Trailer Analysis

-Trailer analysis-

The trailer for Rob Zombies remake of the classic horror film ‘Halloween’ which is effective in creating an effective and powerful example of a trailer promoting a psychological/slasher film . It was released in 2007 and followed by a sequel two years later.

Instantly the trailer draws in the audience’s attention. To open there is a news report being heard through the use of a non-diegetic voiceover, telling the audience of three murders that have just occurred. The audience recognise the voice as being that of a news reporter and so it adds a touch of authenticity to the announcement. Mise-en-scene elements also indicate that a crime has taken place; we see police tape and uniformed officers, as well as the kind of chaos and hustle and bustle that would be present at this kind of scene. In addition to this, there is a ten-year old boy being held in custody; this will shock and intrigue the audience, as it goes against all things natural for a child to be involved in a murder. Whilst the non-diegetic voiceover is talking, the audience sees a woman screaming and crying at medium shot range, being pulled away from the scene, suggesting that the victim was a loved one and making the crime seem crueller.  The victim was someone’s mother or boyfriend or son, etc. The audience then sees the transition of the ten-year old boy with a mask on, fifteen years later with the same mask and the audience can guess that the boy is the masked psychopath in the next shot. Here, the audience are told that its fifteen years later due to dialogue uttered by Michael Myers’ psychiatrist, saying he has not spoken in 15 years, suggesting that the problem is still there. Our arrival to real time is made more definite by a ‘break’ in the shots of the past and the shots of the present, achieved by a fade to black and a strap with a presentation of the film company that makes the film.

As we see, the shots that are used show the immensity of Myers’ character and just how powerful he is. We see Myers being led down a corridor by several guards, the low angle shot that is used makes him look more intimidating. The shots that follow this reveal his body size to us, to make him seem more dangerous scary and mysterious. Through Myers attempt to escape, the editing speeds up as the action takes place. The editing used are cuts that are spaced very close together, this shows how quickly and easy it was for Myers to escape. The officers have weapons, guns and police batons. He is also in chains thus again showing Myers’ character and body to be extremely powerful and being able to escape so easily as he is more of a threat to his victims. An extreme long shot shows him lumbering out of the institution that has kept him imprisoned, this can also show the immensity of the narrative a pre-warning. He walks with a Quasimodo-like gait, which makes him seem deformed and monstrous, but again indicates his strength. Though injured/disabled, he still won the fight.

The audience soon see Michael Myers killing and tormenting more victims. Here, we are presented with key horror iconography, such as knives and blood, which will help to attract an audience of slasher fans. The audience hears the diegetic sound of a male character telling his children to be careful as ‘nutcases’ come out on Halloween. This declaration is followed by a medium close-up of Myers, emerging slowly from the bottom of the frame, as if rising from the grave. The effect is monstrous, of course, and the order of the edits suggests that he is one of the ‘nutcases’ referred to. This is followed by a close-up of Myers’ face, allowing the audience to see the mask he wears, which looks cracked, distorted, scarred and tainted, just like his mind. We see his eyes within the mask and they look red and dangerous to suggest that the face beneath the mask is just as monstrous. The next shot presents a child also wearing a Halloween mask, also at close up range. A 180 degree reverse shot is used, nevertheless, so that child is presented on the opposite side of the frame, to highlight how different he is to Myers. Though he has a ‘mask’ painted on to his face, it is a childish display of Halloween fun; he is innocent, while Myers is evil. The child is asking about a childhood ghost story and a teenage girl is mocking him for it. This is a common indication that she will be a victim for scoffing at a childlike fear, a sign which the audience will recognise and that will keep them watching. The audience soon find out who the Final Girl is, Michael Myers’ younger sister; this is due to the fact that she is on screen more than any other character and is dressed more conservatively.

Sound: All sound was used to help explain the narrative; eerie loud music, dialogue from the film and a voice over (non –diegetic)

“You haven’t said a word in 15 years” –cuts-

“Listen be careful tonight, a lot of nut cases come out on Halloween” –cuts- this is dramatic irony as we know as an audience that this is literally the case and that children are to be weary at this type of setting and time of night.

“Is the boggy man real?”-

“Why are you so obsessed with the boggy man Tommy?”-

“Halloween night the boggy man attacks kids who don’t believe in him”

“Oh no Tommy! The boggy man is gonna get me!” –Cuts-

“I’ma cut that mask right off your face” –cuts-

“He’s come back for his baby sister”

“To do what?” –Cuts-

“MICAEL STOP!” –Cuts- 

 The basic narrative is explained through the dialogue between the characters. Although the dialogue is separated quite frequently by other elements such as music, non- diegetic sound and straps. The dialogue shown does explain the narrative, but not in detail, which makes the film look like it is filled with reckless killings, until the last thirty seconds we learn the reason why the killer is back. The audience see the potential main victim due to the length of dialogue used on one character; the snarky teenage girl, who could possibly be Michael’s little sister.

The non- diegetic sounds are; music that is fast paced and loud, the voice over from the news reporter and Michael’s psychiatrist. The music is immediately fast paced and loud which suggest that there was not an equilibrium to begin with which is normally a convention of horror trailers. At times we can see the screams of the victims but this is masked by the non-diegetic sound.

The trailer starts out with sound effects from the emergency services, police cars and ambulances are present already showing the audience that tragedy has struck already.  Police radios are being used and there is no dialogue used. Diegetic sounds such as the rattling of Michael’s shackles, are used to create dram and emphasis that things are about to come ‘undone’. A gunshot is fired but Michael is unharmed and reinforces the fact that every killer in a horror film is known as ‘super humans’. The diegetic sound of glass breaking is an effective way to make the audience jump; it is unexpected and makes both the characters and the audience jump. This shows how effective and powerful diegetic sound can be in both trailers and the film. From 0.29 seconds to 40 seconds  it is mainly diegetic sound , then as the editing speeds up, the non -diegetic music is louder and creates the sense that the ‘beat’ to the trailer is of someone’s heart beat just getting faster and faster. This is something that the audience will experience when watching a horror film (if it is effective that is).

Mise en scene:

Here we can see the antagonist ‘Michael’, with a ‘home made’ mask which is a classic horror convention.  The killer / tormentor always has a sense of mystery and unknown identity to leave both the characters and the audience in suspense as to what the killer looks like and who he is. His hair is covering his face again showing the fact that he does not want anyone to see what he looks like; he wants to keep his identity hidden.  

 Here again we see Michael has changed his makes to a more define one.Iit has changed to a more distinctive face that if a victim sees it then it is more memorable, it shows that the killer is evolving and wants his ‘face’ to be memorable’.

We can see that the killer is wearing overalls. This again reinforces the fact that he wants to remain unknown and not stand out; the colours are dark which would help keep him masked when he scares the characters in their own homes.

The use of editing changes throughout the trailer. At the beginning where a news report is being read out and the newspaper clippings are shown there are transitioned by fade ins and fade outs. After this, there is mostly a series of straight cuts from one clip to the next. As we near the end of the trailer the cuts are faster and the clips consisting of more tormenting and terrifying the victims. The straps are incorporated within, this help break up the clips of action that are shown. The straps conclude the narrative and help define just what may happen within the film. They also provide information about release dates and who has made the film (institution information).  The straps also include the slogan for the film.      

Here we a long shot of Myer’s standing outside of an isolated big house which is surrounded by trees to disguise it. This is a classic horror convention as we,  as an audience can see that here is where most of the action will take place. An isolated location is great as it makes the victims feel alone and threatened with no one to help them. The light that is shining upon Myers is ironic as though he is a ‘hero’ as the light shines on him, but this should warn the audience that this is just the opposite.

Myers’ position upon the balcony shows the audience his dominances and his power as the low angle shot makes his appear taller and bigger then he is, giving off the feeling that he can overpower anyone that stands before him. The way he is looking down is though he is watching someone, making himself the character feel more powerful over his victims. The moonlight which shines upon the house still shows that all the action will take place in the darkness revealing the audiences worst fear of the unknown in the dark.

The low angle shot here shows the position of Myers’ victims and the defencelessness of which she feels, she is cowering in the corner protecting her with broken wood out of desperation. The posture and position of Myers shows dominance and that he will overcome her. His mad hair shows the wildness and unsettled mind set of the character. The location surrounding them is a worn broken house or warehouse, of which the victim will not be able to receive help. Again reinforcing the classic convention of an isolated location of which the antagonist can torment its victims. 

Here shows the same balcony as mention before but instead of the camera being at a low angle we can see that the camera has moved slightly up maybe informing that Myers has met his match and that there is an ending to this story. The fight shows that they are matched and that they are both falling over the balcony instead of Myers just throwing his victim of.

Here is a medium shot of Myers outline, his body seems to be huge compared to the lifeless victim in his arms. The way in which he is carrying her, makes her look like a rag doll that he has easily overcome.

The lighting throughout is very dark and the outside lighting is based mainly on moonlight due to that the action takes place mainly at night. The darkness can play upon the audiences and victims minds as our deepest fear is the dark, and to know that a serial killer is on the loose, the darkness can play a heavy part in the imagination and fears of the both the audience and the victims.