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Nightcrawler In-Depth Analysis BY Kiran Legal-Miller Connotations and Denotations
Nightcrawler In-Depth Analysis BY Kiran Legal-Miller Connotations and Denotations
dialogue engages the viewer which puts us in the position of the employer as he continues to sell
himself to us, and there's a scene of Louis looking directly at the viewer. His voice is monotone
for most of the trailer, up until he says his motto: "You have to make the money to buy a ticket"
which he repeats 5 times. We are shown the shot of him screaming at himself through mirror on
the fifth repetition of his motto which he shouts aggressively. All sound is cut off after the shout
and there is a small pause, showing Louis at on screen in a news anchor chair. Only the piano
key is heard after this shot.
We can see that this film is of the crime thriller genre, shown through the dark city settings which
is a convention of this genre, as well as the suspenseful music and fast paced build-up of the
narrative; leading to a climax at the end of the trailer (brutal crash and gunshot). Graphic imagery
shown in accidents, crashes and crimes are also conventions of neo noir films.
Representation
There's a strong sense of individuality and isolation in the teaser, there's no emotional connection
between the characters; the only connection we really have is between Louis and his work, as he
is engrossed in his filming. Even when we see Louis shaking hands with the woman in the news
room, or when we see him in the car with his partner, he still seems quite distant.
Louis isn't represented by others; his relationships revolve around the crime scenes and the
seedy areas of the city. He becomes more animated and engaged with the darker side of nightlife
than with any other character in the film. There is such a contrast in this behaviour, it leaves the
audience questioning his capacity to understand others. This contrast highlights Louis'
disconnect of human emotion and lack of empathy, throughout the trailer it becomes apparent
that lines are crossed and his work ethic becomes more than questionable.
Narrative
The narrative is relatively clear, showing a chronological order of events and Louis' narration tells
us that the story includes him getting a new job as stringer, filming the crimes and accidents. At
the start there is no real indication as to who is the bad guy. We assume Louis to be the
protagonist but as the trailer progresses, Louis seems to become the antagonist of the film as he
manipulates potential crime scenes and goes beyond the moral and legal lines.
What can we use?
The element I liked most and what I thought was most effective in this trailer, was the way the
established dark atmosphere through the settings -nightlife in the city. This helped to add to the
mood and set the tone for the film and as the setting is an essential element to film noir, I feel
that my team could use the techniques in the production of our own teaser trailer. The low key
sound of the music helped to add an ominous feeling the trailer which I feel, helped to add
tension and intensity. We may be able to use the piano for some music in or teaser to create a
similar feeling. Lastly, the narration in the teaser helped to build a plot, whilst keeping the
audience guessing, which I think is key; keeping the element of surprise in a thriller or film noir
movie is what creates the tension and fear, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.