The document analyzes two horror movie trailers, Saw and Primal. For Saw, it discusses the stereotypical iconography used including the dark bathroom setting, torture props, and characterization of the female as the victim. It also analyzes the structure using discontinuous editing, tense sounds, and canted camera angles. For Primal, it discusses the establishing shot showing the isolated group, fast-paced music building fear, and monster sounds acting as a predator. Both trailers effectively use editing, sounds, and shots to create tension and suspense through established horror conventions.

1. ANALYSIS OF
TRAILERS
By Ivana, Ramarna and Georgia

2. Saw the stereotypical iconography, some of these are:
Saw uses
1; Iconography
• Setting- dark isolated, dirty old bathroom. Immediately the
audience recognises that it is a horror film. The use of cages
and barbed wire implies that people are helpless and it is
playing on peoples fears of being alone/trapped.
• Props- Saw, gun, cages (torture equipment) represent pain and
suffering to the victims, the doll (creates fear- for instance
peoples phobias of clowns) – collectively represent the horror
genre well as the audience know what to expect. Very
struturalist structure
• Characters- crying blonde female- depicts stereotypical view
that a female is the victim; she is helpless and weak. The film
uses Propp‟s eight characters theory- the blonde female is the
victim, Jigsaw is the villain and the police officer is the helper.
The masked person is shown as it creates a mystery, and
makes the viewers want to see the film and find out what
happens for theirselves

3. Saw 1; Structure
Saw uses editing, sound, camera shots to create the scary
atmosphere needed in a horror film.
• Editing-The discontinuous editing used creates a jarring effect
which makes the audience feel on edge. The tone cards (“It‟s
his game. It‟s your move”), as well as the black screens which
are held for a significant amount of time, involve the audience
in the trailer making them feel vulnerable emphasizing the
effects the codes and conventions have on the audience.
• Sound- non-diegetic high pitched noises builds a tense
atmosphere. In addition the diegetic screams and the clinking
of chains are noises the audience would find familiar within the
horror genre. Distorted voices make the identity of the killer
unknown creating mystery around the story, this technique is
often used in horror films eg Scream
• Camera Shots- canted angle is used to create an uneasy
feeling within the trailer and connotes the characters instability.

4. Primal; Todorov‟s Theory
Primal uses the stereotypical iconography, some of these are:
• Establishing shot used to show isolated hills, the group of boys and
girls on a road trip. Todorov‟s theory of narrative can be applied here
as it is the moment of equilibrium: everything is calm and fine for
about 9 seconds and then the sound bridge carries on to the moment
of disequilibrium (as soon as they step out of the car- they are not
safe)
• The tone cards „distant journey‟ imply they are alone and the
audience are aware they are vulnerable
• Fast pace music at around 21 seconds; dark setting in a „ancient
passage‟ – the tone cards get closer together and the fast pace music
work together to create fear in the audience
• Tone cards such as „once it gets inside‟ and the sound effect of a
zombie/monster purr with jump constant jump cuts connotes the idea
that it is like a predator is pouncing on its prey (hence the name:
Primal)
• The non diegetic sound of heavy breathing is a stereotypical
paradigm used in many horror films; the audience are made to feel a
part of the trailer and relate to the emotions of the characters

5. Primal; Structure
Primal uses editing, sound, camera shots to create the scary atmosphere needed in
a horror film.
• Editing- the discontinuous editing used shows the unstableness of the
filming which helps create authenticity in what is happening. This
helps the audience feel connected and in suspense.
• Sound; heart beats, purrs of monster/zombie. The sound of the heart
beats create anticipation in what is about to happen, while the
diegetic sound of the purrs of the monster/zombie create an
unnerving atmosphere.
• Theory of binary opposites: Good v Evil- Levi Strauss’ idea can be
mirrored in this film as there is obvious conflict between the humans
and the zombie/monster
• Camera Shots: canted angle, low and high angle. High angle
represents the blonde girl as being seen low and helpless as she is
the promiscuous girl (structuralist idea)
• Intertextual refrences; there is a similar part to ‘The Exorcist’ when the
blonde victim is possessed – gives postmodern impression
• Mise en scene: props- torches, video camera in the car on the road
trip: to video everything that occurs (stereotypical approach)