My analysis and comparison on two of the 'Victor Frankenstein' (2015) trailers.

1. A N A LY S I S O F V I C T O R F R A N K E N S T E I N
T R A I L E R S ( 2 0 1 5 )
P E N E L O P E L E U N G

2. Trailer 1
Trailer 2
https://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=2vqNOZIbIRM
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?
v=7pxZxY_Siyc
In this analysis, I will be analysing these these two trailers.

3. Black Fade into Scene
Trailer 1

4. Iconography of time:
Gas lamps
Horse and carriage
No concrete roads
Establishing shot denotes
iconography of London:
Parliament
Big Ben
Lights fading signifies
entering a dark world
Trailer 1 and 2

5. Long shot of the city,
showing depth of field (all
is in focus), helps gives
perspective of the setting
and time period.
Trailer 1

6. Scientific shot indicates element revealed in film.
Written on the blackboard using chalk.
Trailer 1

7. The audience sees the first character,
which connotes the voiceover of the main
character. This suggests the main
character of the film.
The actor also has star appeal,
attracting his fan base to watch
the film. Trailer 1

8. The ambient sound
of the thunder
helps to move to
the next part of the
trailer, changing
the atmosphere.
A good part of the
second trailer is shown in
high key lighting which
shows a more positive
and humorous side of the
film.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2

9. The audience catch a
glimpse of the
character which the
film is about.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2
In the opening of the
trailer, Victor
Frankenstein gives
narrative cues with his
voiceover.

10. !
The scene becomes more graphic with the skin and muscle, forming a
body like image.
Low key lighting and the depth of field helps to change the atmosphere
of the trailer. Trailer 1

11. An intertextual film of
‘Halloween’ (1978) of the
character Michael Myers - an
iconic fictional character in
the horror genre.
Artificial lighting to
distort audience.
Trailer 1
In the second trailer, it is
more humour focused. This
suggests that the trailer is
trying to target a younger
audience with more comedic
references.
Trailer 2

12. Victor Frankenstein, the character is introduced to the audience by the voiceover.
!
The character of a sweaty/wet man makes him appear crazy, particularly with the whites of his eyes.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2 The character appears less
crazy and power hungry. There
is a contrast between the two
scenes in this slide, the
character in this scene appears
to look normal without any
abnormal amounts of whites in
his eyes.

13. The logo in low key lighting with artificial lighting
and shadows signifies aura of enigma.
Looks like a grave slate connotes dead coming
alive.
Lights lighting up the logo, rise from the dead which
correlates with the story of Frankenstein. Audience already
have knowledge and understanding of the character.
Clouds add to eeriness.
In another version of the
trailer, the bronze in the
logo contrasts suggesting
that the trailer is trying to
attract different groups of
audiences with different
trailers.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2

14. The next segment starts
in the daytime, with the
characters voiceover.
This is an example of a
J-cut.
The character is on a journey,
working against the current
of the river connoting that he
is against the social norm and
has a hidden motive.
!
The river is fast-paced which
echoes the action in this
trailer.
Trailer 1
Trailer 1

15. Through the characters
costume, it signifies that the
character is from the high social
class, the character is in a world
that is privilege. When
explaining his idea, it’s
respected and he thinks its a
good idea that is aspirational.
Trailer 1

16. Codes and conventions are broken as the audience feel empathy for the
character who goes through an extremely painful process that is very
brutal and experimental.
Trailer 1

17. A binary opposition is seen within these trailers. Though both scenes are
similar, the lighting and the color contrast make the top scene seem very
pure and good whereas the bottom scene seems very evil and dark.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2

18. By “creating something that
shouldn’t exist”, Victor
Frankenstein’s idea is going
against social norms.
Trailer 1

19. Victor Frankenstein starts becoming a power - hungry character.
Eye whites of the character is
prominent, making him appear
possess with the success that
could come with his inventions.
Trailer 1

20. Narrative of the trailer
starts to unravel which is
echoed by the weather
changing and the music.
Two shots of characters appears with
Frankenstein coming down, connoting hierarchy.
Fog that comes from the characters breathing,
signifies the evilness of the character. Another
binary opposition of good vs evil.
Rapid succession of shots, narrative codes and cues arise. Trailer 1
Trailer 1
Trailer 1

21. Explosions in lab, pulling people apart.
A different point of view of the scientist described as the
monster is shown here, role reversal from the original story.
Trailer 1

22. After the death of the character, a flatline sound is shown.
Trailer 1

23. This indicates the official trailer.
Social marketing.
Trailer 1
Trailer 2
This indicates the
official trailer with more
of a specific time.
Social marketing.