The document provides analysis of trailers for the films Split and Dream House. For Split, it examines how the trailer uses shots, lighting, costumes and music to build tension without revealing the plot. For Dream House, it analyzes how the trailer employs conventions like changes in music, lighting and shots to suggest something is amiss with the new family's home and hint at a disturbing past crime. Overall, the document discusses the filmmaking techniques used in both trailers to engage audiences and tease the thriller/horror elements without fully disclosing the stories.

2. SPLIT
Genre - Horror/Thriller
Directed/Written – M. Night Shyamalan
Release Date - 20th January 2017
Split is about an individual who posses multiple personality disorder. The trailer is 02:35 minutes long and structurally goes through the basic story without giving too
much away. The next slide is just a visual example of all the conventions used in this trailer, to match the thriller genre.
The first image is an example of a shot in the mirror of the car. It is during the day, so the lighting is quite high and doesn’t suggest abnormality, however the dropped
groceries imply something is wrong and there was problem. During this shot there is child like music and then a sudden low drop as if something has happened, to
build suspense. The problem is then further presented when the camera takes a close up shot of the young girl in the passenger seat. The close up shot allows you to see
her emotion clearly, which appears to be nervous and confused, she is dressed simply and has a young looking face to suggest purity and innocence. In the next image a
dolly shot is used and then there are multiple jump cuts between different parts of the film and the dolly shot. This has a significant effect on the audience because it
pairs with the music in the trailer and makes the scenes more tense. This could be something we could involve in our trailer. The next image shows a yellow flower in an
empty, white bathroom. The use of this blank bathroom shows the audience, where the girls reside is bleak and uninhabited. The flower could be a symbol for hope in
somewhere so bare. The following image presents the young girl in front of her environment. A medium shot is used and we are able to see her costume. It appears
significantly simple, which could emulate her mood at time; she is wearing black which is a colour associated with sadness and darkness, this could be the reflection of
her feelings. The next scene is an example of the titles in this trailer, a movable font was used to make the title more interesting, it could be something we could employ
in our trailer. The next scene is a close up of one of the characters (psychiatrist), the close up allows us to see her emotion clearly and create a more serious tone of the
trailer. The following image is of one of the characters this man claims to be, low lighting is used and the man has a serious emotion on his face, it is a medium shot from
a low angle which could present the character as quite powerful. Again another character the man claims to be is in the next image, he is wearing a completely
alternative costume to assure the audience he is a different character. It is a completely alternative setting and he seems to be some what smiling in this scene, indicating
he is able to adjust between characters, and each character has their own personality and front. The following picture is again another character this person claims to
be. The lighting used is very high key which emulates a positive vibe, however the frown painted on James McAvoy’s face tells another story. The complete opposite
moods from both the lighting and character actions, makes this scene eerie and unnerving. The next image is an example of a long angle shot. This is extremely
significant because it presents the character as very powerful, he is overlooking the sleeping girl, with a sinister smile. We could use this low angle shot in our trailer
because it is quite an easy shot to film, but still has a menacing and important effect. The trailer then goes on to a close up of the ‘crazy’ man, like many other close ups
in this trailer, it emphasises the emotions on the face of the character. The background is blurred focusing only on the character, this is an example of a shallow focus. It
highlights the importance of the emotions displayed on the face of the patient. The next shot is an over the shoulder shot, this has great significance as it makes the
audience feel as though they are also in the movie, taking part in the action. It heightens tension and builds the eagerness to want to watch the film. The music at this
point is also very creepy, but there is narration over the scene to help the story make sense. This seems to be the case throughout the trailer as a whole, this works well
because when you are slightly confused about what is going on, the narration helps fit together the confusion. The following image is a close up but low key lighting is
used which makes the image more effective because all you can see is a crying face. This close up allows us to see the feelings of the character which appears to be
nervous, scared and in extreme danger. The next shot is very conventional in horror/thriller movies. It is a matte shot, filmed from behind a suspected cupboard door.
This creates suspense because it gives the audience limited vision of the surroundings. The final image is a birds eye view shot, but it is different because there is a street
light blocking some of the shot. This again builds suspense because as an audience, we are unable to see what goes on in that particular space. In the scene straight after
the music stops and this suggests something happened. Then there are jump cuts between certain shots to match the music, this therefore makes the trailer less boring
and puts together a trailer that focuses on all types of editing, camera work etc.
Overall, the editor of the trailer, managed to tell the story without giving away the plot. S/he uses sound (narration, music, sound effects) to build tension through out the
trailer and make the scenes significantly more jittery. As well as using sound to build tension, costume is an enormously important part of this film, because of the
character with multiple personality. Establishing, which character is who is very vital in understanding the trailer and film as a whole. Lighting was also a huge part of
the production, using high key lighting in softer moments and low key lighting in times of stress.

5. DREAM HOUSE
Genre – Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Writer – David Loucka
Director – Jim Sheridan
Release Date - 25th November 2011
Soon after moving into their seemingly idyllic new home, a family learns of a brutal crime committed against former residents of the dwelling,
but the story becomes more twisted as it goes on, and what really happened in the house becomes apparent.
The first image is paired with seemingly happy and joyful music as well as a soft voice narrating. The father of the family hugs his children
and they squeal in excitement. All seems well and all the families costumes are average and nothing out of the ordinary. The next image is also
accompanied with the same cheerful music, but it seems to be slowing down, as if something is wrong. The camera focuses on the names on
the door frame as if they have something to do with what is about to unfold. Lighting at this point is all high key and focuses on the positivity
of moving into a new house. The next image uses low key lighting to suggest the mood has changed significantly. The music is now just a beat,
almost like a heartbeat to build tension. The following image is a screenshot of the father of the house exploring the basement. Low key
lighting is used to show the audience that he is unaware of what he might find down there. The next image is an example of a matte shot, this
shot seems to be a recurring convention in horror/thriller movies. I believe this is an effective convention because rather than taking an
average shot, blocking out parts of the setting by filming through a particular shape like a key hole, allows the audience to be put on edge
because they are unaware of what is about to come. After a frightening encounter with some neighbours, the new family discover some
graffiti on the wall, this pan on the wall allows the audience to see what is written on it. Then a shallow focus is used to concentrate on the
wife of the household. The father/husband is not in focus and is looking down which implies he is not worried or anxious about the strange
things happening in the house, here we question his standing in the weird events. The next shot is an establishing shot of the house and shows
the dwelling as nice and cosy. The next shot focuses on an uncertain neighbour; they are looking through the window frowning which can
mean what she is seeing is not something she is enjoying looking at, it makes the audience question what they are seeing. The next image is a
close up of a newspaper article, the article focused on the title of the story, after focusing on the story a transition is used to concentrate on the
mental asylum mentioned in the article. As the scene transitions a sharp, loud noise is made and static is displayed for less than a second. This
contrast of imaging allows the tension to build even more significantly. Carrying on, the next image is an example of a title, the font and
styling remains the same throughout but it has an overall impact on the audience because it narrates the story when some people are
confused. the following clip is quite sinister, it shows the alleged patient Peter Ward, who is apparently looking for himself. Again sharp,
sinister noises are made to further build tension. His costume is a hospital outfit, making obvious of the fact he is in this mental asylum. The
flicker between static and the camera evidence is good at shocking audience and can be something we employ in our trailer. Additionally,
there is a screenshot of this man back at his house. The lighting is very minimal implying all is not well and the audience should be on edge.
Then the camera turns to what this man seems to be focusing on and lighting becomes significantly lighter. This quick change of mood
definitely confuses audiences but allows them to follow the story quite easily. Then a close up is used of the man present throughout the
trailer. This close up allows audiences to see his full expression and make a judgement on him. How people think of him throughout the
trailer constantly changes and each scene can either favour or disregard him. The next image concentrates on the child’s hand, something
playful and innocent is a symbol of darkness and destroying/

8. THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM
Genre – Horror/Thriller
Writer – Jane Goldman
Director – Juan Carlos Medina
Release Date – 1st September 2017
The Limehouse Golem follows an inspector in his fight to catch the Golem murderer, with limited help he has to protect the people of London from this awful
murderer.
The trailer begins with an establishing shot, showing where the film is set as well as the time period. The shot is paired with music of that era as well as sound
effects such as horses. The trailer then goes on to take a shot of the inspector through his carriage window. The weather at the time is rainy and miserable which
can suggest pathetic fallacy. This pathetic fallacy begins the trailer in a sinister sort of way. The close up of the inspector also allows us to see all emotion and
feeling toward the case he is about to explore. The next image is an example of an extreme close up. This extreme close up focuses mainly on the eyes of the
inspector, as we are unsure of what he is looking at, it allows the audience to imagine what he could be viewing. The following image helps us understand the
type of costumes these actors wore for the filming of the film, the lighting isn’t very bright suggesting trouble in finding the alleged killer. This two shot enables us
to understand the inspector is gaining assistance from other people in Scotland Yard. The following shot is a dark and sinister shot of a dead body covered up by a
blood ridden cloth, this messy cover up does not really respect the body and suggests the police and inspector did not have time to properly dispose of the body. It
could also mean the amount of murders taking place limits the attention given to each one.