Stereotypical Fan

Stereotypical Fan

Age: 18-25

This is an idea of what a stereotypical fan of a hybridized genre of horror might look like. By hybrid, we're talking about a horror with all three main genres; action, psychological and gore. This fan, would be typically male, and around the ages of 18-25 so still in his prime youth. They would be bordering on the hipster/socially trending social reach, wearing all the latest gear that becomes popular. Because of this, they would also be tech-savvy, sharing anything they see through social media:- either on their laptop, tablet or phone. Using social media would be a key part of this fan' day, so he would be primarily active on social media networks such as Facebook & Twitter, constantly updating his profile with talk and insight on the latest topics.

As "Broken Mind" is an 18 rated certificate, this fan would be able to go see this film without a parent, and would most likely watch the film with friends, often on a night out with a large social group. This group would all share the same interests as each other. This fan would often be attracted to films with a prior background, and would also be attracted to films with a particular thriller nature, so this film would appeal to them greatly. 

Despite being a typically active young person, this fan would also have a private life, not only in films. They could even have a significant interest in video games and other film genres including action, sci-fi and comedy. This fan would be significantly interested in Broken Mind, because it's based on a character whose age is very similar to that of the target audience. Being a sleeper movie, fans such as this would be a key part to the film's success by sharing and interacting in social media to grow the film and awareness about it. 

On the other hand, this fan is not interested in genres such as drama and romance, he may have a girlfriend/partner, but as part of his social group they'll all share the same interests, and genres such as those above won't be of the groups interest, so it's a no-go. They'll all stick to the same ideals and interests as there is always a clear leader of the group. 

3rd Personal Trailer Review - The Purge (2013)

NAME OF FILM: The Purge
YEAR RELEASED: 2013
GENRE OF TRAILER: Horror
MARKS AFTER VIEWING: 8/10

What happened in the trailer?

This trailer starts off slow, almost in a mellow tone describing a seemingly perfect world, where crime is low, unemployment is low, and the lives of one family who are a nuclear family (mum, dad, boy & girl) in a pleasant and stereotypically white neighborhood, signaling their wealth. Suddenly, we're cut to a montage sequence of CCTV clips of murder, and rioting as the inter titles read 'One Night a Year' 'All Crime is Legal'. It also shows this family discussing what the purge is, before the youngest child asks why they don't commit murder, and they simply reply 'because they don't need too'. What seems like a normal family wanting to keep out of the murder ensuing on the streets, turns deadly as a passerby is let in by the youngest daughter followed quickly by a menacing gang demanding the return of this person, or watch his family be murdered one-by-one. A quick montage sequence follows, with this gang killing off members outside the building, in all sorts of terrifying fashion, and the family inside the house now simply have to hide, pray and wait for the purge to be over if they wish to survive the night. 

Which positive, clever or interesting aspects do you think you could include in your own trailer? What generic features are fulfilled well?

Masks. Nothing is more terrifying than the use of prosthetic makeup, phallic weapons and the daunting masks in this trailer. The way that, the gang outside the house demand this person back, or simply state they'll murder whoever is left. I think also that the slow-fast pace editing of the trailer worked really well, as it's not easy to define a certain genre, or sub genre for this trailer having watched it, it starts relatively peaceful, just one family in a nice neighborhood, in a seemingly perfect world, quickly turned on it's head by one night.

Which aspects of the trailer did you think were unsuccessful and would put off it's target audience? How is it disappointing?

Back-story on the 'purge', we simply get a hashed reasoning from the father, saying that it's a way for people to use up the time on that specific day to let out any anger, and hatred they've built up without having to worry about police or emergency services intervening. I think a back-story would have helped, because there's a emergency broadcast that says 'Annual Purge' so we don't really get an idea of just how long this has been going on as a tradition. Second to that, because it goes from being a slow-fast paced edit, in the trailer there's a lot of scenes where it's just hiding and evading capture, this could in theory get a little repetitive and go from being a good trailer, to a bad film.

Why did this trailer receive the mark you gave it?

I gave this trailer a solid 8/10, mainly for the good reasons and the fact that as I've said it's a genre of horror that's not really been explored, there isn't any previous horror films that come to mind if you were asked to compare them to the Purge, so in that sense the 8 comes from the uniqueness of the trailer.

2nd Personal Trailer Review - World War Z

NAME OF FILM: World War Z
YEAR RELEASED: 2013
GENRE OF TRAILER: Horror
MARKS AFTER VIEWING: 9/10

What happened in the trailer?

Brad Pitt' stars in this action-horror which pits him and his family against a world-wide phenomenon that is a zombie apocalypse. Faced with a choice of either staying with his family and fending off the hoard of dead for himself, or helping what's left of civilizations' top minds, he has to uncover the reasons behind this attack of the undead, and help find a would-be cure or face certain extinction as countries around the globe and their populations, perish. 

Which positive, clever or interesting aspects do you think you could include in your own trailer? What generic features are fulfilled well?

I think both the music and pacing (collision cutting) are the two strongest factors in this trailer. As it's a zombie horror, it's edited in a way that an action film would be- the first 45 seconds - minute of the trailer is a scene from the beginning of the film, edited in with a accompanying soundtrack that sounds familiar to warning/hazard alarms, which is contrapuntal in terms of what's on-screen. The zombies in this trailer/film are also unlike any other, they're smart - scaling a 30 ft wall in Israel, and also terrifyingly fast working together to attack the uninfected.

Which aspects of the trailer did you think were unsuccessful and would put off it's target audience? How is it disappointing?

Of the unsuccessful aspects, I think there is only two aspects that could be considered 'unsuccessful'. Firstly would be Brad Pitt' character (Gerry), and his family, there isn't enough emphasis on them in particular, from what appears when he makes contact with an old friend and finds refuge on a navy destroyer, that's the end of the story for them, and then contrary to that is Gerry's previous employment. We vaguely make out that he's a former UN staff member, but that's not made entirely clear in the trailer, nor is it why it's up to him to try find a cure for the zombie apocalypse. 

Why did this trailer receive the mark you gave it?

I gave World War Z a 9/10 simply because, for the style of genre and the way it's so 'fast paced & in your face' really appealed to me especially, I think the way that it moves along all these previous zombie films in the genre, and re-imagines a world where zombies are actually terrifying to face. It also changes the common stereotype in most horror films where it's consistent falling out and staying alive such in similar films like Dawn of the Dead, whereas in this although it's just up to Gerry - he and a team of people are working together for the same outcome, not arguing and not falling out. 

1st Personal Trailer Review - Horns (2014)

NAME OF FILM: Horns
YEAR RELEASED: 2014
GENRE OF TRAILER: Horror
MARKS AFTER VIEWING: 7/10

What happened in the trailer?

We get a rough idea of the plot, Daniel Radcliffe' character (Ig Perrish) is framed for his girlfriend's murder, although he claims he had nothing to do with it, and is pursued relentlessly by both her family, tv/media crews and religious figures telling him the devil is coming for him for what he supposedly did. Soon after, he wakes up with horns sprouting from his head as he hunts down whoever really killed her, with bad repercussions happening to whoever he's near.

Which positive, clever or interesting aspects do you think you could include in your own trailer? What generic features are fulfilled well?

One of my favourite aspects about this trailer, is the way it's described more of an action horror than anything else. The music especially, and the way the clips are edited together to display that maybe Ig isn't the villain after all, help transcribe a sense of 'who did the crime' into the audience's perception. I also like the fact that magazine/newspaper reviews are edited into the trailer, perhaps giving the audience a sense of 'Oh, this movie is rated 4/5 Stars, should we go see it?' then elevating the audience appeal, simply due to someone else' opinion. However, although it's portrayed in this trailer as action-horror, the actual film includes more of a gore type lead, I think the mis-interpretation is a good thing and that's something I'd like to see in my trailer, simply because although it's 'tricking' the audience, it could make them see that it's better or worse than it makes out to be.

Which aspects of the trailer did you think were unsuccessful and would put off it's target audience? How is it disappointing?

I think personally, that this is an all round good trailer, and while the good points outweigh the bad ones, there's still some disappointment. I think that, one of the key disappointments is the fact that although this trailer is just over 2 minutes in length, it does give away some of the key narrative of the film, obviously with the town believing it's Ig whose the murderer, and his horns making everyone insane. Also down to the acting/casting choices, as Daniel Radcliffe at present isn't someone you'd expect to take a lead role in a horror film, I think that as a main choice might put people off on seeing the trailer, and then having that idea going into potentially watching the film.

Why did this trailer receive the mark you gave it?

I gave this trailer a solid 7/10 mark, because of the reasons I've explained that are good and bad about the trailer, I have included and going into consideration that I've seen the film, and multiplied that to what an audience might feel if they saw the trailer, then the film that there is some deception on what's displayed from trailer-film. Obviously you can't give away every plot line in a trailer, but I feel a little more narrative work in the trailer might have given this a better score. 

Class Poster Idea 2

Here is the final version of our class poster/trailer idea, changed from the original and we've decided on "Broken Mind"

Class Poster Idea 1

Here is the idea for our trailer, or the original version called 'Mind Tricks' and what the class thought of the idea for our trailer & synopsis of the trailer. 

Class Research: Favourite Type of Horror

My favourite sub-genre horror is action horror, simply because I like the fast pace/thrill type editing which is commonly associated with this type of genre.

Evil Dead (2013 Red Band Trailer)

Evil Dead (Red Band 2013 Trailer)

What happens in the trailer?

Remake of the original Evil Dead film, this trailer is Red-Band(ed) meaning it’s more violent and aimed at a more adult audience. It will only get played in R- rated cinemas in the United States, and 15/18 screened films in the UK. The narrative starts off with ‘Mia’ the main protagonist and ultimately, the female survivor (last girl) who has been taken to this secluded cabin, miles away from civilisation by her friends- adamant to get her off the drugs and alcohol she is controlled by. Little do they know, that whilst searching the surrounding swamps, and investigating the ruins of a time long ago- they unleash a demon, the previous host of the ‘Evil Dead’. Mia’s friends, unsure whether she’s just going crazy because of the withdrawal or whether there’s something really going on, up until members of the group start dying. Scenes involving a possessed Mia violently killing her friends, any way possible through the use of nail guns, chainsaws and shotguns really illustrate the ‘horror’ element of the trailer. Whilst only 2-3 minutes in length, we already know the main plot and narrative idea. The trailer ends rather abruptly with Mia’s brother saying we either have to kill her or escape to survive. Whilst generally ‘scary’ in most senses, there are both a few hide-behind your hands moments, and a few almost silly mentions.

Positive things about the trailer?

Music/Soundtrack
Establishes Plot
Lots of blood and gore - delivering on its promise
Collision cutting throughout (quick-slow)
SFX to accompany the trailer
Inter-titles

Negative things about the trailer?

Weird kissing/ cutting tongue in half scene at were frankly unnecessary
Blood vomit scene - too long
Ruins the plot with the excessive amount of action scenes.

Trailer’s Average Score

8.6 – Genuinely scary, collision cutting worked great, good music and editing. 

Toxic Avengers Film Trailer Review



Toxic Avengers (Comedy Horror 1985)

What happened in the trailer?

Although comically, we see the 'birth' of the Toxic Avenger, after he goes from being consistently bullied about his weight, to falling into a van full of toxic waste. Through his almighty transformation, he becomes the Toxic Avenger. We (the audience) are hit with multiple taglines about said Avenger, and everything from car chases and crashes to insane fight scenes, with our hero fighting the evil that used to typecast him.

Positive things about the trailer?

Clearly gets across the title of the film through the use of the voiceover

Delivers on it's promise of being a silly and funny comedy 'horror'

Negative things about the trailer?

 Trailer length was too long

Voiceover especially repeating became too silly,
bordering on almost awful,

Most of the 'comedy' was unfunny

Not enough horror in the trailer.


Average Trailer Score


3.5 - Purely down to some of the silly elements in the trailer, ultimately bringing down the total score for the trailer.


Cloverfield Film Trailer Review

                                          

What happened in the trailer?

 

In the trailer, we see the majority of the main characters in the film. They're celebrating, it's a perfect night in New York when they're suddenly interrupted by what appears to be a 'earthquake'. Panic erupts, we're forced from a 3rd person outlook to a shaky handheld first person. Excitement and fear rushes through us we cut to a short of the TV message playing out. Lights dip and we're on the rooftop, witnessing a huge fireball explode into the sky from downtown. People rush outside, it's chaos with people running through their lives, screaming away from the terror that they've seen. We (the camera) rushes away, only to be interrupted by a flying statue of liberty head, and the trailer cuts.

 

Positive points about the trailer?

 

• Wide range of shot types
• Collision Cutting between the party atmosphere and the panic on the streets.
• Explosion/ Noise connoting fear and panic
• Interesting plot - we never see the 'monster' making it ideal for the target audience.

 

Negative points about the trailer?

• Statue of liberty head not up to scale
• Too much handheld camera could turn away the audience?
• No clear definition what type of horror this is (Action, Psychological etc)

Trailer's average score amongst the class.


Cloverfield received an average score of 8 out of 10. It received this mark purely down to the ranging use of cinematography in the trailer, and the uneasy feeling received by the monster/plot.

 

 

 

 

 

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