Trailer Analysis Essay

Face of Fear
I chose to analyse this trailer because there were alot of things that are presented, that can be focused on; the use of lighting, sound, camera angels and the editing.


As soon as the trailer starts, the lighting is low key, it stays like this throughout the whole of the trailer, this is because ir is relevent to the genre, the film is a horror film, the darkness creates an intense atmosphear which is necassery, because it informs the viewer that the film is going to be scary. Also, it helps to create shadows, and make the film look more mysterious, which makes you want to watch the film.


There is some editing in the trailer. There is alot of use of fade. This is done to change from clip to clip. also in some bits, it is used to change from writing on the screen to action from the film, for example in the begining of the trailer, short sentances are written to tell us about the film, and short clips from the film are shown as well, this is to give us information on what the film is about, and makes the trailer appear more organised, with the use of fade.


The use of both digetic and non digetic sound is used. The digetic sound is the dialouge. We dont hear to much of this, just a few bits, for example; we see a pysco and hear him threatening some young teenagers, we also hear the teenagers talking, and thier tones of voice are scared and they speak at a slow pace; this use of narrative enigma makes the audience want to watch the film, because they wonder why the characters sound worried and scared. The non diegetic sound is the music over the film; it starts of with a creepy slow beat, this creates suspence and an uncomfertable atmosphear, it creates curiosity. This then changes to heavy metal, this is done, because heavy metal tends to be known as evil and scary, this is relevent to the genre of the film, and it informs the target audience, people who enjoy scary films, that this film will be horrific. Another non diegtic sound, is the heart beat and foot steps, this also creates an intence atmosphear, it creates a fright, which is what the film is supposed to do, this informs us that the film will be scary, and is eye catching to people who enjoy scary films.


The camera work varifies in diffrent types of shots. There are many close ups, take for example, you see a girls eyes, as she crys on the screen- this gives the audience the feeling that something bad has happened, and makes them want to know what it is. Also the use of close up is used to focus on the pysco's facial expression- which is angry, this is also makes us wonder why he is angry. The shots that we see are quite short, about a second long at maximum- this is to create a narative enigma. Also it is so that the trailer doesn't drag on for to long, so it only focuses on the important parts.


Moving on, when looking at the mise en scene, you can see that the costume that the teenagers are wearing, are your everyday clothing, this gives the film a sence of reality, it is supposed to scare you in to thinking this could happen to any one. The use of make up was used to make the pysco look more scary, as if he had cuts and bruises on his face, this shows he has had a bad experience and makes the viewer wonder why. At one point in the trailer we see a fire. Fires are a sign on distruction, mayhem, unfortunate events, they usual refelect a negative impact, this indicates that the film will carry out all of these features. In the film the teenagers are supposed to be lost, and through out the whole trailer, you can't really tell where the events are taking place, i think this alows you to feel the same way the teenagers do, confused, and unaware of what is around you becuase it is so dark, this creates a spooky atmosphear.


The title of the film is given to us at the end of the film, this is so that is stays in our head, and also, at the end of the trailer we know that the film is scary, and once we see the title we understand why it has this name. It is easy to remeber because of the use of alliteration helps us to remember the name.