Action/ Adventure Film Trailers

The stereotypical action film has five main acpescts these are action scenes, a love story, exotic locations, a hero and a villian. Most of these themes are demonstrated in the trailers for The Dark Knight Rises, Avatar and Kung Fu Panda 2 which are all Action/ Adventure films.

As all of these films fall into the genre of action they contain a variety of action scenes which create tension and suspense for the audience throughout. However, these action scenes are portayed in different ways due to the different audiences and storylines which make up the film. In the first screenshot from 'The Dark Knight Rises' trailer it looks very dark and violent, this suggests to the audience that this action film is more suited to an older audience as children may find these scenes distressing. The second screenshot from the 'Avatar' trailer is another action shot although this time it is shown in more of an uplifting battle against magical creatures. This scene in the trailer will demonstrate to the audience that it is suitable for older children and adults as there may be some conflict in this film. The final screenshot is from the trailer 'Kung Fu Panda 2' which looks magical and a lot more child friendly as the action in this scene is not violent or unpleasant for younger audiences. However, this would suggest to the viewer that it is not an adults film as they may find it uninteresting and slow moving.

Another theme in action films is the love story between the two main characters which could be for the female audience who may not be so interested in the action scenes. Only the 'The Dark Knight Rises' and 'Avatar' show a love plot in the trailer which suggests that 'Kung Fu Panda 2' is more of a childrens film so therefore wouldnt be suitable for that age bracket. The first screenshot from 'The Dark Knight Rises' trailer shows Batman, the main character, having an intimate moment with a mysterious woman. This subplot may interest the female audience and cause them to want to go and see it. The other screenshot from the 'Avatar' trailer shows Sam Worthington's love interest in the film. This will show the audience that it is not a childrens film and may be interesting for men and women.

The next feature of action films is the exotic locations which range between urban cities. 'The Dark Knight Rises' and magical islands, Kung Fu Panda 2'. These locations are interesting and different for the viewer as they are so unusual and exciting.

The hero of an action film is one of the main aspects as they are the character that the audience are supposed to relate with and want to be. However, in these three films they are all portrayed very differently due to the storyline and enviroment in which they live. In 'The Dark Knight Rises' the main character Batman is not the typical hero as he is on the run from the police. He takes on a dark persona which is very unusual in a action film and shown in the trailer. In contrast the main character Po who is the hero in 'Kung Fu Panda 2' is timid and not very brave. The younger audience may find this funny and comical.

The villain in action films is one of the main aspects as they create the journey or mission that the hero is set to face. In both 'The Dark Knight Rises' and 'Avatar' the villains are both quite intense. Neither of the trailers show the villains for very long as they may want them to seem mysterious so the audience finds them threatening and scary. Their identity is unusual which alienates them from the audience as they cannot relate to them as characters.

Hide and Seek Trailer Analysis

Credits/ intertitles

This trailer shows the actors names and the title of the film, Hide and Seek. These titles are on black backgrounds with white writing. This may draw the audience’s attention to the famous faces and cause them to want to see the film. The final intertitle is ‘If you want to know the secret, you have to play the game’. This title challenges the audience and suggests they have to put themselves in danger to uncover the secret behind the plot.

Dialogue

David, Emily’s father says “Right now I need to be a full time dad”. This is irony as he is not being her father half the time and being somebody else. He is causing the dangerous situation that Emily is in.

When Emily says “It was Charlie” it seems strange as the child who is naïve knows more than her father and makes the audience intrigued as they wonder who Charlie could be.

“Charlie come out come out where ever you are” is a typical line from the game, hide and seek, but is made to sound frightening and eerie.

Genre

This film is of the thriller genre as it uses suspense, exciting scenes and tension in the story line. It also stimulates the audience’s mood causing them to feel anticipation, anxiety and terror. This is shown in the trailer by scary messages on the wall which will confuse and exhilarate the audience and also characters which cause an exciting and eerie mood.

Narrative

The trailer shows a family haunted by their father’s split personality as he attacks numerous people as the story unfolds. Throughout the trailer the audience is led to believe that ‘Charlie’ is Emily’s imaginary friend who is causing the attacks therefore Emily must be behind it. However it is later revealed in the film that her father David has a split personality and that Charlie is not imaginary at all.

Pace

The pace of this trailer is very slow as it shows in detail relevant scenes that are intense and disturbing. This, with the slow music, puts the audience on edge and causes them to question every action the characters make. The pace then gets very fast at the end showing scary shadows and the little girl looking frightened. The pace is contrasted which makes the ending even more exhilarating and nail biting.   

Shot types/ camera angles

The trailer begins with an establishing shot of New York City showing that this story is believable and anyone could be in this scenario.

There are lots of close up shots used in this trailer of the girls face to show the innocence and purity as she seems so unaware of the frightening events. This causes the audience to feel for this character and want her to be safe.

There are also long shots used to suggest someone is watching the child from afar and analysing her every move. The audience could find this perturbing and not understand whose perspective it is from.

Target audience

The target audience for this film has a big age range as it could interest a multitude of people. This is because the different ages in the film and the complicated plot line could be challenging and mysterious for the audience.

Unique selling point

The unique selling point of this film is the twist in the middle which means the audience cannot anticipate the ending. When the audience realises that David is also Charlie it is an interesting complex storyline which shows a roller-coaster of emotions.

When a Stranger Calls Trailer Analysis

Credits/ Intertitles

The first intertitles which are on a black background which focuses the audience on the statement indicates what the character was feeling ‘She thought it would be a quiet evening’ which shows the audience that she is relaxed and naive. It also makes the audience relate to the character as they may have been in a similar position.  Then single words appear on the black background in glowing red writing: ‘isolated’, ‘trapped’ and ‘alone’. These words put ideas and images into the audiences heads of what kind of scary situation the character is in. Finally the words ‘You can’t escape the terror’ appear on the black background which reinforces the idea of isolation and frightening actions.

Dialogue

The trailer begins with heavy breathing and a girl’s voice saying “Hello is anyone there”. This makes the audience feel unsettled as they worry that the girl may be in danger and think that someone scary may be on the other end of the phone.

When someone tries to reassure Jill by saying “You’re safe inside that house” it makes the audience feel uncomfortable and think that something bad may happen as ironically the girl is very unsafe inside the house as later on the police say “We have traced the call, it’s coming from inside the house”. This shows the audience that the character is in great danger and something intense is about to happen.

Genre

This film is from the horror genre as it may startle the viewers by portraying feelings of terror and creating a frightening atmosphere. This is demonstrated in the trailer by the isolation of the one character and the unknown villain who doesn’t show his face.

Music

There is scary music at the end of this trailer to make the audience hear all the sound effects very clearly as they want the audience to think that the girl is isolated and alone.

Narrative

The trailer shows the storyline of a teenage girl who is babysitting when she receives threatening and disturbing calls from a serial killer although at first she believes it to be a practical joke and just a prankster. At the end of the trailer short flashes of scary and dangerous situations that the girl is in are flashed on the screen.

Pace

This trailer is quite slow paced at the beginning as it introduces the innocent character and gets the audience to relate with them and see how vulnerable they are. It then gets a little faster as it shows the girl having a spooky conversation with a stranger. The pace then increases and shots are flashed on to the screen of the girl in danger and showy, ghost like figures float across the screen.

Shot types/ camera angles

The trailer starts with a close up of the phone; this is a significant object in the film as that is how the attack begins. This focuses the audience’s attention on that objects and makes them wonder what its significance is. 

A long shot is used to show the house that the girl is in which demonstrates to the audience how deserted the area is and shows the lake next to it which seems scary and ominous.

An over the shoulder shot of the girl on the sofa is used in the trailer to put the audience in the girl’s position and see the situation from her point of view. This will make the audience relate to her better and cause them to feel more frightened later on.

The close up of her face when she is in the water makes the audience worry and think that she is in great danger as the water looks cold and dark and she is in a frightening situation.

Target audience

The target audience for this film is teenage girls as the main plot line focus around a teenage girl who is babysitting. This storyline is one that many teenagers can relate to and may put themselves in the position of the character. This will causes them to become involved in the plot and feel like these events could happen to them.

Unique selling point

The unique selling point of this film could be that the situation that the girl is in is very common as lots of teenagers have been in that scenario. This means that they will relate with the character and see it from her point of view.

Scream Trailer Analysis

Credits/ Intertitles

The main intertitles used in the trailer for Scream are ‘Don’t answer the phone’, ‘Don’t answer the door’ and ‘Don’t try to hide’. These statements give clear commands to the audience which makes them feel like they are in danger as well as the characters. This causes them to believe that they are involved in the story. The last command ‘Don’t try to hide’ suggests to the audience that they cannot get away from the scary villain. 

Dialogue

The voice on the phone says “I want to know who I’m looking at” shows the audience that the villain is close to his victim and may attack at any moment. This puts the audience on edge as they are not sure when the villain may do something to the innocent victim.

At the end of the film there are lots of piercing screams as the victims run from the villain. This is a characteristic of a horror film and shows that the victims are scared. This noise is unsettling for the audience and may make them feel uneasy.

Genre

This film is of the horror genre as it may frighten the audience and creates an eerie atmosphere. From the trailer the audience can tell that it is of the horror genre firstly because of its title, Scream which is usually associated with scary situations and vulnerable characters. The trailer also includes night time settings and creepy villains.

Narrative

The trailer for this film shows the plot line of the main character Sidney Prescott, a teenage girl who is the target of a scary and unexpected killer known as Ghostface. He is first introduced when he kills his first victim, an innocent blonde teenager played by Drew Barrymore. This shows the audience that he will attack anyone even if they are vulnerable and innocent.

Pace

The beginning of this trailer seems quite slow paced as it shows different characters introduction to the villain in the film. However as the trailer unfolds the shots begin to become shorter as they are entwined with the scary intertitles which makes the audience relate the frightening events with the words. This causes them to believe that the characters are in that much danger and are unable to get away from it this adds tension.

Shot types/ camera angles

Throughout the beginning of the trailer a mid-shot is used to show the female character in a normal environment suggesting to the audience that this could happen to anyone. A close up is then used to show the terror on her face which causes the audience to become scared and worried for her.
A mid shot is then used again with a different female character to suggest that she is in the same situation and it is leading up to the same fate. 

Target audience

The target audience for this film is young adults as the main characters targeted are all teenagers. This means that they would more likely put themselves in the position of the characters as they can relate to the events that are happening to them now as they grow up.

Unique selling point

The film uses comedy to illustrate clichés of horror films taking typical aspects from films such as Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street. The film consists of characters that are aware of real life horror films and showing characters subverting the cliché. 

Voiceover

The voiceover in Scream is a deep male voice who talks to the audience. He first says “Someone is playing a deadly game” which suggests to the audience that no one knows who this villain is but it is causing death. He also read the intertitles to the audience: ‘Don’t answer the phone’, ‘Don’t answer the door’ and ‘Don’t try to hide’ which makes it seem intense and more gripping as the voiceover makes the commandments.