful in enticing and grabbing the audience’s attention. The strong voice over’s used throughout the trailer are conventions of slasher movies but not to common due to the fact that they sometimes can hinder the trailers performance although in the trailer the technique is used very powerfully and effectively. It adds that extra dimension to the trailer which keeps the audience focused on the trailer as the voice over’s relate very clearly to the action in the trailer. The use of camera in the trailer is also very effective, especially with the way in which it focused on specific elements such as the location and the weapon to really give the target audience a horrifying and deadly representation of the situation of the film which it gave to great extent.

Film Magazine Front Cover

Empire Film Magazine - August 2008 Edition



Empire film magazine is one of the most consistent, high selling film magazines in the world and is very effective in attracting its target readership on a monthly basis and this edition is a classic example.

 From this front cover the image immediately strikes you and grabs the attention of the target readership as the most iconic feature. The image is Harry Potter from the new film “The Half Blood Prince” and is very effective in reflecting the narrative of the film and in particular the character himself. The image portrays the main character Harry in a distinctive fashion. His expression is serious and he seems troubled which is very relevant when referring to his personality and situation and also appears rough with his hair, cracked glasses and blood and bruises around his face. These factors reflect the narrative very effectively as in the film Harry is a troubled character that is constantly in danger. Profile lighting is used on Harry Potters face very that lights up half of his face and leaves the other side in darkness and its ironic as on the right side of his face which is in darkness he has a cracked lens in his glasses and blood and cuts whereas on the side lit up he has nothing too unusual. The wounds are caused by his “dark side” to Lord Voldemort and his death eaters. This effect reflects Potters personality very well as he is perceived to have a dark side which he has been cursed with although he is normal and wants to avoid these problems which relates to the light in his face. The sell line relating to the Harry Potter film is on the far right of the page near the bottom and is effective in grabbing the attention of the target readership. The phrase reads, “Bloody Hell, Harry comes out fighting,” which reflects the films narrative is effective in linking to the main image. It further answers the meaning of the image and gives details of the films narrative that will appeal to the target readership.

The masthead is also significant in relation to Harry Potter as it is portrayed in a bold fashion with bright red font which is distinctive brand identity of the “Empire” film magazine and relates to the character of Harry in certain ways. This is because of Harry’s nature of being constantly surrounded by danger and the fact that he is cursed and is wanted dead. Even though the red is used on a consistent basis for “Empire” film magazines, in this particular edition it relates well to the main image as red often illustrates danger and evil which are what Harry faces on a consistent basis in the new film.  The films magazine name “Empire” is significant in its meaning as it is consistently displayed in the strong red font which portrays elements of danger and evil.

As well as the lighting used for effect on the main character, the background is also significant in relation to the films narrative as it seems to be black which gives off the impression of mystery and uncertainty which are very common features in the new Harry Potter film.  There is also side lighting from the top right of the page on Harry Potters head which again contradicts the darkness and adds elements of light and a way out to the equation. The main sell line in the top left corner states, “Massive Preview Special” and it immediately grabs the attention of the target readership. There are various techniques used in the sell line to grab attention such as the uppercase letters in a large size in a white font which immediately appeal to the target audience. The words “Special Preview” are going to attract the target audience as it shows that it’s going to provide a brief look into the new Harry Potter film which is going to immediately attract fans of the film. The words suggest a special scoop about the film which means you can find out about the film before anyone else. The word “special” is a buzz word which suggests importance and preciousness. The significance of this sell line is also made more evident when you compare the other sell lines underneath which are not as bold or as clear. The layout of the other sell lines is very clear and effective as it makes it easy for readers to identify what is going to be in the magazine in a clear fashion which is an effective technique as members of the target readership want everything to be made clear to them.

The target audience for this particular issue of “Empire” is most likely going to be Harry Potter fans as the main image is what immediately what strikes out and grabs the attention of the readers therefore the most obvious reader is going to be someone with a genuine interest in the Harry Potter films and their going to be interested in the new film.  As the film is rated a 15, you have a wider age range and larger target readership because Harry Potter is a film in which appeals to people from most ages and is very effective in enticing its target audience.

Film Magazine Front Cover

Empire Film Magazine - January 2008 Edition

Empire film magazine is a British film magazine that is published monthly and is currently the biggest selling film magazine in Britain, consistently outselling its nearest market rival Total Film.

This is the front cover for the Empire film magazine from January 2008 and is very effective in enticing the target audience. The main image on the front cover is of the joker from the film “Batman – The Dark Knight” and is prominent on the cover and immediately grabs the attention of the target audience. The jokers head is strategically placed where part of the magazine title is displayed covering the letter “P” which is significant because anything that covers the main title of the magazine must be important so its adds significance to this main image of the joker. The image clearly relates to the main sell line being “Meet the Joker” as it is displayed with the comical font in green that clearly relates with the main image of the joker who also is wearing a green waistcoat which gives a comical element to the mount. The image suggests that the genre of the film has elements of evil with the mysterious joker as well although the film itself is an action/adventure film which is not easily picked out through the interpretation of this front cover. There is a contrasting image of the joker on another film poster for “The Dark Knight” which displays the joker in an evil way holding a gun, striking a serious pose whereas in this poster the joker seems less evil however does display an expression of intent to something which looks dangerous. The use of camera on this cover is very significant as the joker is captured in a medium shot displaying his whole body looking straight directly at him in the centre of the page which adds significance as his whole body is being displayed which allows the target audience to gain an understanding into the jokers character and personality. Top down lighting appears to be used with light being put down on above the joker offering an interesting contrast as half there are elements of light and darkness about the character and it provides a controversial view about the joker. For example with the jokers face, half of it is in darkness and the shade whereas the other half is lightened up which can give the audience the interpretation that the joker has elements of light within as well as darkness which is effective in keeping the target audience thinking.  The elements of mis-en-scene relating to this character are very significant when identifying the characters personality and nature. The joker is displayed like a clown but with evil elements that can be drawn up because of his expression and way in which he is portrayed to the target audience. His costume can be related to as a clown with his green waist coat and bright blue trousers and multi-coloured socks although his facial make up is significant in portraying the evil nature of his character with the jokers facial expression. The black make up around the jokers’ eyes offers a contrast to the white face and gives off elements of evil and danger in which will make the portrayal of the joker seem dangerous.

From the name of the film being “The Dark Knight” you can understand that the magazine itself is one in which likes to advertise films with a dark and mysterious nature as the name of the film suggests. The masthead itself is portrayed very clearly in a red font which is very significant in finding out more about the magazine itself as the colour red gives off the idea of danger and blood which are common relations to the colour. So therefore the evil nature of the joker appears like a common convention for the magazine. The size of the masthead itself is large, which is a common feature with film magazines such as with “Total Film” also implementing the same strategy so that the magazine itself is made clear to the target audience. However there is a significant feature in this particular magazine cover with the main image of the joker taking over part of the title itself with the jokers head going partially over the masthead. For example in the August 2008 edition, Harry Potter is advertised with Harry himself taking up most of the page but not going over the masthead whereas with this magazine the jokers head is over the distinctive masthead which is not common for “Empire.” This therefore gives the target audience the impression that the image is very important and it makes the film seem a lot more significant and adds power to the image which will further entice the target audience to the magazine if it’s good enough to shadow the magazine title itself. The masthead is effective in attracting its target readership being people with a genuine interest in action films as well as horror and more however the red font adds a dangerous element which will predominantly attract members of the target audience with an interest into danger.

There are a few significant sell lines on this magazine front cover that are effective in enticing the target audience with the main one being “Meet the Joker” which is prominent and features just below the masthead in a clear but comical fashion relating to the clown theme presented with the joker. It’s an effective caption because it entices the target audience into wanting to find out more about this joker and what his intentions are. Another significant sell line features at the top of the page above the masthead adding importance which states, “The Dark Knight – World Exclusive” with the iconic Batman symbol which is an effective way in capturing the attention of Batman lovers especially with the symbol being portrayed in the centre at the top of the page with back lighting around the significant symbol. Also the words “World Exclusive” are going to interest the target audience as it means this is a new film in which the target audience are going to be interested in watching. This in particular sell line is very effective in luring in the target audience because the target readership can relate to the Batman symbol and the new film and want to know more. There is a very effective sell line which features right in the middle of the page in a spooky font in white saying, “He’s a cold blooded, mass murdering clown” which is a very good reflection of the character in a brief summary. This single statement is very effective in luring in the target audience because it makes the joker seem extremely dangerous and heartless and will further entice the target readership to want to know how the joker will fare when he comes up against Batman. The phrase relates to the jokers expression where he seems content on evil and committing crime which will give the target audience a clearer interpretation about “Batman’s New Nemesis!”  The phrase describing the joker is effective in reflecting the interests of the target audience being danger and mystery which are accurately portrayed in this particular front cover.

The colours used for the sell lines mainly consist of white as well as pink and green which are significant in different ways. The white is used to add significance to the sell lines whereas the pink and green relating to the clown theme of the joker as they are common colours related to clowns and they are bright colours in which are going to strike out and grab the attention of the target readership. The colours are effective in luring in the target audience because they provide something different which will entice the target audience because clowns often relate to bright colours so the magazine can get away with the strong use of pink and green and the different funky font styles which are used to great effect. The different sell lines lure in the target audience effectively through providing interesting conventions in which are going to grab the attention of the target readership rather than boring them with common uses of the common colours red, white and black.

There is a good balance in relation to the text to image ratio as the main image of the joker is very prominent and immediately grabs the attention of the target readership as the main sell point although the use of text is significant and effective. The fact that the main image of the joker peers over the main title of the prolific magazine shows you just how important the image is in this front cover. The top down lighting used on the image is effective in adding significance to the poster and the positioning of the character in the middle of the page is effective in outlining the jokers importance although the use of strong colours in the sell lines are evident and used for effect to further enhance the importance of the sell lines as well as the main image.

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.

Film Poster Analysis 3

“Nightmare on Elm Street”

The 2010 remake of “Nightmare on Elm Street” is a clear and very effective example of a representation of slasher movies.

The main colours that feature in this poster appear to be black and different shades of red which are both significant in enticing the target audience. The use of the shades of red across the poster is very effective in creating a sense of graphic violence and danger which are common links to the colour. Black is also featured in the poster effectively adding a dark element of mystery and evil to the equation further enticing the target audience. The colours are conventional for a slasher movie film poster. The film title is placed at the bottom of the page which is a common technique used in horror movie posters to emphasise the visual image further. The font is old fashioned in a red font which combined with the films name with “nightmare” in it creates a more dangerous effect. The term “Nightmare” seems to be emphasised in the title so that the audience can clearly see and understand the evil nature of the poster and the film. There is another common technique used above the title with the comment; “Welcome to your new nightmare” strategically placed in white above the main title to provide a contrast to the evil and dangerous nature of the red font. White is visually noticeable on black, but is also ghostly looking. The way in which it contrasts the main title with white font gives off the impression that the title is more important and the tag line is put in white to maintain the audiences focus on the main title however the tag line does strike the target audience very effectively and raises questions about the film. It brings up elements of mortality and a way out which are very contradictive compared to the strong black nature of the poster.

The main character, the killer of the film “Freddy Kruger” features as the main visual image in the centre of the film poster giving the audience a clear representation of the creature that lurks in the film. The representation of the killer to the target audience is evil and dangerous. The pose of the killer makes him seem more mysterious because of his head down with the hat being used to cover part of his face which is effective in not giving to much away to the target audience and maintaining the audience’s attention and intrigue. It immediately strikes you from this poster of the nature of the killers’ face which appears burnt and very bony which add to the suspense and chilling nature of the character. His faces’ appearance seems more monstrous and less human because of the scars on his face. There are prominent uses of dark, black lighting on both the characters face and jumper which also combines with the use of white on the side of the figures face and outlining the characters jumper which add an element of supreme power to the character through how he is emphasised in the poster. The lighting coming from behind, being the backlighting is sinister and maintains mystery, especially as it looks smoky. It gives different impressions to the audience about the character, almost as if the character is evil and cruel and a danger to all yet there is an element of mortality and humanness which adds more tension and meaning to the character, further enticing the target audience. The distinctive use of red is also evident with the characters jumper which appears ripped up and scruffy and gives off the impression that the killer does not care about its appearance and does not want to fit into society. The scruffy effect of the character used is a conventional technique for a killer to have ripped clothes as it makes them seem ugly, abnormal or destructive. Strategically placed in the centre of the page are the killers’ hands which are effectively the most effective part of this poster in conveying meaning about the character showing his danger with his weapon as a source of destruction. The way in which the characters hands are together adds the impression that the killer has an element of plotting and adds further elements of mystery. Very distinctively you can see the weapon in which is used throughout the film being what appears to be a very sharp claw. There is a large emphasis on this claw as it is displayed in the centre of the page with white lining around the side to add emphasis to the weapon as well as a tint or spark which gives off the impression to the audience how sharp the claw is and it also signifies its power. The use of back lighting on the character is very effective in bringing him to the front of the cover and it’s exposing his dark nature through the light and further making him stand out to the target audience. The use of the killers’ fedora hat is very significant as it features as the killers’ iconic symbol along with his claw throughout the film. It gives the audience the impression that the character is ashamed of his true identity and wants to remain distant from society and elude himself from being clearly identified. It is conventional how the killer is ashamed as it is an effective technique for the characters personality to be hidden. It maintains their identity being mysterious and scary. Most slasher movies don’t want to give away too much about the killers’ identity in the film poster and therefore use techniques such as props to hide part of the killers’ identify so that it raises questions about the killer and entices the audience into wanting to find out more and consequently watch the film.

The design of the poster is very effective and used in many slasher movie posters. It features the killer, prominent in the centre of the page and shows what appears to be the murder weapon very effectively. Its use of lighting is very common with different shades of red and common uses of black and white. The design gives a medium close up shot of the killer which really engages the character with the audience so they can start to appreciate the creatures’ evil nature. The poster is clearly trying to make the audience aware of the title with the word “nightmare” being portrayed in a very clear fashion and therefore it is trying to reflect this in the poster by displaying a form of nightmarish creature in a close up that. The evil mood and setting is portrayed in this film poster very effectively. The slasher genre conventions are referred to very effectively as it features a killer with a weapon which is used in the film very clearly giving the representation of a slasher movie to the target audience. The use of the sharp claw is a distinctive trait used within slasher movies which lovers of the sub-genre can refer to and this will further entice them into wanting to know more about the movie. In this poster attention is gained through a more shocking, image with the killer appearing as a disfigured monster that clearly will entice the target audience into the movie wanting to know more about this mysterious character. There is an element of surprise as well for the audience as the figure looks abnormal and will therefore terrify some members of the audience and interest others into thinking what this creature is capable of doing.

I think the poster is very effective in persuading the target audience to want to watch this film as it portrays distinctive conventions of slasher movies to a great extent and is very persuasive in enticing the target audience. Straight away, from a first glance at the poster, you can identify the killer in a graphic, evil fashion that gives off a clear representation of the killers’ evil nature. The colours used in the poster are very traditional when analysing slasher movie poster as red, black and white are possibly the most common colours used. When slasher movie lovers see this front cover they can understand what they are getting from this movie and can relate to it as an interest as well as some others can relate back to the 80’s classic and see this remake as a very powerful piece and therefore are going to want to find out more and because of the chilling nature of this movie poster, it’s going to entice the target audience. 

Film Poster Analysis 2

“The Hills Have Eyes 2”

Immediately from looking at this poster for “The hills have eyes 2,” you can see that it’s set the scene effectively in the background which links very clearly to the title.

The setting of this poster is significant in conveying an opinion about the slasher movie with what seems to be a desert setting in what appears to be sunset. This impression is given off through the colours used in the poster with the sky being portrayed in what appears to be different shades of orange. This gives off a clear representation of the setting which appears mysterious and links very well with the title. The two characters featured in this poster appear very dark and it’s difficult to get a representation of them through this poster.  They must however appear dark for a reason which is most likely so that they appear more sinister, dangerous and so there character is hidden to some extent so that you cant unravel too much about the film from the poster. You can clearly see that the figure at the back of the poster is pulling what appears to be an innocent person away into the hills. The audience can understand that the creature in the background is a killer and the way in which it is dragging what appears to be innocent human shows how brutal and harsh this creature is. You can also see that there is no face displayed which gives off the impression that the corpse has lost its identity. The apparent killer appears to be dragging what looks like a corpse being lifeless and hopeless which immediately adds to the elements of danger about the killer. From the setting in the background you get the representation of a isolated place, situated far away from society and appears to be the wilderness in which is unknown. This is a common convention of slasher movies where the setting is isolated from society. This will intrigue the target audience as they will want to discover what lurks in this mysterious place and what goes on whereas as it is the second episode of “The Hills Have Eyes” fans from the first episode can clearly relate the poster with the previous film with the setting and the brutality of the killers. The killer in the poster uses what appears to be a rope attached to the victim who is covered in a material and just brutally dragged across the rocky, sandy floor. The way in which you cannot clearly identify the killer other than from its costume being what appears to be navy clothing indicating something of the creatures past indicates to the target audience that the creature is reserved and would rather remain unidentified. Killers’ identities conventionally remain hidden which adds elements of mystery and fear. The fact that both characters are unrecognisable adds more intrigue to the film, and it makes the film all the more attractive for the target audience wanting to find out more.

The film title is traditionally positioned at the bottom or more centrally on the page, significant for slasher movies so that the main image is very clear and gives off the predominant message about the film However in this poster the title is somewhat significant how it is illuminated and bursts out at the target audience in white font. Often in Slasher film movie poster the image over powers the poster more than usual to provoke fear. This is unusual because from first impressions of most slasher movies you hardly recognise the title whereas in this one it strikes out as one of the most significant parts of the poster. The two words “Hills” and “Eyes” appear to be emphasised and are clearly represented in the poster giving the audience the impression that ferocious figures are lurking in the hills looking down upon innocent victims who are simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Also in the title, the “2” is prominent as it shows that it is the second instalment of the movie which is going to appeal to fans of the first episode.

The design of the poster is very effective in setting the mood for the film in the way it appears to be dusk when these creatures appear and target their victims. Also the way in which the scene is set in an environment with the mysterious hills in which the killer in the poster appears to be taking its prey. This is very effective in giving the target audience a clear representation of where the film takes places and gives a brief insight into the nature of these evil creatures. The slasher conventions are referred to very effectively in this poster with the killer seemingly dragging an innocent victim away through the use of a rope which will obviously cause pain and it indicates that the killer is heartless and brutal in its approach to people. This kind of representation can clearly be related to slasher movies. Attention is maintained through the main visual image with the disturbing nature of a victim being dragged away into the unknown with no insight to what might occur in these hills which will further intrigue the target audience into wanting to watch this film. The setting is used very effectively in this poster as it really does set the scene for the film and also reminds viewers from the first episode very clearly of the setting which will further entice them into what will happen in this film.

In this poster you could argue that the messages are mainly portrayed both visually and verbally as the main image itself is significant as it takes up the large majority of the page however the title is prominent in how it is portrayed to the target audience through the use of the white font which strikes out at the target audience. The way in which the message for this film is portrayed in a verbal way might be to remind views of the first film of the series very clearly so they can identify the film immediately and subsequently draw them into this new film. Nevertheless the visual image in this poster is very powerful in the way it is presented through incorporating the setting with two characters very effectively whilst not giving much away about the film. It just provides small insights to the film which are exactly what are going to persuade the target audience to want to watch this film through displaying correct and powerful conventions of the slasher film type movie. From the brutal nature that the film poster is displayed you can identify that the target audience will consist of thrill seekers over the age of 18 because of the nature of a slasher movie. They will seemingly have a passion for graphic violence and a “cat and mouse” type of film where the killers pick of their victims one by one until there is normally one left which is a conventional method of slasher movies implemented.

Overall the poster is effective in persuading the target audience into wanting to watch the film through implementing very effective conventions of slasher films that will immediately appeal to slasher movie lovers. The way in which the poster is portrayed not giving too much away is a key factor as it raises questions for the target audience that they will want to know and therefore want to watch the film. Because it is the second episode of the sequence in the “The Hills Have Eyes” series, fans from the first episode can immediately relate to the setting of the film as well as the title which is featured prominently so you can conclude that the film poster does fulfil its purpose of enticing the target audience to want to watch the film effectively.