Personal Trailer Reviews: Alien

Alien

Year: 1979

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 7

The Alien trailer utilizes several of the horror genres key conventions to establish genre and appeal to their target audience.  The first of which is cinematography. Throughout the trailer broad establishing shots of planets are used to establish the film as a hybrid Sifi-horor film. This is once again echoed by the mise-en-scene of the entire trailer. The use of props and costume clearly defines this as a hybrid. (I.e. The space suits, Alien eggs, flashing red lights)  Another good use of horror conventions is the mise-en-scene. The body language and the facial expressions of the actors connote fear well and helps establish the genre. A really iconic convention used in the establishment of the horror genre is the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The use of silence cannot be underrated. It is this silence that helps to establish an air of looming threat and total isolation; both key conventions/ building blocks of the horror genre. However it is also used to create action and add potency to the more gory scenes. This is evident in the gut scene and the music once built up adds to the tension of the scene.

However there is room for improvement. While the sweeping establishing shots boast the features budget and give it wide scope, very little of the narrative is divulged. That’s not to say the narrative isn’t explored, but the audience sees very little in the way of sustenance, instead relying on special effects to intrigue the audience to watch. This also allows for very little character development, meaning very little investment from the audience in the characters.

Overall I gave the trailer a 7. It’s a relatively good trailer that shows its budget of well, but could use more character development for audience investment and intrigue. 

Personal Trailer Reviews: The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Year: 1973

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 7

The exorcist utilizes several horror conventions in order to establish genre and appeal to their target audience. The first of which is setting and character. The suburban nuclear family is clearly represented from the get go. This is to appeal to a mainstream audience, thus making as much profit as possible on release. However that being said its subject matter and use of isolation (trapped within the home) would hopefully appeal to outsiders, thus using the genres conventions to appeal to a wide audience. Another key convention they use is both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. This is used throughout the trailer and is used to create a sense of urgency and unrest. They do this by increasing the pace/ tone of the music and character dialogue, alongside using several sound effects for key scenes, such as in the bedroom when it begins to be destroyed. They also use mystery well. They do not, at any point, reveal the face of the protagonist (The exorcist) or the antagonist (possessed girl). This is also complimented by the mise-en-scene. The character body language aids to show character relationships and advance the narratives, while the general use of props and clothing establishes character roles (i.e. Priests) and establishes the general narrative for the audience without giving too much away.

This being said there is still room for improvement. While I understand an air of mystery may provoke intrigue and thus a captivated audience but we do not see our protagonist until the very end. While it interests us as to the who?; It means we are not shown the full scope of the narrative and cannot then invest with the central protagonist.  The use of a very generic setting also bores the audience. While it’s understandable the key action would take place in the bedroom a few varied location shots wouldn’t go amiss, even if just to stimulate the audience.

Overall the trailer is relatively well put together, building pace through sound and cinematography, but it could be improved with a variety of locations and the establishment of the antagonist.

Personal Trailer Reviews: The Shinning

The Shinning

Year: 1980

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 8

The Shinning utilizes several of the horror genres key conventions in order to establish the film and intrigue their target audience. They first do this through cinematography. Throughout the trailer they use a wide array of establishing shots of a mountain/wooded isolated area. The exploration of this isolation is both key to establishing the motive to the narrative, but also to add a looming sense of threat commonly found within the genre. Another key convention the use is the mise-en-scene. Everything from symbolic coloured clothing to strong, bold body language is used to establish dominance and the antagonist/protagonist. They also make use of phallic symbols and iconography. This is evident in the husband’s use of a large axe in comparison to the wife’s small knife. This helps to establish the power within the relationship, alongside establishing him as the antagonist.  They also make use of sound and lighting well. The mix of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used to build pace and add potency to reveal scenes in which we see scenes of aggression. Lighting is used well throughout acting as a signifier for the scenes; mood lighting for serious scenes key to the narrative alongside dark colours for moments of passion/ aggression.

While all of this adds up to an acceptable trailer there are still several things that I believe in hind-sight could be improved. While the narrative is established it seems slightly on the nose. I believe they reveal too much, and make it too apparent and inferred that the husband will become the antagonist. While it adds to the narrative it takes away from the general mystery, giving away the end to their audience. The use of the child is done well. It adds another layer of creepiness. However he features for only a small proportion as does the wife. The lack of character development for either characters means the audience does not connect with them and may irritate more than intrigue.

Overall I have given the piece an 8. It is a well put together trailer that flaunts its budget with grand establishing shots but could do with not revealing so much of the narrative and some more character development. 

Evaluation Screening of "Captured"

Class Trailer Reviews: 30 Days of Night

30 Days of Night

Year: 2007

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 8

The ‘30 days of night’ trailer is well made. This is due to a number of reasons. The initial jump scare helps to quickly engross the audience, while also establishing the genre of the trailer.  Another method used that compliments this is the use of collision cutting. It helps to set a pace for the trailer, therefore allowing for the faster sections to have more impact. The filter for the trailer is also used well as it appears grimy once again setting the scene and establishing itself as a horror. The intertitles are used well too. They help to establish a strong narrative whilst also hide the major plot points. It is finally complimented by non-diegetic sound that helps to keep the audience on edge and once more is used to build pace and to make more of an impact.

There are however some issues that could be improved. Although there is clear depth to the narrative they seem to have used too many shots. This makes certain moments hard to follow and does not allow the audience to fully take in each shot. This also makes for quite a long trailer. It gives a well-rounded view of the film but it could be a lot shorter and still have the same effect; it is crucial to capture the audience’s attention, but also to keep it.  And finally, there are too many fades. They add the effect of unfinished business but too many may leave the audience confused.

Overall our class’ average score came to 8/10. It was a solid trailer that made good use of horror methods and conventions, but was a little too long and confusing in parts.

Class Trailer Reviews: Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

Year: 2008

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 7

Day of the Dead, in my opinion is a sub-par kind of film trailer. While it is aesthetically pleasing, through cinematography, the general mise-en-scene and appealing to Laura Mulveys; the male gaze. It first takes you to the general setting of the film; A suburban town in the heartland of America. This is very typical of the horror genre as it stresses a lack of communication with the outside world, as well as showing the general isolation of the place. It establishes the key protagonist straight away, making sure to have at least three angles on her in every scene transition.  It also establishes the antagonists very quickly. It goes down, as many gore films do, the medical route to explain the motivation behind the zombie s.  They are clearly the antagonists and are clearly marked by their distinct body language and outward appearance. The military background for our heroine ever so slightly challenge the cultural dominant ideology as there is a stigma about women in the army that is still relatively post-modern.

The overall class mark was 5. This was mainly due to large amounts of the narrative being leaked and the characters seeming overly conventional/ wooden. The big budget is made apparent in the setting and general mise-en-scene, i.e. Trucks, guns/props, costume etc.  Overall it seems like a conventional horror, made relatively well, with a slight twist; that being that a woman is the protagonist as opposed to the conventional male protagonist. 

Class Trailer Reviews: Toxic Avenger

Toxic Avenger

Year: 1985

Genre: Horror

Personal Mark: 5

Toxic avenger, in my opinion, is a poorly made horror film trailer. The chief reason of which is the failed bid for comedy. It is labelled a horror but the amount of poor puns and cheap laughs could easily have swayed it under a comedy heading. This is again supported by the sheer lack of any horror. Other than the acting nothing was truly frightening.  The catch phrase is over used and the film trailer itself is dragged out. The runtime is far too long and makes it hard to keep the audience’s attention. Location also plays a key role in the trailer. Too much time is spent on the restaurant and the lack of diverse locations eventually begins to bore the audience. However from a historical context this may be too harsh. I’m simply viewing it with the power of hindsight, against modern day horrors with huge budgets.

This being said the trailer did have a few good points. The strange body movement and facial expressions allowed for some smiles. They kept true to Propp’s narrative stages as far as we can see, endorsing common horror methods such as body horror with the fryer scene, and the girl in need. This follows Laura Mulveys theory of the male gaze and follows it to the letter.  It is also complimented by its small budget.  With restricted locations due to budget and very few special effects they are still in keeping with the usual narrative structure, even if the comedy seemed to play a larger role than the cheap horror effects, through poor lighting and props.

Overall our class average for the film was 3.5. The main reasons that came out to support such as small score were the low  budget effects; for an alleged $500,000 we would have expected more than shaking hands in oil and strawberry sauce.  However the main reason shared amongst my peers was the comedic undertone to everything. If it had been labelled a comedy we feel it would have been more deserving of marks, but the sheer lack of horror, physical or psychological, left a stale taste in our mouth.

Stereotypical Fan

John Smith is an 18 year old student form a working class background. He is a reformer. He wears dark comfortable clothes, and is not too bothered about fashion. He doesn’t take life to seriously and is a laid back guy. He works hard at college as he tries to get the grades for university. He watches a ton of horror films and is part of the cult classics. He also plays videogames listens and plays rock music on his guitar and reads a lot of fantasy. He socializes a lot, often frequenting the local pub where he chills out. He isn’t physically sportive, instead spending his time working a part-time job to pay for films and his social life. He likes mainstream horror films, but researches the more gritty stuff for when he is alone

Class Research: Favorite Type of Horror

My personal favorite is Psychological horror as I believe it opens up the horror genre in many ways.

Class Poster Idea

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