Textual Analysis Of A Teaser Trailer: {REC} 2| JOCELYN ASEA

Genre

Horror Thriller 

Release Date 

28th May 2010 (UK)

Company 

Filmax International 

Directors 

Jaume Balagueró

Paco Plaza

Writers 

Jaume Balaguero Manu Diez 

Plot:


{REC} 2 is the sequel to the 2007 REC, the narrative continues immediately after the events of 
their first film REC. The Trailer opens with a medic officer and a SWAT team outfitted with video cameras and are sent into a sealed off apartment to control the situation.

Introduction

For my Textual analysis, I will analysize the horror teaser trailer {REC} 2 for the horror film {REC} 2. This analysis will in turn will act as a guidance as to what i should include in my teaser trailer for it to appear realistic and theaterical and to appeal to audiences .  I will also analysize in detail, the camerawork and editing used for a dramatic effect and to have a emotional response, mise en scene, themes, narrative/ voice over, pacing, music and sound, characters and on-screen graphics.

Setting

Approximately 30 seconds into the opening scene, the audience is firstly introduced to the inside of a vehicle, where the SWAT sit aligned awaiting for their destination. Notice that an extreme close-up it used to emphasis the weapons, perhaps to suggest the place they are about to enter is potentially dangerous; this is shown in an eye level and POV shot, making the camera appear as though it is human, seeing with its own eyes. There are a series of cuts throughout the opening scene leading to the entrance into the apartment; audience know it is an apartment that the SWAT team are entering as the camera focuses on flights of stairs, trailing corridors and a series of rooms parallel to each other.

Lighting

The opening scene uses high key lighting in the vehicle to introduce the audience to the characters and give the audience a taster into the plot e.g. SWAT team and weapons. As the scene changes the quality if lighting decreases and becomes low key and limited, the surroundings now appear grey and gloomy, the officers merely silhouettes. However, as the trailer progresses the lighting turns into high key lighting, and appears almost like a negative; the scene where the first shot is fired in an open corridor. As the gunshots are progressively administered the audience sees flashes light; green, pink, red, purple and blue as if the footage has been taken from a video tape being replayed black. During the gun shots, we see white bolts of lights strike the characters; this emphasizes the gun; suggesting that it is powerful and has also been used for a dramatic effect.

Costume

The heavy black armoured uniform, equip with a solid black helmet and assault rifles immediately tells audiences that they have a high level of authority and power. This can also suggest to audiences that they are a team that are approved by the government i.e. police/ Swat team.  The choice of costume can also be seen as controversial; in the sense that in real life it is forbidden to kill with intent, even more so with the police/ Swat team whereas in the trailer it shows the team being sent to kill, when in real life they are sent to protect the public rather than harm them hence the assault rifles revealed to audience in the opening scene and shots.  The black armoured uniform works in favour with the setting and lighting as it in effect adds to the tension, and therefore has an emotional effect on audiences.

Props

The assault rifles are shown consistently throughout the trailer, this is perhaps done so that audiences can follow each character as they enter different rooms and so enables audiences to follow the narrative easily. The strong dominance of the rifles can also make the attacks and the use of the rifles seem like a video game, where you either win or lose.

The video cameras attached to the character’s helmets, effectively add to tension; as the unsteadiness of the camera can create a feeling of immediacy, chaos, danger and also in effect shows the character’s pov shot from eye level, this can also add to tension and may be used to have theatrical and dramatic effect as well as an emotional effect on audiences.

Non- verbal communication

In shot 7 the audience sees the possessed people in a long shot running towards the camera in a pov shot, this is perhaps done for a dramatic effect and to emphasis their persona and suffering.

Sounds

In the opening , the audience hears non- diegetic music before  the audiences see footage; the quality of the music sounds as if it were being played from underground, i.e through a tunnel. This is perhaps done make the trailer appear sinister and to create suspense.

It is highly significant that the genre of music being played throughout the trailer is opera and that it is in Spanish. The film was produced by a Spanish company; one film is in English the other in Spanish. However the language of the opera in both films is Spanish, this may have been done to enhance Spanish culture and remind audiences of the origin of the trailer.

Also, notice that the music is synchronised so that the music builds up to the peak of the film, for that, the shots showing suffering and pain. Whilst the pace of the music increases so does the volume, this is done to create tension and to have an emotional effect of audiences.

Camera Shots

In the opening, a pan used to establish the setting and its characters and an eyelevel shot to introduce the audience to the characters roles as their uniform and weapon is seen in the shot. The low angle shot that follows is in effect used to emphasise the weapon for that an assault rifle gun.  There is then a cut to a low angle shot as they walk upstairs; this was used to give the characters on-screen importance and authority, this can also help the audience understand more about their role in terms of the power and authority they have.

We then see a series of eye level and POV shots in the trailer. These shots suggest the camera is seeing with its own eyes, as if a human watching. This technique effectively makes the shots appear more realistic, which in turn can have an emotional effect on audiences.

Notice that in the trailer some of the dramatic shots are showed to audiences as if were being replayed from a video player, hence the quality of the filming (the multi-coloured flickers and black lines running on the screen) as if it has already happened and the shots that don’t have this effect suggests it is happening at that present moment.

It is highly important to note that in the dramatic shots the characters sometimes come out of frame of the camera and the camera does not always stay at a 90 degree angle.  This is seen 36 seconds into the trailer; where the girl tries to attack the cameraman. The effectiveness of this is that it creates a feeling of panic and apprehension and has been done to have a theatrical effect. In addition, the fact that the characters don’t always stay in frame may have been done to show that the main characters in the film are being defeated.

Camera Movement

The trailer itself, it filmed using a hand-held shot which in turn produces jerky, unsteady images, which may have been used to show chaos and immediacy and to have a dramatic effect.

In the shot were a character is seen urgently running down stairs (approximately 27 seconds); the shot is shown to the audience in a low angle shot, from over the shoulder; this suggests there is something chasing the character or the character is running from. This therefore creates an emotional response of fear and anticipation. Also the fact that the character is urgently running down the stairs may suggest that something is chasing him, he is afraid and so he retreats.

32 seconds into the trailer, the camera moves further down the corridor, a dolly may have been used to film to this tracking in shot as the camera remains consistent and smooth throughout the shot and also increases in speed whilst still keeping the setting in frame.