3. ICONOGRAPHY…
Clothing:
In Creep your unable to see costume within the first few minutes of the trailer due to the fact
that the scenes are being viewed from a point of view angle. This indicates that the audience have
not got a sense of what type of character this is because it is difficult to tell from what people
wear. Later on in the trailer we clearly see that that the woman is wearing casual clothing which
could represent a normal person who most can relate to.
Lighting:
A lot of darkness was used in Creep to remind the audience the fact that the film will be scary
with a connotation of darkness which is danger and evil. The dark mise en scene immediately alerts
the audience to the genre of the film, which is important to reinforce in the opening minutes.
Harsh fluorescent light was used in Creep. The film is based in the underground which was
effective to use dark chiaroscuro and silhouette lighting. There was also a point of view shot
with a combination of lagged shots in order to create a more effective lighting.
Location:
The film is set in Charing Cross underground station which is quite unique as most slasher /horror
films are based in domestic and exterior areas. However in Creep, the whole film is based inside
the underground station which links to the main character as she is trapped inside. For a
slasher/horror film the location of using the underground seems like a mysterious place. The use
of the London underground scares an audience as it is one many people can relate with, therefore
we view it as a way to be in that situation ourselves. Also, it surprises but confuses us to see
the station empty as we’re used to seeing it filled with hundreds of busy people rushing to get
around, therefore the empty and abandoned setting gives us a chill.
An isolated setting is used to have this effect on the audience, as no one is around and therefore
no one can help this girl. This is a common aspect and convention of the horror/slasher genre as
it allows terrifying sequences to take place as there is nothing or no one around to out a stop to
it. The trailer is set in an underground station in London, and this is therefore the films unique
selling
Props: point also due to the fact this film was a British success.
The anonymous/killer is shown holding a knife, this
is seen in most horror movies as it is a way to
express the genre so it can be noticeable to the
audience.
4. NARRATIVE…
The narrative device used in the trailer is the unknown/killer which the main character must
overcome by escaping the danger. It follows the story of a woman locked in the underground at night
where she is followed by a killer living in the sewers below.
It is set in quite a dark place, which is common with a lot of horror/slashers. It gives the
audience an idea of what happens at the beginning of the film but doesn’t give the audience any
clues to the conclusion. The trailer shows one main character, who is known as the ‘final girl’
that is used in most horrors. The trailer also introduces a other characters who seem to be working
on the tracks and two other men who are in the same position as the girl. The trailer gives quick
glimpses of the ‘creep’ however leaving enough information hidden to make sure it does not give
away too much.
CHARACTERIZATION…
There are elements from the horror/slasher genre which are repeated in most horror films such as
the ‘final girl’ who is also featured in this trailer as we expect that she survives due to all
existing horror movies following the same aspects.
There are also binary opposites used in genre such as the victim and the killer. The trailer shows
one obvious main character, who follows the typical character of the ‘final girl’ that is used in
horrors as she is a young and attractive. The trailer also briefly introduces other characters all
if which are men. It shows a couple of men who seem to work on the tracks and two other men who are
stuck in the same situation as the girl.
5. SOUND…
The most frequently used type of sound was silence overall, which adds to the intensity and builds
up momentum to that fact that something is going to happen. Also non-diegetic sounds were used,
such as a beat of music which always matched or was in sync with the on- screen movement or
atmosphere. This appeals to the audience as it allows them to interact more with the moment and
movement.
In addition, with the use of gloomy non- diegetic sound, it gets the audience slightly scared also
it enables the audience to anticipate that something may suddenly happen. As this is happening
there is an introduction of stingers and high pitched music, building the tension as the action
kicks in. The music generates the atmosphere for the audience as a tense and paranoid mood is
created.
EDITING…
In Creep, motivation cuts where used when diegetic sounds were used to form a reaction from the
characters more effectively. The fast speed of cuts allows the audience to get into the fast
momentum and also the quick transition cuts portrays well to the genre of the film within the
opening two minutes. This is efficient in a way to build the audience up to the main plot.
Conventionally slasher/ horror films are played at fast tempo in terms of the action which the
editing has a huge part to play to convey this.
The titles used in the trailer are made by the use of editing. Another aspect of editing which was
used in this trailer was the sound effects at the end when the title of the film appeared. After
each shot, a subtitle was presented which the audience has to read in order to feel more engaged.
At the end of the trailer, an enigma is created as the last shots of the scene have been shown to
makes us question his identity, his reasons for killing people, and if the girl survives.
6. CINEMATOGRAPHY…
The trailer starts of with a handheld/ point of view shot of the main character in order to create
a real life effect and also to identify with the character to see what they see. The effect of
using a shaky camera reflects the character’s uncertainty of the situation and nervous mind, as
the point of view shot takes the audience into the scene with her and makes us feel her anxiety.
The cut to the shot of a woman waking up shows the way in which we are introduced to the main
character, immediately we develop a connection with this character as the tension that has been
created at the start leads us to our suspicion for her and what could be happening. In a way we
are able to relax in this shot as the music has been cut and she appears to be in a normal
situation, but at this moment the audience is left to think we can hear a train coming in the
background. However this doesn’t last for long as the quick pan leads us to realize that she seems
to be completely alone and there isn’t any form of help around her.
A montage of shots is then shown which seem to blur into one, the combination of fast-paced shots
adds more characters and story lines into the plot as it appears to be full of chases and
increases the pace of the film and leaves us wondering what’ll happen next. All of the shots are
extremely dark which is clever as we are not sure of what could happen next and our confusion of
what we see in front of us is still there. The shots begin to increase rapidly in pace which
increases suspense and ambiguity. We see a flash of a knife, letting us know that this film is
gruesome and some sort of bloody destruction will arise. Certain characters were shown in shock
through a close up which from this we can assume that there is less chances of them escaping. By
the end of the trailer the woman is isolated and left completely defenseless to what the other
characters got themselves into. The title of the film ‘Creep’ is displayed at the end of the
trailer in a way to permanently anchor the name in our minds making us think about what might of
happened to the victims. There is a shot of a baby doll and dead babies around it, this again
creates a disturbed image in our mind as it seems out of place and leads to confusion and feeling
agitated.
A clear shot of a mysterious man is introduced in the middle of the trailer which frightens us as
it is not what we expect and it also intrigues us further as it adds a twist to our suspected
storyline. However, the next camera close-up on him convinces us that he is a victim too which
begins to make us care what happens to his character. The fast cuts to a bloody hand grabbing onto
the train leads us to question ‘will she ever escape?’. The quick transition shots of a dark room,
a flashlight and the tunnel highlights all possible escape routes, however this may be a risk as
we cannot receive comfort knowing that something will happen unexpectedly...
7. CINEMATOGRAPHY…
The trailer starts of with a handheld/ point of view shot of the main character in order to create
a real life effect and also to identify with the character to see what they see. The effect of
using a shaky camera reflects the character’s uncertainty of the situation and nervous mind, as
the point of view shot takes the audience into the scene with her and makes us feel her anxiety.
The cut to the shot of a woman waking up shows the way in which we are introduced to the main
character, immediately we develop a connection with this character as the tension that has been
created at the start leads us to our suspicion for her and what could be happening. In a way we
are able to relax in this shot as the music has been cut and she appears to be in a normal
situation, but at this moment the audience is left to think we can hear a train coming in the
background. However this doesn’t last for long as the quick pan leads us to realize that she seems
to be completely alone and there isn’t any form of help around her.
A montage of shots is then shown which seem to blur into one, the combination of fast-paced shots
adds more characters and story lines into the plot as it appears to be full of chases and
increases the pace of the film and leaves us wondering what’ll happen next. All of the shots are
extremely dark which is clever as we are not sure of what could happen next and our confusion of
what we see in front of us is still there. The shots begin to increase rapidly in pace which
increases suspense and ambiguity. We see a flash of a knife, letting us know that this film is
gruesome and some sort of bloody destruction will arise. Certain characters were shown in shock
through a close up which from this we can assume that there is less chances of them escaping. By
the end of the trailer the woman is isolated and left completely defenseless to what the other
characters got themselves into. The title of the film ‘Creep’ is displayed at the end of the
trailer in a way to permanently anchor the name in our minds making us think about what might of
happened to the victims. There is a shot of a baby doll and dead babies around it, this again
creates a disturbed image in our mind as it seems out of place and leads to confusion and feeling
agitated.
A clear shot of a mysterious man is introduced in the middle of the trailer which frightens us as
it is not what we expect and it also intrigues us further as it adds a twist to our suspected
storyline. However, the next camera close-up on him convinces us that he is a victim too which
begins to make us care what happens to his character. The fast cuts to a bloody hand grabbing onto
the train leads us to question ‘will she ever escape?’. The quick transition shots of a dark room,
a flashlight and the tunnel highlights all possible escape routes, however this may be a risk as
we cannot receive comfort knowing that something will happen unexpectedly...