This document provides details for a psychological horror film trailer called "Detritus" that is targeted towards teenagers aged 15-25. It draws inspiration from the film "Paranormal Activity" and explores themes of peer pressure and society's punishment of rebellious teenage behavior. The trailer will follow the typical horror structure of introducing characters, building tension as occult markings are discovered in an abandoned house, possessions and killings occurring one by one, and the "final girl" escaping due to her purity. White contact lenses will be used to emphasize demonic possession and the characters follow common horror archetypes based on Vladimir Propp and Tzetvan Todorov's theories.
2. Sub-Genre
• The sub-genre of this trailer is
psychological.
• The tag line is “You can’t escape
what’s within”
3. TARGET AUDIENCE
•The target audience will be aimed at
teenagers between the ages of 15 and
25. These are the group of people that
are going to watch the film. It will also
be more relatable to this group of
people because the protagonist is also
a teenager
4. INSPIRATION
The film paranormal activity is what the film is based
around. This is because the film is centred about
investigations almost like thriller horror. The most
important factor as to why paranormal activity is one
of the inspirations is due to the occult markings which
tare found once they break into the house. It also
links to the fact that young people aren’t following
the socially acceptable things such as drinking but in
the case of paranormal activity they are interfering
with the unknown.
5. Sub-Text
What does it all mean?
Society not happy with the things which the teenagers partake
in such as drinking.
What does the antagonist represent?
The punishment which society enforces against teenagers
6. Theme
• Peer Pressure – This theme is very evident throughout the
film/trailer. This is due to the fact that Alex’s friends are
trying to persuade her into indulging in activities such as
underage drinking and smoking which society may not
condone.
• Revenge – This is a more superficial theme as it is presented as
though society is somewhat punishing Alex’s friends for taking
part in such activities.
7. Makeup & Props
• White contact lenses will used during the making of
the film trailer. This emphasises the theme of
possession in the teenagers. This also represents the
fact that the demon who possesses the teenagers will
not be shown but it will become evident in the NVC of
the characters.
8. Propp’s Theory
• Alex – Final Girl
• Tom – The Jock
• Jamie – The Princess
• Kelly – The Stoner
• Freddie – The Scholar
Vladimir Propp argues that narratives always have
certain character types who perform certain actions.
These are the characters which are going to be in
Detritus.
9. Todorov’s Theory
1. The teenagers initially finding and then beginning
the exploring of the supposed ‘murder house’. Here
they will also be drinking and smoking while walking
towards the house and while inside the house.
2. The teenagers initially finding and then beginning
the exploring of the supposed ‘murder house’. Here
they will also be drinking and smoking while walking
towards the house and while inside the house.
3. The teenagers begin seeing occult marking all
around the house which begins to increase the tension
in the trailer.
4. They try to fight back whilst simultaneously
trying to save themselves and their friends from the
spirit.
5. The final girl of the trailer is unharmed
and managed to get away due to her
innocence and purity.
What was the Theory?
Tzetvan Todorov argued that narratives
always have a structure of Equilibrium/
Disequilibrium/ New Equilibrium
10. Synopsis
Group of 5 teenagers exploring a supposed
murder house at night. All the teenagers are
drinking and smoking except one. Final girl
pressured into partaking in such activities
(drinking, smoking, etc.). One by one the 4
rebellious teenagers are possessed and killed. The
final girl lives as she is the ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’
one.