Trailer analysis

1. The Cabin in the woods
trailer analysis
Georgia Gibbs

2. The Trailer

3. Background Information
 It is an American horror comedy which was brought out in
2012 and included stars such as Chris Hemsworth and
Jesse Williams.
 The filming took place from March to Mat 2009
 The film had a budget of $30 million and was filmed in
Vancouver
 It was premiered on March 9th 2012 at a film festival and then
released in USA on April 13th 2012
 The film grossed $66 million worldwide
 It was featured on Metacrtic’s best films list in 2012

4. Codes and conventions of
Horror Genre (http://media.edusites.co.uk/article/horror-genre-codes-
conventions/)
• Predictable narrative content
(follows format)
• Clear binary oppositions e.g.
good v evil
• Use of low key lighting
• Use of CGI, FX
• High production values but
many low budget horror films
• Dominant, hegemomic
representation of gender:
The Female Victim
• Extensive use of close up
• Incidental non-diegetic
sound
• Distorted diegetic sound
• Extensive use of narrative
off-screen space
• Young/teenage characters
• Split into sub genres, often
hybridised
• Primary target audience – male, 16-
24, Mainstreamers
• 15 or 18 Certification (promises of
pleasure) – debates on passive
consumption
• Uses and Gratifications (active
audiences) theory can apply
• Extensive use of Narrative enigmas
• Exploration of Narrative Themes
• Slow pace of Editing, builds tension.
Long takes
• Three act narrative structure
• Use of hand-held camera: audience
identification/realism
• Point of view shots
• Low angle shots

5. Narrative
 The trailer shows an outline to the narrative as four
teenagers go on a holiday to a remote cabin and then
unexpected horrors start happening. Each one of them are
targeted in different ways by some sort of being, which is
being controlled.
 This shows that Todorov’s theory is used as there is a
break in the equilibrium, and also show propp’s theory of
the ‘damsel in distress’ to be involved. Also, there is use of
enigma in the trailer as to what is happening and who is
harming these teenagers.
 The equilibrium is not restored in the trailer. Leaving a large
sense of enigma.
 The trailer does not give much more away than this brief
outline.

6. Camera shots and angles
The establishing shot used at the beginning of
the trailer uses natural lighting and shows a
suburban location which is typical of a horror
genre. It is also typical for a horror genre to
start as a normal, ‘happy’ state.
Followed by the panning shot showing the
campervan and one of the main characters and
this shot is made to look as if they are being
watched already adding aspects of horror and
fear.
The mid shot of the characters with high key
lighting and introduction of the main characters
sets the equilibrium as happy.

7. Camera shots and angles
 This worms eye shot, low angle shot and birds
eye view shot all show isolated locations which
makes the genre of horror to become evident.
 It reflects the conventions of an isolated location
as in these shots there is no one else apart from
the van or house which has the 5 teenagers in.
This makes it evident that it is the start of the
‘journey’ and Todorov’s equilibrium and that
something may happen that means they are so
isolated they will not be able to find ‘help’ or
escape.
 The natural lighting used is typical of a horror
trailer as it makes the contrast of low key later
on more obvious and effective.

8. Camera shots and angles
 These close up shots all show the
expression on the protagonists
faces. All of which connote fear
and the blur effected used in each
image so that the only focus is the
character adds disequilibrium.
 Further the low key lighting in use
reflects that there is something
happening/ going wrong adding to
the atmosphere of the thriller
genre. The low key lighting is
typical of a horror film as darkness
connotes danger and mystery.

9. Camera shots and angles
 This shot shows some typography which
adds to the enigma and tension included in
horror genre. Further, the white font used
contrasts with the background to stand out.
The background has shapes on and has a
flowing effect like electricity which links into
the trailer itself with the CGI effects.
 This wide shot shows adds Roland Barthes
theory of enigma into the trailer. This is
because this is a new idea which has not
been presented before and makes the
viewer suspicious. However this links into the
horror genre as it shows that this must be
the reason for such events to be happening.

10. Camera shots and angles
 This is a low angle tracking shot which shows/
follows the actresses legs and feet, from this shot
we can see a wooded location which is isolated
and has low key lighting indicating the shot is
based in the night, this is typical of a horror film to
have the break in equilibrium to happen at night.
The smoke from the floor is from use of special
effects and links into the narrative of this being a
planned attack.
 Secondly, this high angled wide shot shows
another isolated location of a cliff with a ‘force
field’ type effect in the image. This makes it
obvious there is use of CGI effects and shows the
audience that the protagonists are in some sort of
game, as it is not realistic. This is a turning point
in restoring the equilibrium.
 This medium shot shows a zombie like person
attacking the teenagers. The lighting also reflects
that this is a danger, identifying a convention of
the horror genre.

11. Camera shots and angles
 This close up shot of the masked people gives
the audience sense of fear as they cannot be
identified. It is easy to identify that they are
antagonists or false hero's as they have not
made an appearance in the trailer before and are
only in it for a brief few seconds.
 This close up at the end of the trailer shows that
the equilibrium has not been restored as the
female is evidently scared for her life or in pain.
This leaves enigma with the audiences making
them want to watch the film and see what
happens to the girl and also reflects that the this
is of the horror genre.

12. Editing
 The editing in this trailer is not overly
evident as it is mostly quick cute editing
to meet the conventions of the horror
genre. This is because a quick paced
trailer connotes fear and danger as it
has a tense build up to the end.
 The noticeable editing was the use of
fading in and out of some shots and
these were used when the next shot
was connected the next.

13. SoundDiegetic:
 The anonymous character, could be seen as a ‘false hero’ as he helps the teenagers get to where
they want to go however then makes a phone call saying “they have come to the killing floor.” His
speech seems mysterious and connotes danger and enigma, as you know something bad is going
to happen but are un sure of what.
 Also the Speech of protagonists guides through the trailer almost like a narrator as their speech
helps form a narrative. In understanding they are going on vacation, partying and that when the
danger strikes ‘something has been sent for them’, this makes it easier for the audience to be
guided through.
 The screams of the teenagers during the trailer shows that there is something going on and is a
typical convention of a horror film therefore we know this use of diegetic noise is used to give fear.
 When the bird flies into the force field it has large bang so it coordinates with the action, and makes
the audience more aware that there is a force field
Non diegetic:
 At the start of the trailer the overlay music is upbeat and gives a sense of happiness which meets
the equilibrium in a horror genre as it starts like a normal happy day until this is interrupted.
 Intense music is then introduced after 35 seconds to change the equilibrium and to build up
suspense, tension and to show that the horror genre is in action.

14. Audience
 Certificate 15, therefore the main target demographic will
be 15+ but mainly teenagers as above the age of 26 are
not interested in horrors as they are un realistic and are
predictable.
 Also, typically horror genre is targeted mainly at the male
audience due to the use of violence, gore and female
representation and this is shown in the trailer as the
females are objectified and there is both violence and gore.
 They are most likely to be C1, C2 and D categories due to
the type of the film this is due to the fact that these
categories can sympathie and relate with the main
characters, therefore this meets Maslow's hierarchy of
need to fit in.

15. Propps Theory
 The hero- Shown to be the biggest male as he
seems to take control and seems dominant
from his speech and camera shots of him
being above or bigger than the others.
 The villain- The men in the computer room
operating the system to ‘kill’ the teenagers as
well as the male at the petrol station.
 The anti-hero- the anonymous male from the
petrol station as he acts as he is helping them
to get to the destination but then makes a call
to someone to make them aware that the
teenagers are now in the ‘killing floor’
 The princess- this is shown to be the blonde
teenager in the group, as she is the female
who appears the most and is objectified the
most in the trailer.

16. Todorov’s theory
 Equilibrium- The group of 5 teenagers going away on a
holiday, happy atmosphere and music with natural bright
lighting. End up at the cabin.
 Disruption in equilibrium- when it becomes apparent they
are trapped and being watched and targeted.
 Recognition of the disruption- When things start to go
wrong and they identify that there is an issue and then
beings start to be released to try and kill them.
 Attempt to restore equilibrium- They try and fight off the
beings and run/ get away from the cabin, however they are
locked in.

17. Male gaze
 Typically horror films are more
popular with male viewers as
they enjoy watching violence
and gore, this is shown in this
trailer as it is obviously from the
view of a heterosexual males
perspective as the women are
objectified to an extent. This is
shown by the reactions of the
male characters to the females
as well as the clothing the
females wear being provocative.
And the male is shown as a lot
more superior as they are in
control of the situation whereas
the females are very scared and
do not do anything to help.

18. Roland Barthes: enigma
codes
 The uncertainty of some characters such as the man
at the petrol garage, the two in the control room and
the two masked people leaves enigma with the
audience as there is no answers
 Further, the equilibrium is not restored so this leaves
enigma with the audience as they do not know what
the outcome is, do the teenagers survive or do they
die.