Analysis of the Woman In Black trailer.

1. The film trailer I have chosen to present is the Woman In Black, as it shares
the same genre that I wish to create a trailer around, which is thriller.

2. • The main identifiers of this genre from the trailer is
such aspects that could be selected from the thriller
repertoire, such as the gothic colour scheme, the deep
almost wind-like diegetic sound track that gradually
increases, as well as the use of children and their toys,
contrasting with positive and innocent stereotypical
image associated, to give an unnerving mood to the
ambience.

3. • The trailer often targets its audience through its main
characters, which suggests why the main male character is a
youthful adult.
However, it could be fair to say that the actor chosen (Daniel
Radcliffe) is also used to appeal to the audience based on his
current fame in other films that share this target audience,
which is the Harry Potter film series. This is emphasized by
the intertitle that alone advertises his presence in the film,
‘DANIEL RADCLIFFE’.

4. • The trailer itself increases in pace to perhaps cause tension in
the audience.
It could be fair to also note that this increase of pace is due to
the shots gradually cutting quicker (around 62 camera shots in
total), yet in time with the beat of the asynchronous diegetic
rhyme that is spread over the entire trailer, produced by the
toys. This associates this rhyme with the plot, reinforcing the
connection between the Woman, the house and the children
to his character.

5. • Having said this, the trailer does not solely rely on
cuts for its shot transitions. There is use of fading
in and out of shots, yet this is only used when
displaying an intertitle, which suggests that this
editing technique is to provide a thriller twist on a
necessary, although simple shot that, which
would ruin the unnerving ambience of the trailer
if not slightly unsettling.

6. • The fact that the trailer includes no non-diegetic sounds could be
intentional, as it helps maintain the realistic feel of the film, which
corresponds to it playing on many of our stereotypical fears (e.g,
there is something behind you). This suggests to the audience how
this could be something that might happen to them, and when they
get the suspicion that there might be something behind them,
there actually could be.
All of this connects the audience to the film, so that they are not
only scared for the character, but scared for themselves, creating a
greater impact and leaving a more memorable effect on the
audience, as they feel like they have just experienced this ordeal,
aided by the character’s point-of-view camera shots and the fact
that the main character has no name.

7. • It could be said that the filmmaker is playing on the theme of
isolation, as the main character experiences his ordeal alone, the
woman is alone, the location is far away from the town, there
many bird’s eye shots of his character, etc. By playing on this
theme, it suggests vulnerability, and therefore plays on the
stereotypical fear that something will happen to you when you are
alone. This could be why the trailer does not express any
relationships being formed or cemented, as it is this separation
from others that worries us. This high angle long shot could
represent this, as it portrays the house’s, and by extension the
Woman’s, dominance over the isolated and vulnerable main
character.

8. • The main code of enigma conveyed is who is this
‘Woman in Black’, as her face is never clearly shown, and
what does she want or is her purpose. This is portrayed
through the mise-en-scene props of many photographs
and details that act as clues for the audience to guess.

9. • Previously mentioned was the use of location and point of view shots,
however, many trailers use close ups of faces. In ‘The Woman In Black’,
there are many close ups of the toys faces, this could be to humanise
these toys, enforcing the fear that they are alive, and, accompanied by all
the negative factors such as the soundtrack and the colour scheme, evil.
However, a close up could be used in contrast. For example, there are
many close ups of the main character’s face, suggesting the audience’s
connection with him. The representation of the often white background
could convey his opposition to the dark nature of this setting, but also
perhaps his purity, as he is not yet infected by the Woman’s malevolent
ways.

10. • The mise-en-scene of this trailer is constructed to
present a realistic setting of the time period, however,
it’s gothic twist with cobwebs and dark colour scheme
almost foreshadows the evitable dark future for the
main character that the audience predicts. Any symbol
of positivity and innocence is covered by cobwebs and
dust. This could be a metaphor for how this house’s
happy past was corrupted by something, leaving only
the remains of what was underneath what has become.

11. • The codes and conventions I have witnessed in this
trailer:
– The voiceover of a children’s rhyme telling the audience
about the Woman In Black.
– The famous actor is advertised in an intertitle.
– The rhyme plays and important part in setting the creepy
atmosphere of the film.
– The film’s title does not appear until the end.
– The trailer’s pace build to a climax where it ends.
– Point-of-view camera angles and moments of the most
dramatic and frightening aspects of the film quickly cut
into a fast paced montage.
– There is a code of enigma, an equilibrium is broken when
he has to travel to the house.

12. • The filmmaker could have decided to use a trailer such as this, as it does navigate away from the true
plot line of to beware of the Woman In Black. Keeping the trailer short and revealing little helps to
allow the audience’s imaginations to explore possibilities without spoiling too much of the plot, which
is what any trailer should hope to achieve to be successful, as the audience will not pay to view the
film if the trailer is not intriguing enough, or if the film is too revealed.
This is why film trailers are effective in terms of promotional devices for films, as they are usually
more engaging for the audience. Many trailers often copy a set successful formula to mould their film
trailer around in hopes of gaining a large audience. Films such as Paranormal Activity are an example
of this, as the plot line also uses the theme of vulnerability presented when the characters sleep, as
well as the point of view shots through the character’s camera. Again, this helps the audience connect
to the situation of the plot and empathise with the characters, leading to a greater impact, and a
more effective trailer. When considering the editing, the shots are usually cut, but the intertitles are
edited into a format that looks as if it is a disruptance in the camera. It could be said that although the
characters are not well known, perhaps to reinforce the realism, the repetitive use of the quotation
reviews of critiques could be used to draw the audience in. Both endings are also similar, in the sense
that the pace is built up, yet the most frightening scene is split for emphasis of tension and suspense,
ending with the name of the film.