enigmas in trailers

1. Narrative Enigmas in Trailers
Jordan

2. Psychological Thrillers

3. Narrative conventions
• Typically, there are a lot of medium and close up shots used
and sometimes, the use of a hand held camera to restrict
certain information and create enigma and mystery.
• The use of montage and fast pace editing is used to create
a puzzle and build up tension at the uncertainty and
mystery of the scene shown in the fraction of a second.
• Non-diegetic voiceover-could be the voice in their heads,
also if we have not yet been introduced to the character
makes the audience question who they are.
• Flashbacks are also used to help clarify and develop the
narrative.

4. Narrative structure
• The non-linear narrative structure of this
genre is to confuse the audience a little, so
they are more desperate to find out what
happens in the film.
• Flashbacks are also used to help clarify and
develop the narrative.
• There is an equilibrium and disequilibrium,
but there is no new equilibrium as this part
will be revealed in the actual film.

5. Restrictive narrative
• Predominantly restricted narrative is used as
the audience are left not knowing what
happens to the main character at the end of
the film.
• The use of close up shots of hands or little
actions done by the main character hide the
identity of the actual character.
• This also creates enigma for the audience.

6. Unrestrictive narrative
• Unrestricted narrative structure is used to
display the location and environment of the
film to the audience and show little
clues/hints to the identity of a character.
• Titles are also used to reference the past or
explain the current situation so the audience
have a better understanding.
• This can also be done through voiceovers.

7. Enigmas for audience
• What is the meaning of the signs/hints?
• Who is the killer?
• Does the killer get caught?
• What persuades/makes the killer kill?

8. How they create enigmas?
• Through the use of fast pace editing- the
build of tension and the limitation of time on
the shots is how enigmas are created.
• Flashbacks- another way of creating enigma,
as it encourages the audience to try and piece
out the information they’ve been given from
their own interpretations.

9. How does this connect to the
expectation/ conventions of the genre?
• Psychological thrillers are generally expected
to be thrilling through its fast pace.
• The location is conventionally set in
modern/urban settings and mostly in an
abandoned or inhabited city.