2. Genre and audience
• The shining is an example of a psychological thriller.
• They typically focus on the unstable emotional state
of character, mystery and thriller.
• The film is rated age 15
• Target audience – 15 to late 30’s.
• Audience are able to relate to the family
relationships.
3. Narrative and plot
What does the trailer reveal about the plot, and how does it create a
sense of narrative?
• Man moves to a hotel for the winter with his wife and son.
• Audience are told the back story to the film – The previous caretaker of
the hotel, due to severe isolation suffered a mental breakdown,
causing him to kill his wife and kids.
• The back story is revealed to the audience through a voiceover.
• This leaves many questions unanswered.
• Code of enigma is created – What has led the man to
violence/madness? What is the significance of the back story? Are the
two linked?
• Sense of mystery is created, this being the film’s unique selling point.
4. Commonly used camera shots
Long establishing shots:
• set the scene of the film
• shows the hotel stood by itself, emphasising it’s isolation, adding to the
mysterious element.
5. Close ups:
• These tend to be of the character’s
faces
• This shows their fear, creating a
tense atmosphere
• Brings the audience to ask
questions
This particular close up is effective as we
see the man in a menacing light, creating
a sense of suspicion. This is therefore
going to intrigue the viewer.
6. Editing
• The most frequent use of editing within the trailer are jump cuts.
• The pace of editing gradually increases throughout the trailer, creating a
great sense of momentum
• Fade to black is also occasionally used.
• Fade to black is used after this shot
• This is effective as it shows his
suspicious nature of his character
• What has caused him to act in this
way? The audience will question his
intentions.
7. Sound
• Both non-diegetic and diegetic sound is used effectively.
• Ghostly /eerie sound at the beginning can be heard when
the audience are told the back story.
• This gives the impression that something is unsettled
from the onset.
• Drumming sound – this picks up pace as the trailer
develops, building momentum, providing a sense of
excitement to the audience
• Diegetic high pitched screeching sounds and the
repetition of the bell ringing add to the tense
atmosphere.
8. “I can assure you Mr Allmun, that’s not going to happen with me.”
• The audience learn that this is not the case and so causes the audience to expect
something bad to happen because of this man.
• The person responsible for the drama is revealed to the audience, however, we are
told nothing about why they are doing so.
• This will intrigue the viewer to watch the film in order to find out.
• The audience will question this, again
providing a sense of mystery.
• They will be inclined to find out the answer
by watching the film.
“Is there something bad here?”
9. Characters and relationships
• The audience is presented with two sides to the main
male character.
• This creates a sense of suspicion – can we trust him?
• The mother and son are stereotypically presented as
the weaker characters, alongside the powerful and
controlling male.
• Less interaction is seen between the father and the
son as t is with the mother.
• This suggests a divide or separation between the two
10. Mise-en-scene
The hotel appears lonely, in the middle of nowhere
creating a mysterious atmosphere and a sense of
intrigue.
The maze adds to this mysterious mood
Props such as the axe, knife and baseball bat can be
seen. This emphasises the characters lack of safety as
they need a form of defence for protection.
11. The film trailer as a promotional
device
• The most effective way of capturing the initial
interest of the audience
• Creates a sense of excitement, and sets up the dark
and mysterious mood
• Stirs the emotions of the viewer
• Presents it’s unique selling point as being the
mystery
• The shining is a critically acclaimed film, and still
influences popular culture today.
