This document analyzes the trailer for the film Warm Bodies. It examines elements at both the micro and macro level. At the micro level, it analyzes aspects like mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing, and sound design. It finds the trailer uses dark colors and lighting to build suspense, close shots to show emotion, and quick cuts to keep pace. At the macro level, it determines the genre is a thriller/romance. It also analyzes the narrative, representation of characters, and target audience of ages 15-24.

1. Analysis of Warm Bodies
teaser trailer
By Tom Quigley

2. companies ident
Here is the first shot of the trailer and as you can see it
has been altered in design to fit the genre of the film
which seemed initially to be a thriller/horror. The music
was a hard cut of white noise, typically used for this
genre a it builds tension and is noise that is hard to listen
to, making the audience feel uneasy when watching the
trailer.
The logo of the distributor is usually placed at the
beginning of the trailer, whilst the audience are mostly
paying attention.

3. micro elements

4. Mise en scene
 Setting
 The setting for this film can be seen as an apocalyptic city, with large buildings derelict with little human activity. All objects such as the
vehicles, labs, airport are all dis-used and dirty due to lack of maintenance.
 Costume
 All characters costumes are casual, regular clothing. However due to the majority of the characters being zombies, there clothes are
stained with blood and dirt. This is due to the lack the intelligence and their sole drive to kill and eat humans with little care for how they
look to others. The humans that are in this film are also dirty as they are usually in fierce combat with the zombies. They are typically
dressed in clothing suitable for fighting e.g. slim black trousers/shirts with gun holsters.
 Performance
 The human characters are generally aggressive towards the zombies, however the main human character who befriends a zombie
shows compassion and comfort with the zombies and sees beyond there stereotype of killing humans. The zombies gradually change
and become more human as the trailer progresses.
 Colour
 The most predominate shade from this trailer is dark grey, however when the main zombie character meets the main human character,
due to their positive relationship, the colours in the different frames become bright to represent their “bright new” relationship.
 lighting
 The lighting for this trailer is dark to add suspense to the mystery to the trailer. It also can represent the dark characteristics of the
zombies and the issues they cause the humans.

5. Camerawork
 The majority of camera shots are medium to close shots. This is done to capture fully
the facial expressions of each character and how they are feeling. Due to the types of
emotions that are felt in this trailer e.g. fear, horror, shock, all of which require close
shots that can fully depict how they are feeling to the audience.
 There is a big use of still shots, however even more so tracking shots. Due to the
zombies and their violent characters, a lot of physical scenes are shot. To add to
suspense, tracking shots are used to follow the movement of their actions to make it
see more real to the audience.
 The angles were depended on the scenario in the trailer. When the zombies were
feared by the humans, typically a low angle shot was used on them to portray
dominance both physically and mentally as the humans feared them. However as the
trailer progresses, the angle types change and are at eye line level. This is most
evident in the car scene were the zombie looks over to the female human with
compassion.

6. Editing
 The trailer is a montage sequence with the most dramatic and influential scenes
included in the trailer. This is done to encourage audiences to see the full film with
the promise that the film will be as dramatic and action packed as the trailer was.
 The length of shots were very short creating a fast pace to the trailer. This may
have been done to build tension reflecting on the genre of the trailer which was a
thriller/romance.
 There are a huge number of reaction shots in this trailer, most noticeable was the
one were the zombies sees the main human character for the first time and both
hers and his faces are met with close ups showing their facial expressions. The
idea behind having a large number of reaction shots is to make the audience feel
the same as the characters therefore making the trailer seem more realistic.
 There is use of FX in the trailer. The zombies heart is shot when he spots the
female human for the first time with the heart beating, something we, as the
audience wouldn't typically associate with zombies as we see them as
emotionless, dead creatures.

7. Sound
 music- The music uses big seeping white noises and sounds
that occupy both the high and low frequency ranges with
strong textures making the sound seem full and impactful.
 There is little dialog, only short phrases from key characters to
emphasize the importance of the scene. Limited dialog makes
the audience appreciate the dialog that is included making it
more impactful.

8. Macro elements

9. Genre
The genre from this trailer is a mix
between thriller/romance.

10. • Narrative
 The trailer depicts the zombies first off as mindless creatures.
However with the introduction of the voice over of the zombie, it
makes the audience realise that these creatures are all to think and
feel. When he meets the female character, there is a spark
triggered between the two of them forming a friendship, however
this should not be happening as the two should be in conflict with
each other as the humans are fighting the zombies. Yet they try to
defy all odds and pursue with forming a relationship going against
the stereotype of humans and zombies conflicting, forming a
romantic element for the film.
 Due to this information that can be analysis from the trailer, you
understand the beginning, middle and can almost predict the end of
the trailer.

11. Representation
 The main zombie character is represented as a challenger of
stereotypes of zombies as he forms emotions for humans and
understand his surroundings more than the average zombie,
portraying him with intelligence.
 The female human is seen as aggressive at first but then
becomes affectionate for the zombies so is represented a
loving character and is protective in keep her relationship with
the zombie.
 Her father is seen a intelligent, military man who has little
compassion for the zombies as seen by his refusal to allow a
relationship to fester between his daughter and the zombie.

12. Target Audience
I feel that this film is meant for ages between 15-
24. This is because the combination of action and
romance leads to a film that is full of scenes that
excites and would please this type of
demographic. The plot seems relatively easy to
follow so it isn't challenging for the younger ages.
However it lacks the emotional and theatrical
depth that may come from a film for elder people
generally between 30+.