Film 'Horror' Trailer Analysis 1

See the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_-gL3U1T5Y

MONSTERS



Monsters is a ‘doomsday’ film yet to be released in the UK. This is the second trailer, also known as the restricted trailer as it will only be shown in cinema screens where the minimum age will be fifteen. Therefore, more ‘gory’ material and horror can be shown.
The trailer opens with a dark shot establishing shot of an industrial site, cuts to another shot of this site and then to a dusk purple sky. Suddenly there is the appearance of some sort of aircraft, followed by a orange glow and the sound of a mechanical crash. This is then followed by non-diegetic text ‘It’s been six years since they arrived’. The text is a very modern, sans-serif font that is often used in sci-fi films. This text helps the audience identify the genre and also offers ’punchy’ narrative information.
Next there is a short hand held shot of a helicopter hovering over the crash site. We assume that ’they’ arrived from this crash site. Then we see a man on the back of a motorcycle, and because he is the first person the trailer has ‘focused’ on, we assume that he is the protagonist. After this we see a series of short shots based on the rescue efforts. These shots are made to look like snaps from a camera, which we see the protagonist holding later.
Now we see more non-diegetic text with the words ‘They are no longer Aliens’. The trailer now changes, the sound becoming louder and the sound of cries can be heard. The audience is shown night-vision shots of some army men panicking, and the camera shakes to add to the distressed effect. More shaky shots of army personnel are shown, and little understanding can be made; are they firing at the no-longer aliens? There is a non-diegetic ’camera malfunction’ effect and the screen goes black. This gives the impression that something is destroying the camera, and this is incredibly cool and scary.
Again we see non-diegetic text, in the same font theme as before with the words ’They’re residents’. Now we see more short shots but the non-digetic addition of a man’s voice, which we later see to be the protagonist. He’s asking about getting home, and this provides the audience with a narrative as to what our protagonist is actually doing. Especially as this is re-inforced with non-diegetic saying ‘on the journey home’. Now we see the protagonist and another woman a they journey to various places, each with something sinister happening. In one shot there is a burnt out helicopter strewn across the road. This is make the audience wonder ‘what has happened?’, because events such as helicopter crashes are a rarity but also very tragic. More shots follow of a girl with a gas mask on, which evokes the emotion of pity. Another shot shows the couple looking a large map with an area entitled ‘infection zone’. All of these things tell the audience that something sinister, evil and terrible has happened.
As the trailer continues, I noticed that most of the shots including the couple are either wide or long shots, giving them a sense of vulnerability and loneliness. They are wandering alone in the ‘infected zone’ and consequently don gas masks. The music becomes more powerful, lighter and the sound often used around discovery and awe. Then, it abruptly ends with the blowing out of the candles. This connotating that something bad has happened, that the light - the good - has gone away.
Now the music is like the snare often seen in horror film trailers as they build to a climax. We again see non-diegetic text but this time offering good quotes from critics about the film. Good quotes mean better reputation, and therefore are useful in advertising the film.
The editing now gradually speeds up and the sound jumps t every edit which gives the trailer a scary but climatic feel. Then this ends and another quote is presented on screen. Now the protagonist is seen looking at a monster, which is concealed by the darkness obviously to give little away. The darkness being conventional of this genre too.
The trailer ends by revealing the name ‘MONSTERS’ and the information on who wrote it, directed it, created the soundtrack and so forth. We expect to see these things along with a film website (which is shown last) and a release date. However this film doesn’t have one yet and displays the ‘coming soon’ text. This works just as well, because the audience may be more tempted to look at the website for future information on the release date.
The trailer is typical of horror doomsday. It shows the vulnerability of the survivors while also showing just enough so the audience can understand the narrative and basic plot. The shots are dark, and the music is sinister to give the trailer a creepy and scary feel. Overall, I think it’s sophisticated, frightening and it certainly makes me want to find out more.