The trailer for the horror film The Thing provides a clear overview of the plot and introduces main characters in under 2 minutes. It begins by showing the isolated setting where the film takes place. Several quick shots show that something is wrong and put the audience on edge. A key scene reveals that a monster may have taken over someone's body. Throughout, two main characters with authority guide the audience and debate how to deal with the emerging threat. The trailer effectively establishes the narrative and genre through its use of lighting, sound, and gore.

1. Initial release: 10 October 2011

2. The Thing is a trailer that would be shown before a
movie in the cinema. The trailer I will be analysing
is longer than 2 minutes and introduced many
characters and the main plot throughout. The
trailer is extremely fleshed out and provides a clear
structure for the audience to understand.

3. The first shot we are shown is the logo of
universal which is the films distributing
company. This is a typical first shot for trailer
as they are giving audiences information
about the background. In addition, some
may enjoy universals films which may be a
reason they are attracted to watching it when
released.
We are then shown several quick shots of the location the film and trailer and based in.
We can immediately see that they are in an isolated country surrounded by risks
around them which follows codes and conventions of horror film settings. The purpose
of this shot is to ground the audience and engage them making it seem real.

4. • The Thing = Horror film
We know this as specific codes and
conventions have been used such as
characters have forgotten about the threat. In
this case, the characters have forgotten that
the ice would melt over night meaning the
creature would escape putting everyone at
risk. This puts the audience on edge as what
could happen. In addition, in horror films it is
extremely common and overused for
someone to investigate a strange noise
which exposes them to danger. This was
used in The Thing as the characters hear
noises coming from another room. A quick
take is used to show a dog in distress
knowing what is coming which shows the
audience that something is not right.

5. • Low key lighting is a common
iconography as it creates
shadows and symbolises
mystery and the unknown. This
is used in horror films as you can
also create unfamiliar shapes in
the background.
• Props are also a common giveaway
about the genre, however, in this trailer
there is no evidence that demonstrate
the genre except the use of blood
which can be seen in many scenes to
show the chaos the creature is
creating.

6. Very little text was used through out the trailer of the film which
was disappointing as the audience as I wanted more clues. The
first piece of text introduces was ‘From Universal Studios’. This
text was not creative, however it did portray the genre as its
horror and it is mysterious which is shown with this font.
All three titles in the trailer appeared in front of a black out near
the end of the trailer. All three titles do not help link together the
narrative of the film and instead just informed the audience
about companies involved and for example the title.

7. • The most significant scene shown in the trailer is when
the lady realises that either someone had miraculously
healed themselves or the monster has taken over
someone's body. This is when the trailer begins to show
gore and it intensifies the sound to scare the audience.
• Overall, the short trailer does show a clear story as it
begins introducing the settings and motives for being in
their location, then they realise that danger is close.
Lastly, the creature begins to create chaos and people
are suddenly being dragged from the camp. Audiences
should be able to describe the plot from the trailer as
everything is clearly shown in a linear narrative in the 2
minutes.

8. • There are two significant characters that would catch the audiences
attention and this is the lady and man seen below they are shown with
authority throughout the trailer. The lady flew from a long distance to
investigate the creature and the man has control as he decided he
would take a test of the monster which she replied with “is that really a
good idea.”
• These two characters are the main ones which were given dialogue
which guided the audience through the story line. Thus was done
effectively as they answered questions such as how they found it and
how long its been there.