Trailer Research and Analysis

The Silence of the Lambs

Taken
Da-Vinci Code
Seven
Transcendence
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is an American Thriller that incorporates elements of
crime and horror genres. It was made in 1991 and was based on the 1988 novel
by Thomas Harris which was his second creation to feature along side
Hannibal Lecter. Based on a psychiatrist and a cannibalistic serial killer.
Directed by Jonathan Demme and stared Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and
Scott Glenn. During the film Clarice Starlin a young U.S. FBI trainee seeks
the advice of imprisoned Dr Lecter in order to try and catch serial killer
Buffalo Bill.
It was first released on February 14
th
1991 and grossed a total $272.7 million
worldwide against its $19 million budget. It was the third film to win
Academy Awards in all of the top five categories. It was also the first best
picture winner widely considered to be a horror film, and was only the second
film of this category to be nominated for this, behind the Exorcist in 1973. The
film was also picked to be preserved in the National Film Registry in 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silence_of_the_Lambs_(film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l
QKs169Sl0I
Camera angle and camera movement
Close-ups when the camera is focusing on Hannibal Lecters face, occasional
extreme close ups of his eyes, they appear haunting and disturbing to look into after
the character has been introduced.
Medium shots the majority of the time,.
Extreme close ups of parts of the murders body as they are describing his process of
murdering them. i.e. Shoots them, Skins them, Dumps them
Specific transitions and types of edit
The cuts start out slow and then as the action progresses the cuts become faster and
faster
Cuts become faster when showing scenes of Hannibal Lecter to show him several
times at various angles.
Diagetic and Non-Diagetic sound
The use of a narrator to give us slight background to the characters and storyline.
Use of a deep voice to make him seem more sinister.
Use of victims screams in between cuts and at random intervals to add tension and
fear.
Police theories on the killer, these have been made louder than other dialoge but
quieter than the narration. Adds importance to these theories, makes the audience
pay attention to them over other information given to them.
Lighting and colour as part of the Mise-en-Scene
All settings are dull with plain colour, these often only have artificial and
dull faded lighting.
No bright colours are used to match the mood of the film, other than the use
of bright red in the title however this could have been used to give
connotations of fear and death.
Setting, dress, characterisation, objects and props.
The main dress is either police uniforms or suits to show professionalism of
the characters. Makes their roles in their jobs seem more realistic and
believable.
The only other dress shown is the use of white outfits to symbolise the
difference between the police investigators and those who are held in the
prison and who run it.
The props shown are mainly police equipment and weapons as well as
some glimpses of the murders weapons
Taken
Taken was created in 2008. An English-Language French action
thriller directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson. Staring
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries and Katie
Cassidy. It was the first in the taken film series that gained increased
popularity after the success of the first film.
Liam Neeson plays a former CIA operative who gave up his career in
order to try and settle down in life and regain a close bond with his
daughter but struggling to compete with his ex wife. He sets out to
track down his daughter after she was kidnapped by human traffickers
for sexual slavery while shes travelling in France, This film was a
turning point in Neesons career and redefined him in the film world to
an action film star.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taken_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501
/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Camera angle and camera movement
Main use of camera angles is close ups, medium shots and long shots
The close ups are mainly used focusing on key aspects, these are often more
frightening /haunting scenes. E.g. his daughter being dragged out from under the
bed by the kidnappers. This would make the audience feel uncomfortable and
uneasy being so close to this.
Specific transitions and types of edit
The cuts begin to speed up as more action begins to build up, there are mainly slow
cuts to begin with to suggest a calming lifestyle until more of the storyline is
revealed.
The use of split screens to show the reactions of both characters to the current
events, the use of this builds up tension as the pace increases.
As more action begins the cuts begin to speed up as well, this as well builds up
tension and adrenaline as more and more action is shown.
Diagetic and Non-Diagetic sound
The use of classical music in the background contrasts whats going on in the scene
and the main characters actions.
The use of dialogue and voice pitch/tone shows the daughter to be very innocent
and nave which makes it more haunting for the audience to watch her being taken.
Lighting and colour as part of the Mise-en-Scene
The lighting and colour used is mainly dark and dull. This reflects the
mood
Setting, dress, characterisation, objects and props.
The father is mainly shown in black clothing, black jeans and leather
jacket.
The daughters clothes are more pastel colours to emphasis again her
innocence.
The settings shown are mainly family homes along with the holiday
apartment the girls are kidnapped in, alongside the inside of a plane and
various other environments where the father is travelling to try and get his
daughter back.
The majority of props shown are weapons, phones and technology to help
track her down.
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code was created in 2006. Its an American mystery-thriller film
produced by John Calley and Brian Grazer, and directed by Ron Howard. The film was
an adaptation from Dan Browns 2003 best selling novel of the same name. The film
stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen and Paul Bettany.
In the film Robert Langdon a professor of religious iconography is the prime suspect
in the unexplained murder of Louvre curator. He escapes with the assistance of police
cryptologist Sophie Neveu and they both begin their quest into finding the Holy Grail.
A secret that would destroy Christianity. The film alongside the book was seen as
extremely controversial. It was criticised massively by the roman catholic church for
the accusation that it is behind a two-thousand year old cover-up concerning what the
holy grail really is and the concept that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and
had a daughter. Two organizations the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei figure prominently
in the story. In the book Dan brown insists that the Priory of Sion and all the
descriptions of artwork, architecture and documents and secret rituals in this novel are
accurate following this it wasnt surprising that the film was met with a largely
negative critical response when it was first released however this didnt stop its box
office performance; it earned $224 million in its worldwide opening weekend and it
was the second highest grossing film of 2006 behind Pirates of the Caribbean: dead
mans chest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The_Da_Vinci_Code_(film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
fvmkH59-zA
Camera angle and camera movement
Camera angles used are varied. They use extreme close ups, close ups, point of view
shots, medium shots and low angle shots.
These shots vary from the time and place of the scene in order to show the scenes in
certain ways. For example they used a low angle shot when showing a woman being
thrown into the water as part of the witch trials, this camera angle was used in order
to show her as more vulnerable and make audience feel more uncomfortable
watching it as it feels like they are in the water below her.
Specific transitions and types of edit
Flashes are used when showing images of various symbols to link to the characters
dialogue.
Fast cuts are used more throughout the end of the trailer, as the action build up the
cuts begin to speed up
Diagetic and Non-Diagetic sound
Use of narration throughout the trailer.
Music is used throughout but changes as action builds up. However the music cuts
out completely through the sentence witness the biggest cover up in history this is
done to add emphasis and importance to the film and its contents. After this the
music becomes more dramatic and fast paced to keep up with the scenes. E.g. car
chance scene
Lighting and colour as part of the Mise-en-Scene
The scenes shown are mainly dark to fit in with the mood and theme of
secrecy. This can be shown through the use of shadows as well as lighting.
Setting, dress, characterisation, objects and props.
Clothes worn are mainly police uniforms or suits, as well as this several
characters are shown in religious clothing. Showing opposition the two
groups, shows the large divide
The settings shown vary from historical homes to lecture theatres to
religious environments to show the history and make the content seem
more realistic
The props shown vary from police weapons to religious artefacts as well as
showing several crosses and crucifixes' to add emphasises to the religious
elements
Seven
Seven is a 1995 American Neo-thriller film written by Andrew
Kevin Walker and directed by David Fincher. The film stars
Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman with Gwyneth Paltrow, R.Lee
Ermey and Kevin Spacey in supporting roles.
The newly transferred David Mills and the soon-to-retire
William Somerset are homicide detectives who become deeply
involved in the case of a sadistic serial killer whos murders
are based on the seven deadly sins.
The film was released in the united states on the 22
nd

September 1995 and grossed a total $327 million at the box
office internationally. Seven was commercial success and
received several positive reviews.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_(1995_film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T
mZbLbPv6Fs
Camera angle and camera movement
Use of extreme close ups when focusing on the retiree, shows the reflection in his glasses
letting the audience feel more included seeing information that should be hidden from them.
Medium shots mainly used when showing some of the crime scenes. E.g. specifically when
they show a room which appears to be religious however when you take a closer look it seems
more disturbing and wrong with the colours used seems more satanic than religious.
Extreme close up of the metronome and the weapons used by the killer.
Specific transitions and types of edit
The cuts are slow at first I order to introduce the characters
Cuts begin to speed up as flashes of the weapons and victims appear.
Diagetic and Non-Diagetic sound
Use of the ticking metronome to add tension and create build up.
White noise is used as the scenes progress into the details of the first murder.
Screams follow through several of the cuts in order to make the audience feel uneasy about
whats coming next.
As the action builds up the non-diagetic music becomes more fast paced
As the trailer finishes the last thing the audience hears is have you ever seen anything like
this with silence to follow, this hints towards the originality of the film encouraging the
audience to see it
The description of the killer and his personality makes him appear unreal which adds to the
fear the audience feels.
Lighting and colour as part of the Mise-en-Scene
Very little natural lighting shown, any scenes where light is present its
superficial light rather than natural light.
The majority of the time scenes take place in dark rooms where the only
light comes from a torch or outside through streetlights.
Very few bright colours are used in order to keep to the dark mood of the
film.
Setting, dress, characterisation, objects and props.
Settings used are mainly homes, police stations, streets or crime scenes.
TV screens with fuzzy interference are continuously shown.
The seven deadly sins are continuously shown in bright red writing towards
the end of the trailer.
Always appears to be raining when any scenes are shown outside.
At the end before the trailer cuts out the words let he who is without sin try
to survive the use of this makes the audience feel uneasy and scared
because it suggests that no ones safe from this killer.

Transcendence
Transcendence is a 2014 science fiction thriller directed by
cinematographer Wally Pfister in his directional debut. It
was written by Jack Paglen featuring Johnny Depp, Rebecca
Hall, Kate Mara and Morgan Freeman.
At one time Palgens screenplay was part of what is known
as the black list which is a list of popular but unproduced
screenplays in Hollywood. However transcendence was
highly disappointing at the box office.it grossed only just
higher than its $100 million budget. It received several
negative reviews and was criticized for its plot structure,
characters and dialogue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V
CTen3-B8GU
Camera angle and camera movement
Medium and long shots are used when showing landscapes and the earth.
Close ups and extreme close ups are used when showing the wife, this shows detail which
helps the audience to see the beauty the husband sees in her.
Medium shots are always used when showing any technology
Specific transitions and types of edit
At the start the transitions between scenes are slow so that the audience can focus on the
dialogue rather than the images. As the trailer progresses and the content becomes more
unreal and daunting the transitions and cuts become slightly faster. As the characters
frustration increases so does the speed.
Diagetic and Non-Diagetic sound
The voice of the main character progresses as a voice over for several scenes as well as being
present in scenes hes in. the conversation progresses through to other scenes.
At the beginning of the trailer the music used is fairly calm and soothing, however as the
content becomes more bizarre the music becomes more distorted slightly.
The use of a heart monitor is always present as the characters life slowly ends.
Dialogue carries on after the character has died to keep this idea that he is still alive in some
way after death more realistic.
The beats present are in time with the cuts, e.g. as the scene cuts to another a beat is present.
The adds to the tension. Appears slightly similar to a heartbeat.

Lighting and colour as part of the Mise-en-Scene
Unlike other films of this genre the majority of the time the lighting is
bright and natural, its even present during the hospital scenes.
Occasional use of artificial/superficial lighting which contrasts with the
unnatural content of the film.
The majority of the colours used are bright and natural rather than dark.
Setting, dress, characterisation, objects and props.
The clothes worn are mainly either casual wear, hospital wear or more
slightly formal clothes. Ocassional presence of police/army uniforms as
things begin to get out of control.
The settings used vary between a lecture hall, hospital room, warehouses
and natural settings where the technology begins to take over.
Props used are mainly technology used to create the new human e.g.
computers, wires etc