1. The Silence of the Lambs trailer analysis
https://youtu.be/ZWCAf-xLV2k
We see inthe beginningof the traileraclose up
of the antagonistsmiling andlookingdirectlyat
the audience.Hisfacial expressionis very
sinisterandmakesthe audience feel uneasy
fromthe offset.Alsobyhimlookingdirectlyat
the camera and addressingthe audience it
createsan evenmore eerie effectasthe
viewersfeel asif the characteris looking
specificallyatthemmakingit personal. The effectspreviouslystatedare furtherintensifiedbythe
use of sound.We see the trailerswitchfroma title screentoa short close up,andduringthis
transitionthe musicgoesfrombeingquietandmellow toloudandsharpwhichmakesthe audience
jumpand createsevenmore tension,especiallyaroundthe characterwe see inthe close up.The
audience nowassociate the characterwithbeingdangerousandcreepy,makingthe trailereven
more intense andfrightening. The traileralsouseslow-keylightinginthisscene toenhance the
effectsstatedabove.Forexample,we see,inthisscene,colourssuchasgreyand darkgrey are
presentinthe background.Alsothe roomtheyare in isnot well litandisquite dull.These two
factors alsocontribute toan eerie feelingmoodbasedaroundthe protagonistandcreateseven
more tensionandsuspense rightfromthe startof the trailerinformingthe audience clearlythatthis
isa tense scarythrillerfilm.
2. Alsothe editingof thissequenceisalsoeffective.Forexample,the use of quickcutsbetween
differentshots,inparticularthe close up.Bynot allowingthe audience tosee the characterfortoo
longit createsa sense of mysteryaroundthe character.Thiseffect,accompaniedwithall the other
effectsstatedabove,givesthe viewersevenmore negative connotationsaroundthe characterand
createsan evenmore sinistervibefromthe startof the trailer.Thisopeningsequence isnot
conventional tothe crime genre asitis toointimidatingandhorrorlike,howeveritcouldbe argued
it isconventional tothe thrillergenre asitcreatessuspense fromthe start.
The trailerutilisesnon-digeticsoundthroughoutthe trailer.Forexample,the traileruses
backgroundmusicwhichisextremelymenacingandmakesthe audience onedge.Thisisdone
throughthe repeateduse of sharpsoundand screams.These soundscreate anintense atmosphere
whichintensifiesthe effectsof anyotherscenesinthe trailer.Anotherexample wouldbe the
narrationor voice over.The voice overusedisverydeepandemitsa serioustone andsaysthing
such as “the darkestmind”.The tonesand nature of hisvoice alsocreatesan intense andfrightening
atmosphere andquotes,likethe one statedabove make the mainantagonistappearevenmore
petrifyingandagainincrease the suspense of the trailer.Also,digeticsoundisusedeffectively
throughoutthe trailerandina similarwaytonon digetic.Forexample,sharpsoundsare againused
such as gatesand metal scraping.These sharpsoundscouldconnote dangerandmake the audience
jump.Anotherexample isthe dialoguebetweencharactersforexample,we see the main
protagonistgetasked“doyou spookeasily”whichimpliesthe charactershe isaboutto meetis
extremelymenacingandominous.AgainIwouldsaythe trailerchallengesconventionsinthissense
as althoughcrime/thrillerfilmsdotypicallycreate suspenseandtension,itisneverusuallytothe
degree thisfilmhascreated.Thislevelof suspense would be more conventional toahorror film
trailer.
3. In termsof cinematographythe trailermakesuse
of manyclose upshots of characters’faces.In
particular,we see close upsof the antagonistand
protagonistfrequentlythroughout.Thisis done
to emphasise the emotionsandfeelingsof
characters throughtheirfacial expressions.For
example,we see the protagonist’sfacial
expressionason-edge andconcernedasshe is
intimidated.Herfeelingof beingfrightenedistransmittedtothe audienceastheycare for this
character and therefore leavesthemon-edge.Thisallowsthe trailertofeel evenmore suspenseful.
Alsowe see manyclose upsof the antagonist.Inthese close upsthe character’sexpressionsare
quite the opposite tothe protagonists,withhimappearingmore calmandevenhappy.Bygivingus
manyclose ups of bothit allowsfora clearcontrast of emotionsbetweenthe twocharactersand
therefore emphasisestothe audience firstly,how muchdangerthe protagonistisinandher panic,
and secondly,howmuchof an emotionlesspsychopaththe antagonistis.Thisleavesthe audience
extremelyonedge.Itisconventionaltosee manyclose upsusedincrime thrillertrailersasoften
characters’emotionsare a vital part of the story and a majorsellingpointtothe viewers.
4. The traileralsomanagesto use lightingeffectivelythroughout.It
usesa mixture of bothdark andbright coloursbutmainlylow-
keylightingisprevalent.In particular, we see ascene whichisa
mid-shotof the antagonistandwe see mainlydarkcolourssuch
as grey,blackand dark brown.Also,we see ashadow on the
antagonists face whichconnotesmysteryaroundthe character
and makeshimseemsinister.The use of darkcoloursgives
negative connotationsandcreate anintimidatingatmosphereforthe audience.Low keylightingis
conventional tothe crime/thrillergenre andisoftenusedtoconnote powerandintimidation.
The traileralsousestitle screens.Forexampleitpresents
the title of the film;‘silenceof the lambs’.The colourthey
use for thistext isredand it isovera blackbackground.
The colour redgivesconnotationsof bloodanddangerto
the audience whichhelpsenhance the terrifying
atmosphere. The darkbackgroundnotonlyallowsthe text
to standout more but alsogivesof dark and scary
connotationstothe audience intimidatingthemand
allowinghtemtoleave withthisfearasthe trailerends.
