(The Shining: Trailer Analyse) (horror)

The Shining: Trailer Analyse

Audience
This trailer is The Shining which was released in 1980 with an age rating of 18, this means that the film has a limited audience of people over the age of 18. This film will appeal to both a male and female audience who are fans of the horror genre and Stephen King novels. The film will also appeal to people who follow the career of Jack Nicholson who has been in films such as Batman and A few good men. This film was given an 18 age rating because it includes strong language and graphic violence which could upset the younger audiences. 

Key points
Some key points which will need to be taken when watching the trailer would be the fact that the film is set within an isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado North America. Another key point in this film is that the main character has a family who are also with him at the Hotel. The main character Jack is a failed writer who has gone away to see if a change in his environment will help him finish the book he is having trouble finishing. During his stay at the Hotel he discovers the dark secrets of the Hotel that start to take over his mental health and turns him into a "homicidal maniac hell bent on terrorizing his family".   

Dramatic camera shots and angles
The dramatic shots and angles in this trailer are very effective and well used because it helps to draw the audience into the film and to make them forget about every day life helping them become emerged in the film. The use of the panning shot is effective during the trailer because it gives the audience an idea of what location some parts of the film is set. Using an establishing camera shot allowed the audience to see how remote the location of the Hotel is, this is effective because it gives you the impression of how large the setting of the film is and the size of the Hotel. 

Voice over 

During the trailer there is a person who is speaking over the clips talking about the story line which involves another family who stayed at the Hotel before the main characters family does. Telling him that in 1970 a man who stayed with his family had some sort of mental breakdown during his stay leading him to kill his family with an axe. This is effective for the audience because it allows them to know the background story of the Hotel and the family that once stayed there.

Film titles

The film title was in red lettering and it faded in and out of focus, this was effective because you had to concentrate on what was appearing on the screen in front of you. The colour red is often used in these types of films as it represents blood and violence, this tells the audience who is going to watch the film that its going to include death and some sort of violence. The production title appeared at the start of the trailer which allowed the audience to know what companies helped make the film, for example the company used in this trailer was Warner Brothers which is a very popular film industry.
Trailer climax

The climax of the trailer is effective because it shows the audience the main characters sons facial expression of shock as if he has seen something that he cant believe and it makes you want to know what he has just seen. The pace of the trailer speeds up towards the end which suggests that in this film there is going to be fast pace action and cuts scenes which will make the film more interesting for the audience to watch.   

Mise-en-scene

The film is set in a Overlook Hotel in Colorado North America, it is set in a remote location which when winter comes it can become snowed in this will then limit the access to and from the Hotel. As the film is set in the 1980's the clothing is relevant to that time as it is set in the Hotel the clothing is smarter than what would normally be worn. The use of the type writer is more in the time period as computers where not as common to the public as they are now, this suggest that someone in the film is a writer which is why they have this in their possession. The axe is the most important prop in this film because it is what is used to hunt the people down to kill and injure.       

Camera

The camera shots used in this trailer are effective because it allows you to become more engaged with characters expressions and emotions. For example the close up used when Jack hacks a whole into the door and puts his face through it, this is effective to the audience because it allows them to see the facial expressions made by the character. The low angle medium shot of the two girls standing at the end of the corridor is effective to the audience because it gives the two girls more power due to the fact the camera is looking up towards them.   

Editing
The use of the editing for the production at the start of the trailer is effective because it fades in and out of the trailer, this is effective because it gives the audience information about who produced the film. Prevalence was given to the main character Jack because it is a story about him losing his mind, this is effective to the audience as they want you to empathise with the character.  

Sound

The sound during the trailer was very good and effective because it matched with parts of the scenes, for example eerie music is used throughout the clip but when the characters start to talk the music stops or quiets down so you can concentrate on what is being said. The sound of the axe chopping through the wood suggests that someone is trying to break in and attack the other characters.
Genre indicators

This trailer is a good genre indicator because the trailer gives the audience a lot of information about the film. For example during the trailer you are able to see that this film is based on a failed writer who has moved to a Hotel to help him finish his novel, during the film he starts to lose his mind and the curse of the Hotel starts to take effect on him. This film indicates horror genre by having a deluded character going on a killing spree, this links to horror because of the situation they are all in. 

Unique selling point

The unique selling point in this trailer for the film is that it is based on a book by Stephen King who is a well know author around the world. Jack Nicholson is one of the best actors of this time which will encourage more people who like this actor to see this film who may not of gone to see it otherwise. Another unique selling point is that the film is produced by Warner Brothers one of the main companies that produce many films of this time.