Download to read offline
More Related Content
More from Melanie Vaca Arango
The Thing
- 1. Initial release: 10October 2011
- 2. The Thing isa trailer that would be shown before a movie in the cinema. The trailer I will be analysing is longer than 2 minutes and introduced many characters and the main plot throughout. The trailer is extremely fleshed out and provides a clear structure for the audience to understand.
- 3. The first shotwe are shown is the logo of universal which is the films distributing company. This is a typical first shot for trailer as they are giving audiences information about the background. In addition, some may enjoy universals films which may be a reason they are attracted to watching it when released. We are then shown several quick shots of the location the film and trailer and based in. We can immediately see that they are in an isolated country surrounded by risks around them which follows codes and conventions of horror film settings. The purpose of this shot is to ground the audience and engage them making it seem real.
- 4. • The Thing= Horror film We know this as specific codes and conventions have been used such as characters have forgotten about the threat. In this case, the characters have forgotten that the ice would melt over night meaning the creature would escape putting everyone at risk. This puts the audience on edge as what could happen. In addition, in horror films it is extremely common and overused for someone to investigate a strange noise which exposes them to danger. This was used in The Thing as the characters hear noises coming from another room. A quick take is used to show a dog in distress knowing what is coming which shows the audience that something is not right.
- 5. • Low keylighting is a common iconography as it creates shadows and symbolises mystery and the unknown. This is used in horror films as you can also create unfamiliar shapes in the background. • Props are also a common giveaway about the genre, however, in this trailer there is no evidence that demonstrate the genre except the use of blood which can be seen in many scenes to show the chaos the creature is creating.
- 6. Very little textwas used through out the trailer of the film which was disappointing as the audience as I wanted more clues. The first piece of text introduces was ‘From Universal Studios’. This text was not creative, however it did portray the genre as its horror and it is mysterious which is shown with this font. All three titles in the trailer appeared in front of a black out near the end of the trailer. All three titles do not help link together the narrative of the film and instead just informed the audience about companies involved and for example the title.
- 7. • The mostsignificant scene shown in the trailer is when the lady realises that either someone had miraculously healed themselves or the monster has taken over someone's body. This is when the trailer begins to show gore and it intensifies the sound to scare the audience. • Overall, the short trailer does show a clear story as it begins introducing the settings and motives for being in their location, then they realise that danger is close. Lastly, the creature begins to create chaos and people are suddenly being dragged from the camp. Audiences should be able to describe the plot from the trailer as everything is clearly shown in a linear narrative in the 2 minutes.
- 8. • There aretwo significant characters that would catch the audiences attention and this is the lady and man seen below they are shown with authority throughout the trailer. The lady flew from a long distance to investigate the creature and the man has control as he decided he would take a test of the monster which she replied with “is that really a good idea.” • These two characters are the main ones which were given dialogue which guided the audience through the story line. Thus was done effectively as they answered questions such as how they found it and how long its been there.