Textual Analysis of a Teaser Trailer – The Strangers
Title: The Strangers Genre: Horror, Thriller Rating: R (USA), 15 (UK), rated for violence and language Release Date: May 30, 2008 (USA), 29 August, 2008 (UK) Production Company: Rogue Pictures, Intrepid Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment, Mandate Pictures Director: Bryan Bertino Writer: Bryan Bertino Producers: Nathan Kahane, Doug Davison, Roy Lee Cinematography: Peter Sova Editing: Kevin Greutert Special Effects: Pacific Title and Art Studio, Technicolor Digital Intermediates Distributors: Rogue Pictures, Universal Pictures Budget: $9 million (estimated) Opening Weekend: $20,997,985 (USA), £1,250,624 (UK) Music: tomandandy Running time: 86 minutes (Theatrical), 88 minutes (unrated) Trailer Length: 1:15 [The information above was gathered from Wikipedia and IMDB] The Plot Filmed in South Carolina, USA, the film follows a night of terror for Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) and James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) when they spend the night at a remote vacation home owned by James’ father after returning from a friend’s wedding. They soon find themselves being chased and attacked by a trio of strangers. Camera Movement The camera appears to be hand held as the shots are clearly not steady, most notably at 0:34-0:45. This is most likely intended by the director. Handheld cameras have a denotation of realism and make the audience feel like part of the scene. This has a great effect in horror movies when the aim is to create a sense of fear. Camera Angle A common angle in this trailer is the two shot between Kristen and James. Two shots occur during the romantic scene between them at 0:37-0:43 and again briefly after the axe comes through the door, as well as during a couple of quick cuts later on. In this case, the use of the two shot is to show the connection between the pair as well as to highlight the differences between them (such as their reactions). When we see Kristen zipping her night gown and then placing her hands on James’ shoulders from behind, the shot is filmed at a low angle. Low angles possess a connotation of power and after we see the first act of violence (the axe in the door) we do not see any more of these in the trailer, implying a loss of this power and supporting the horror convention of the victims being helpless. A wide angle shot is used when we see the killers in the living room. This gives us our only clear view of all the killers in the trailer and so has a certain importance. Framing Several establishing shots are shown at the beginning of the trailer when we are shown photographs of different houses. The house in each shot seems to get closer to the camera until it reaches the house which will provide the setting for the movie at which point the camera effect stops. The use of these photographs is to match the text at the beginning of the trailer and also represents the killers choosing this house to attack. During the scene between 0:32-0:52 we see three different shots in what seems to develop into a pattern. When James is in the kitchen the frame is a medium long shot, which allows the audience to see what is going on as well as see the layout of the room. It changes to a medium close up when we see Kristen dressing. When Kristen puts her hands on James’ shoulders and in the two shot that follows we see it in a close up. The close up is used to show us their expressions more clearly. Up until this point the flow of shots has created a calm and romantic atmosphere, the calm a common plot device in horror movies, making things appear normal at first so that the shock is greater when the more frightening events begin to occur. When the knock on the door is heard, we see the couple in a medium close up which allows us to see the non-verbal reactions in their bodies as well as their expressions which emphasises the shock that someone is at the door this late. The door is seen in a medium long shot, a common feature in many horror movies. Tension is increased because the audience cannot see what is behind the door. It also builds interest which is important for a trailer. This is also an eye line match since we see the door immediately after the pair look at it. When we see Kristen at the door and James watching her both shots are a medium close up. We see another close up when the axe smashes through the door, focusing on the head of the axe to give the audience a clear view. In this case, a close up shot causes more of a reaction in the audience than a different shot might as the axe itself feels close. When we see the couple backing away from door we see medium close up before the series of quick cuts begins. One of the shots we see during this time is a close up of a knife in somebody’s hand. This highlights the importance of the weapon and increases tension. Sound There is a lot of diegetic sound in the trailer. An important aspect of this sound is the dialogue used. The first example we hear is during the romantic scene between Kristen and James when she tells him she loves him, using the nickname ‘Jimmy’ which shows their closeness, while he replies with ‘you’re my girl’ which, while affectionate, is not as romantic, conforming to the stereotype that men are less open with their feelings. After the knock is heard on the door, James’ comment on it being ‘four in the morning’ creates curiosity among the audience, wondering why somebody would be at the door so late, especially as there have not been any particularly scary events in the trailer yet. When Kristen approaches the door, saying ‘hello’ the whispered response ‘you’re gonna die’ builds tension further and makes the next shot more of a shock. Following another horror convention, there is also a lot of screams in the trailer. Diegetic sound also takes the form of sound effects including the match, the knock on the door and the axe breaking through the door. Most of the sound effects used are hard (door, axe, etc.) but are likely also foley or design sound effects as they do not sound natural and are louder than they would be normally heard on camera. Music also appears as non-diegetic sound starting as a seemingly ordinary song but becomes more sinister instrumental music as the trailer progresses, working to create a feeling of fear. This music is important because it builds tension and adds to the shock factor at specific moments. We also hear a faint crackling as one may hear on an old record. Another form of non-diegetic sound heard is the sound of camera shots both at the beginning of the trailer where we see the photographs of the houses then later during the quick cuts. The sound is harsh and shocking and fits in with the atmosphere of the trailer and highlights the idea that the couple are being stalked by the killers. The sound, both diegetic and non-diegetic, is synchronous. The sound effects match what is happening in the scene at the time and the camera noises are positioned perfectly with each cut. Editing There are many quick cuts in the trailer, in particular 0:52-1:03 when we see several events of the film. Quick cuts create a dramatic effect and is popular in horror movies as it can give the feeling of horror and when watched on TV or in the cinema it can show the audience some of the more frightening parts of the film but so quickly that they are not quite sure what they saw. This creates interest and curiosity, making people want to see the movie to find out what happens. As a result of the many quick cuts not a lot of continuity editing can be seen in the trailer. The only example of match on action is when Kristen is listening at the door and as it is immediately followed by the series of quick cuts it does not have the same realism effect as the technique normally would. Reaction shots occur when the knock on the door is heard and when the axe comes through the door, both times allowing us to see the shock and confusion experienced by the victims. A lot of shots during the quick cuts appear to be reaction shots though we do not see the shot they are reacting to. This technique could be used to increase the curiosity of the viewer. We see an eye line match when Kristen and James look at the door after hearing the knock. Jump cuts are seen briefly at 0:36-0:41 when we see the interaction between James and Kristen. This was possibly done so that the scene could be shown and create a different atmosphere without it taking too much time. Superimposition is used during one of the quick cuts when the word ‘killer’ is shown over one of the scenes. During the shots of different houses we also see the house James and Kristen are staying in with a red ‘X’ superimposed over the image telling us that this house has been chosen. There is another example of superimposition during the quick cuts, a strange effect over the images that cause them to appear as though shot on an old camera. This matches the sound and overall atmosphere of the trailer as well as giving it a unique look that will keep the viewer interested. This is similar to the shots at the beginning where the photographs of the houses appear as shots on an old photograph, non-digital camera. Mise En Scene Props The knife and axe play particularly important roles in the trailer. The close ups of the weapons are used to create tension and fear and showing them clearly, the axe being used and the knife being held, holds a connotation of violence and murder which means the particular acts of violence in the film do not need to be shown in the trailer. In the trailer we briefly see James in his (damaged) car appearing afraid. This emphasises the idea that the victims are helpless and unable to escape. Costume James wears a dark suit and has short hair. The suit references the fact that he has returned from the wedding but also has connotations of wealth and status. The suit and short hair are also stereotypically masculine. The male killer is also seen wearing a suit though this breaks horror conventions as killers, particularly ones of this type, are not normally seen formally. They are more commonly seen in casual, or torn and dirty clothing. When we first see Kristen in the trailer she is wearing a zip-up nightgown with thin straps and her long hair is tied back. This follows the horror convention of portraying lead females as sexy. The light pink colour is also considered to be feminine. Later, we see her wearing a plaid shirt over a black top which is a big contrast and is much less feminine. Similarly, one of the female killers wears a thin green jacket over a black top while the other wears a pink top. This may be to show the differences between the two. All three killers wear masks, a common convention in horror movies. The masks prevent us from seeing their expressions and as a result it dehumanises them. This causes the killers to appear more frightening. Setting The film is set in a large, remote vacation home in North America. There are a lot of trees and no other houses are seen. This touches on the fear of being trapped and in danger somewhere where help is unavailable. The common fear of being attacked while alone is what makes many horror movies more frightening for audience members. This is especially true when the events occur in the home because that is where most people would consider being the safest. Lighting Low key lighting is used throughout the trailer as almost the entire movie takes place during the night and darkness is typically considered to be scarier, particularly when you cannot see everything that is happening. Non-Verbal Communication The interaction between James and Kristen in the trailer, putting their arms around each other, stroking each other’s faces and Kristen rubbing James’ back tells us the relationship between the two and shows how close and loving they are toward one another. When the axe breaks through the door and we see their reactions, Kristen looks terrified while James looks more confused at first. This supports the stereotype of men being braver than women. In fact, throughout the trailer and movie itself, James is portrayed as a stereotypical male and Kristen as a stereotypical female. Stereotypes are very commonly used in horror movies. Text There is not a lot of text in this particular trailer. During the shots of the houses words appear under each photograph, making a full sentence – ‘Most people choose a home for the neighborhood or the schools or the size. But some people choose a house for a completely different reason.’ This essentially summarises the story, the killers selecting a house and killing the people inside. The font is white against a black background, bold and in all capitals to make it stand out and make the sentences appear important. This is meant to create more interest for the audience as they will question why that house was chosen. This information is not given in the trailer so they will be more likely to watch it to find out what happens. At the end, the text tells us that the movie is ‘inspired by true events’. This device is often used to make movies appear more interesting as well as more frightening whether it is true or not. The writer and director of the film, Bryan Bertino, has said that the movie is partly based on an even from his own childhood, in which a stranger came to his home asking for someone who did not live there. He later found out that the stranger had gone to several houses in the neighbourhood and those with nobody home were broken into. He has also said that his main inspiration came from the true crime book ‘Helter Skelter’, the subject of which was the 1969 Manson Family murders. There have been several rumours circulates about other possible events the movie could be based on, including the Keddie Murders of 1981, which shows just how effective this technique is.
Framing Several establishing shots are shown at the beginning of the trailer when we are shown photographs of different houses. The house in each shot seems to get closer to the camera until it reaches the house which will provide the setting for the movie at which point the camera effect stops. The use of these photographs is to match the text at the beginning of the trailer and also represents the killers choosing this house to attack. During the scene between 0:32-0:52 we see three different shots in what seems to develop into a pattern. When James is in the kitchen the frame is a medium long shot, which allows the audience to see what is going on as well as see the layout of the room. It changes to a medium close up when we see Kristen dressing. When Kristen puts her hands on James’ shoulders and in the two shot that follows we see it in a close up. The close up is used to show us their expressions more clearly. Up until this point the flow of shots has created a calm and romantic atmosphere, the calm a common plot device in horror movies, making things appear normal at first so that the shock is greater when the more frightening events begin to occur. When the knock on the door is heard, we see the couple in a medium close up which allows us to see the non-verbal reactions in their bodies as well as their expressions which emphasises the shock that someone is at the door this late. The door is seen in a medium long shot, a common feature in many horror movies. Tension is increased because the audience cannot see what is behind the door. It also builds interest which is important for a trailer. This is also an eye line match since we see the door immediately after the pair look at it. When we see Kristen at the door and James watching her both shots are a medium close up. We see another close up when the axe smashes through the door, focusing on the head of the axe to give the audience a clear view. In this case, a close up shot causes more of a reaction in the audience than a different shot might as the axe itself feels close. When we see the couple backing away from door we see medium close up before the series of quick cuts begins. One of the shots we see during this time is a close up of a knife in somebody’s hand. This highlights the importance of the weapon and increases tension. Sound There is a lot of diegetic sound in the trailer. An important aspect of this sound is the dialogue used. The first example we hear is during the romantic scene between Kristen and James when she tells him she loves him, using the nickname ‘Jimmy’ which shows their closeness, while he replies with ‘you’re my girl’ which, while affectionate, is not as romantic, conforming to the stereotype that men are less open with their feelings. After the knock is heard on the door, James’ comment on it being ‘four in the morning’ creates curiosity among the audience, wondering why somebody would be at the door so late, especially as there have not been any particularly scary events in the trailer yet. When Kristen approaches the door, saying ‘hello’ the whispered response ‘you’re gonna die’ builds tension further and makes the next shot more of a shock. Following another horror convention, there is also a lot of screams in the trailer. Diegetic sound also takes the form of sound effects including the match, the knock on the door and the axe breaking through the door. Most of the sound effects used are hard (door, axe, etc.) but are likely also foley or design sound effects as they do not sound natural and are louder than they would be normally heard on camera. Music also appears as non-diegetic sound starting as a seemingly ordinary song but becomes more sinister instrumental music as the trailer progresses, working to create a feeling of fear. This music is important because it builds tension and adds to the shock factor at specific moments. We also hear a faint crackling as one may hear on an old record. Another form of non-diegetic sound heard is the sound of camera shots both at the beginning of the trailer where we see the photographs of the houses then later during the quick cuts. The sound is harsh and shocking and fits in with the atmosphere of the trailer and highlights the idea that the couple are being stalked by the killers. The sound, both diegetic and non-diegetic, is synchronous. The sound effects match what is happening in the scene at the time and the camera noises are positioned perfectly with each cut. Editing There are many quick cuts in the trailer, in particular 0:52-1:03 when we see several events of the film. Quick cuts create a dramatic effect and is popular in horror movies as it can give the feeling of horror and when watched on TV or in the cinema it can show the audience some of the more frightening parts of the film but so quickly that they are not quite sure what they saw. This creates interest and curiosity, making people want to see the movie to find out what happens. As a result of the many quick cuts not a lot of continuity editing can be seen in the trailer. The only example of match on action is when Kristen is listening at the door and as it is immediately followed by the series of quick cuts it does not have the same realism effect as the technique normally would. Reaction shots occur when the knock on the door is heard and when the axe comes through the door, both times allowing us to see the shock and confusion experienced by the victims. A lot of shots during the quick cuts appear to be reaction shots though we do not see the shot they are reacting to. This technique could be used to increase the curiosity of the viewer. We see an eye line match when Kristen and James look at the door after hearing the knock. Jump cuts are seen briefly at 0:36-0:41 when we see the interaction between James and Kristen. This was possibly done so that the scene could be shown and create a different atmosphere without it taking too much time. Superimposition is used during one of the quick cuts when the word ‘killer’ is shown over one of the scenes. During the shots of different houses we also see the house James and Kristen are staying in with a red ‘X’ superimposed over the image telling us that this house has been chosen. There is another example of superimposition during the quick cuts, a strange effect over the images that cause them to appear as though shot on an old camera. This matches the sound and overall atmosphere of the trailer as well as giving it a unique look that will keep the viewer interested. This is similar to the shots at the beginning where the photographs of the houses appear as shots on an old photograph, non-digital camera. Mise En Scene Props The knife and axe play particularly important roles in the trailer. The close ups of the weapons are used to create tension and fear and showing them clearly, the axe being used and the knife being held, holds a connotation of violence and murder which means the particular acts of violence in the film do not need to be shown in the trailer. In the trailer we briefly see James in his (damaged) car appearing afraid. This emphasises the idea that the victims are helpless and unable to escape. 
Costume James wears a dark suit and has short hair. The suit references the fact that he has returned from the wedding but also has connotations of wealth and status. The suit and short hair are also stereotypically masculine. The male killer is also seen wearing a suit though this breaks horror conventions as killers, particularly ones of this type, are not normally seen formally. They are more commonly seen in casual, or torn and dirty clothing. When we first see Kristen in the trailer she is wearing a zip-up nightgown with thin straps and her long hair is tied back. This follows the horror convention of portraying lead females as sexy. The light pink colour is also considered to be feminine. Later, we see her wearing a plaid shirt over a black top which is a big contrast and is much less feminine. Similarly, one of the female killers wears a thin green jacket over a black top while the other wears a pink top. This may be to show the differences between the two. All three killers wear masks, a common convention in horror movies. The masks prevent us from seeing their expressions and as a result it dehumanises them. This causes the killers to appear more frightening. 
Setting The film is set in a large, remote vacation home in North America. There are a lot of trees and no other houses are seen. This touches on the fear of being trapped and in danger somewhere where help is unavailable. The common fear of being attacked while alone is what makes many horror movies more frightening for audience members. This is especially true when the events occur in the home because that is where most people would consider being the safest. Lighting Low key lighting is used throughout the trailer as almost the entire movie takes place during the night and darkness is typically considered to be scarier, particularly when you cannot see everything that is happening. 
Non-Verbal Communication The interaction between James and Kristen in the trailer, putting their arms around each other, stroking each other’s faces and Kristen rubbing James’ back tells us the relationship between the two and shows how close and loving they are toward one another. When the axe breaks through the door and we see their reactions, Kristen looks terrified while James looks more confused at first. This supports the stereotype of men being braver than women. In fact, throughout the trailer and movie itself, James is portrayed as a stereotypical male and Kristen as a stereotypical female. Stereotypes are very commonly used in horror movies. Text There is not a lot of text in this particular trailer. During the shots of the houses words appear under each photograph, making a full sentence – ‘Most people choose a home for the neighborhood or the schools or the size. But some people choose a house for a completely different reason.’ This essentially summarises the story, the killers selecting a house and killing the people inside. The font is white against a black background, bold and in all capitals to make it stand out and make the sentences appear important. This is meant to create more interest for the audience as they will question why that house was chosen. This information is not given in the trailer so they will be more likely to watch it to find out what happens. At the end, the text tells us that the movie is ‘inspired by true events’. This device is often used to make movies appear more interesting as well as more frightening whether it is true or not. The writer and director of the film, Bryan Bertino, has said that the movie is partly based on an even from his own childhood, in which a stranger came to his home asking for someone who did not live there. He later found out that the stranger had gone to several houses in the neighbourhood and those with nobody home were broken into. He has also said that his main inspiration came from the true crime book ‘Helter Skelter’, the subject of which was the 1969 Manson Family murders. There have been several rumours circulates about other possible events the movie could be based on, including the Keddie Murders of 1981, which shows just how effective this technique is. 
No comments:
Post a Comment