The Shining (1980)

We see in this film trailer a different approach in a movie trailer, a simplistic and minimal type, which links in with the genre of a horror movie, as minimal activity will happen in order to create tension. The start is as if it is the end credits or even the start of the star wars credits, its ascending text at the start, just states who made what and who the film is based on etc. This unusual approach which you would find in practically most films having the credits at the end not the start, shows a different and backwards approach which could link into the film itself, which really creates a unique and different outlook upon the film. The setting itself is the same spot, using a tripod to hold the camera in the same place which is a wide shot of the room. The colour scheme of the room is brown and red, creating a warm and tense atmosphere. The colour red which is the focal point being in the middle of the shot which we can see in the photograph can be associated with both love and blood, which creates contrasting approach to the view on this room. Also the lighting itself is dim and dull which makes the trailer washed out and link in with the genre of a horror and scary film, as dark colours we associate with evil. Artificial lighting is the only light source in this setting which is used for the whole trailer, as the camera angle and movement stays the same. This keeps an un-edited atmosphere to the trailer as it seems more realistic which makes it more appealing to the audience. The trailer itself goes against Lisa Kernan’s idea of a trailer having a narrative, telling a story, which this trailer definitely doesn’t do.

When the blood actually comes from the corner of the door, it seems as if it has been edited in slow motion, as it just comes from nowhere, and by making the scene slow it really contrasts with the idea of creating tension with fast moving scenes, but by making it slow, it allows the viewer to consider what the affect of the blood is doing. The blood itself covers the camera and flows past, bringing furniture with it which is really when you see the affect of the slow motion as it brings the furniture closer to the viewer slowly. This really shocks the viewer as this scene is extremely simple and slow, and this random blood comes out and surprises the viewer. With the editing as well a fade in is used from a blank black screen to show a dark and evil side, also uses the same convention of slow motion to build a tense mood to the audience perception of the trailer. The sound in the trailer is a high pitched crescendo starting of with slow drum beats which links in with the slow fade in and then it starts to build up and starts to sound like a swarm of bee’s or even a ticking noise like a clock, this fast non-diegetic music keeps on getting faster and then contrasts with the slow motion of the blood which you cant hear gushing which makes it more unique and different.