The teaser trailer for Fatal Attraction uses various cinematic techniques to build tension and unease. Low camera angles are used to make the audience feel vulnerable during violent scenes and when Alex is behaving unpredictably. Close-ups and shot-reverse-shot create intimacy during early scenes between Alex and Dan but also show Beth's tense body language when confronting Alex. Dark lighting and ominous music portray Alex as increasingly unhinged as she disrupts the family through obsessive phone calls and kidnapping Dan's daughter. The teaser cuts between scenes of the family's initial happiness and the growing chaos caused by Alex's unstable behavior, teasing the film's transformation from romance to psychological thriller.

1. Genre Research-
Teaser Trailer Style-
Fatal Attraction
(1987)
By Olivia Houlton

2. Fatal Attraction-
Teaser’s Style
• Camerawork
• Angle- This teaser trailer uses many low angles
throughout to connotes different meanings. Firstly, there
is a low angle 52 seconds in when Dan is attacking Alex.
This angle makes the audience feel vulnerable and
scared of Dan in this aggressive outbreak, implying the
power and authority Dan has over Alex. Secondly, 56
seconds in there is use of a low angle as Alex throws the
phone to the floor, also making the audience feel scared
and wary of her and her unpredictable behavior as she
towers above them. Also, 57 seconds in a low angle is
used on a shot of Dan and Beths’ daughter when she
can’t find her bunny. This is effective in suggesting chaos
and disorder in the Gallagher household.
• Movement- the majority of camera movements in the
trailer are used on Alex. For example, 50 seconds in the
camera zooms out of a middle shot of Alex leaning on
the counter. This is effective in creating an eerie and
unnerving feel. Secondly, the camera zooms in 1 minute
16 seconds in on a shot of Alex switching the lights on
and off. Similarly this also creates a creepy feel as she is
sitting very still and the only movement is the camera.

3. Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style
• Shot type- 5 seconds into the teaser trailer, there is
a conversation between Alex and Dan before the
affair, where there is use of close ups, 180 degree
rule, shot-reverse-shot and over-the-shoulder-shot.
All these techniques create a conversational feel
and make the audience feel involved in the
discussion, also they create an eye-line match
which produces a sense of realism and interest.
Also, 14 seconds in there is a close up of Alex and
Dans legs which gives a sense of the intimacy and
passion in their relationship at the time. Also there
is a use of medium-long shot of Beth talking to Alex
once she found out about the affair, effective in
showing her tense and edgy body language. Also, it
allows all the family photos around her to be visual,
giving rise to how Alex has disrupted their lives.

4. Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style
• Composition- There is use of the rule of
thirds 18 seconds in of Beth happy and
cheerful when she doesn't’t know about
the affair, symbolizing the order and
structure her life is in during that point.
However 49 seconds in the rule is broken in
at shot of Alex leaning on the counter
where is is positioned central in the image.
This could be conveying show disorder and
trouble have broken loose and how Alex is
slowing going mad over her obsession with
the Gallagher family.
• Depth of field- The teaser trailer is in deep
focus to capture a sense of realism.

5. Fatal Attraction-
Teaser’s Style
• Sound
• Non-diegetic- Voiceover- whilst there is a voiceover
saying “A look that lead to an evening” there is a
parallel image of Alex and Dan looking at each other,
this narration at the start marks the moment they first
saw each other and the significance it plays in the film.
Secondly, there is a sound track played throughout
which is a deep base-note sound, bringing a sense of
drama and seriousness throughout the footage. Also,
there is a sound-bridge 1 minute 4 seconds in of a
man saying, “Whatever resentment she’s feeling she’s
probably got it out of her system” over the footage of
Alex on a rollercoaster with Dan’s daughter, Ellen. This
is effective in showing how this dialogue is a lie and
Alex is going to even more extreme lengths to get
Dan’s attention and has even turned to kidnapping his
daughter. Also, there is another sound bridge at the
very end when Alex is switching the lights on and off
and there is a video recording playing “guess you
though you’d get away with it, well, you can’t” then
the title appears.

6. Fatal Attraction-
Teaser’s Style
• Diegetic- There is lots of dialogue at the very
beginning during Alex and Dan’s conversation. Dan
says, “I don’t think having dinner with anybody is a
crime”. This is ironic as that dinner eventually leads
to the Alex’s murder. Also, following dialogue
effectively shows how the seriousness of the
situation is developing. For example, 38 seconds in
Dan says, “I’m scared Jimmy” and 55 seconds in
Beth says down the phone “if you ever come near
my family again I’ll kill you, you understand?”. This
use of sinister dialogue demonstrate how the affair
is spiraling out of control. Secondly, there is a
sound effect of a phone ringing 25 seconds
demonstrating how Alex keeps obsessively calling
the family in a bid to get Dan’s attention. Also,
there lots of screams, for example 1 minute 8
seconds in Beth screams for her daughter and 1
minute 13 seconds in Alex screams when attacking
Dan.

7. Fatal Attraction-
Teaser’s Style
• Editing
• Shot order- 37 seconds in there is a medium-close-up
shot of Alex lurking in the darkness then it cuts to a
shot of Dan saying “I’m scared, Jimmy”. This shot
order reinforces how dangerous and frightening Alex
is. 43 seconds in there is a shot of Dan explaining to a
friend how he doesn't’t want to loose his family then I
cuts to a shot of Beth finding out about the affair and
hitting him. This order conveys to the audience how
Beth thinks what he did was unforgivable and how his
worst nightmare is coming true. 52 seconds in there is
a shot of Beth threatening Alex over the phone. Then
it cuts to a shot of Alex throwing the phone to the
ground. This shot order symbolizes how much to two
women hate each other and how much dislike there is
in their relationship.

8. Fatal attraction- Teaser’s Style
• Continuity- The majority of the teaser trailer is a montage
of clips to only tease the audience about the contents of
the film. However, there is continuity at the very start in
the conversation between Alex and Dan to slow the pace
shown a little and show the significance of the night they
first met.
• Transition- The dominant transition is straight cut to help
jump from shot to shot quicker. However the first shot
opens with a fade perhaps to symbolize the mark the
dawn of their relationship. Also, it helps to add drama to
the opening shot. However the final shot, of Alex turning
the lights on and off, is followed by a wipe transition. This
could perhaps symbolize how their lives are slowly being
covered by darkness.
• Shot duration/pace/rhythm- The duration of shots is
quite consistent throughout about 1-2 seconds per shot.
However during the rollercoaster section the pace is
noticeably quicker, this is to symbolize the chaos and
disarray of the kidnapping event
• Special effects- The shots within this teaser trailer are
very natural to further create the sense of reality so there
is limited use of special effects.

9. Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style
• Mise-en-scene
• Setting- The overall city-setting may be used to represent the
unnatural quality in Alex and Dan’s relationship. Also, it could be
used to reinforce the idea of chaos and disorder.
• Props- 1 minute 13 seconds in, Alex is shown holding a knife and
running to attack Dan. This prop represents Alex’s violence and
psychotic behavior
• Costume/hair/make-up- During Alex’s first appearance she is
wearing a very low cut, provocative dress, foreshadowing the affair
about to take place. Also here she is represented as a very glamorous
and desirable women. However this image is later contrasted 50
seconds in where she is wearing an unflattering white dress with
make-up running down her face, showing how her personality has
changed throughout the film. Also, Alex has blonde, frizzy hair and
wears quite heavy make-up. This could represent how she is quite a
false character as our first impressions of her as a calm and collected
lady are later ruined when she shows signs of obsession and
disturbance. Conversely, Beth wears very proper and suitable clothes
with very light make-up and is brunette. This very natural look could
symbolize how real and genuine her personality is. Lastly, Dan wears
very formal suits with tidy hair representing him and a respectable
man and therefore inspires sympathy from the viewer when Alex
turns on him.

10. Fatal Attraction-
Teaser’s Style
• Facial expression/body language- 50 seconds in Alex is
shown leaning on the counter, smiling and crying at the
same time. This performance effectively show how
psychotic she is becoming. Secondly, 19 seconds there is a
shot of Dan hugging Ellen. This affectionate body language
encourage sympathy from the audience as their family is
being torn apart by Alex. Also 59 seconds in there is
footage of Beth asking if anyone has seen Ellen”. Her
worried tone and furrowed eyebrows imply that she is
extremely concerned and further gives rise to how Alex is
ruining their family.
• Lighting/colour- 38 seconds in there is a shot of Alex in
extremely dark lighting symbolizing how she is up to
mischief. 1 minute 3 seconds in there is a shot of Beth
running from a light room into a dark room whilst she is
frantically trying to find her daughter. This shows how she
is heading into darkness both literally and metaphorically
as Alex is getting more extreme in the ways she is tearing
their family apart. Lastly, during the last shot, Alex turns
the lamp lights off symbolizing how her own life will is
soon coming to an end in her murder.