Evil Dead (2013) Trailer Analysis

Evil Dead (2013)

Genre: Horror

My Score: 7/10

Classes Score: 8.6/10

The trailer for Evil Dead (2013) explains the basic narrative of the film, but also shows that they have changed the narrative slightly from the original Evil Dead made in 1985. A girl gets taken, by her friends, to a cabin located in an isolated wood so that she can break her drug and drink habits. She then becomes possessed and tries to kill her friends. The trailer explores some of the ways in which the possessed girl hurts her friends, and how they try and kill her in order to survive.

The trailer had multiple positive aspects, the use of slow to fast collision cutting throughout the trailer kept the audience engaged and also created an air of tension. The sound track and the editing are well timed; this makes the trailer even more effective on the audience. The quick flashes of action, as well as the sound effects also help the audience to get a feel for the overall mood of the film; it also excites the audience because of the sudden explosions of action throughout the trailer. The music also fits with the inter titles that are used throughout the trailer to elaborate on the narrative; the inter titles make the trailer look and feel more dramatic due to the sound effects and sound track used to accompany them. The trailer also shows genuinely horrific bits from the film that will draw in gore fans, for example; the knife sliding down the possessed girls tongue shown at the end of the trailer.

There were aspects of the trailer that I thought were unsuccessful, for example; I thought that the trailer explored too much of the film, it doesn’t leave much that the viewer hasn’t seen when watching the film. The trailer also ruins the plot for the audience, it isn’t secretive enough. The trailer is also longer than most film trailers; the trailer lasts 2 minutes and 20 seconds, the normal trailer lasts for 1 minute and 30 seconds. There was also the use of the overall unrealistic puke, which adds a comical element to the film that does not shine in any way on the comedy genre.

The trailers average score was 8.6/10. One of the reasons why it didn’t score higher was that it contained too much gore and didn’t leave much left to be shown in the film. It contained good inter titles which excited the audience, it also had plenty of collision cutting to excite the audience and create a tense atmosphere. The music also contributed to the tense atmosphere, also the trailer looked genuinely scary, therefore it would appeal to most horror fans.

Dawn of the Dead (1979) Image Analysis

This image is from a scene in Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (1979). This scene is used to reflect the emotional states of the characters, it also shows the relationship between Fran and Stephan (Flyboy) breaking down. Both characters are naked in bed; this would usually illustrate sex, but the atmosphere of the scene demonstrates otherwise. There looks as if there is a line drawn between them both, the pillows and the shape of their arms establish this, the side that Fran is on contains low-key lighting, this could be a reflection of how Roger and Peter think that it is a bad idea to bring a baby into a world where you have to fight to survive. This scene consists of a slow cut, this it to create sadness and tension; the shot distance is also a long shot, this could be another representation of how distance Fran and Stephan are becoming. Laura Mulvey’s “Gaze Theory” is challenged in this scene, Fran’s breast is not shown for male pleasure, it is revealed to validate the breakdown of her relationship with Stephan. Character stereotypes are also challenged, Fran is blonde, and should therefore be the victim. Fran also is represented as an early feminist, as she is tough for the historical context of the film.

Dawn of the Dead (1979) Image Analysis

This image is from the film Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (1979), this is one of the first scenes where an establishing shot is used so that we are aware of the volume of zombies that are dominating the ground floor of the mall. The two floors could be a representation of heaven and hell; the ground floor representing hell, and the top floor demonstrating heaven. A high angle is used to demonstrate who holds the power within the scene, the zombies are viewed as the weaker aspect, whereas the survivors who are looking down at the zombies are represented as the powerful, dominant subjects.  The lift in the centre of the image could symbolize the link between the two.  This scene follows the horror convention of an isolated location; the Monroeville Mall is where the majority of the film takes place. The use of a long shot allows the audience to view the entire middle section of the mall, and also allows the audience to gain an understanding of where the threat of a zombie attack will most likely be. The zombies also hold aspects of sadism; the audience find out that the zombies eat to survive through an interview on television, this show that they are not simply killing people of the fun of it. DOTD (1979) includes historical contexts, this includes the rise of the malls in the 1970s, the rise of the malls also links to consumerism; there is a scene in DOTD (1979) were a zombie is sitting in a wishing well holding coins and pennies, George Romero hated consumerism so he highlighted it in DOTD (1979).

Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

This scene takes place towards the end of Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (2004). This scene mostly consists of close ups of both Ana’s and Frank’s face; these expressionist angles are used to reflect the mood of the scene into the audience. Quick to slow montage was used in this scene, after the attack of the zombies, Frank tells the group that he has been bitten, the editing then slows and expressionist angles are used to build an atmospheric vibe within the scene. The American flag is visible in lots of scenes throughout DOTD (2004); the American flag is a representation of freedom. The flag is often behind either Ana or Frank; this is to show their goodness and also reflects a sense of patriotism. The idea of the flag could also symbolize the idea of American vs. ‘them’; ‘them’ could represent the zombies, and the zombies could signify the terrorists.  V.Propp and T.Todorov’s “Classical Hollywood Narrative’s Structure Theory” is used throughout DOTD (2004); the film does not start with a “set out equilibrium”, the equilibrium is already disrupted by the invasion of the virus, as well as the problem with terrorist’s; the “quest to establish new stability” is the search for a safe haven; the quest could be considered as “achieved” as they make it to the boat, but the happy ending does not occur.

Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

News clips and photographs are shown at the beginning of Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (2004) whilst the song ‘When the Man comes Around’ by Johnny Cash is played as the sound track. The beginning links to the terrorist attacks, such as the 9/11, that have happened in real life. Horror films usually take historical context and use it in order to scare the audience, this is because we have become we have become tougher when faced with things such as body horror. This image is grainy and not of a high quality to make the news report look realistic, news reports from other countries is usually shot from a phone so that it can be quickly sent to other countries. The beginning scenes could be enforcing how the virus has become terrorism and has been spread from the Middle East; this then creates fear and tension within the audience.

Psycho (1960) Image Analysis

This is the first scene in Psycho (1960) where we find out more about Norman, and his relationship with his mother, as well as his hobbies and interests; we also see that Norman is sexually attracted to Marion. This image views Norman in an innocent, yet disturbed light. Low-key lighting is used to create deep shadows, as well as casting a dark and gloomy atmosphere over the scene. Norman’s face is half-light, half dark; this could represent how the audience, as well as Marion, are currently viewing him as a good and innocent person, but we later find out that he is the opposite of that. The stuffed birds are not just decoration, they relate to Norman’s hobby, and they are also a relation to his last name, Bates; the shadows also help to add depth in the image. This scene is also shot in an enclosed location, in an isolated part of town; this follows the conventions of horror locations. This expressionist angle allows the audience to understand the mood of the scene, as well as determining what will happen later on in the film. The low angle of the image also makes Norman appear powerful and dominating.

Andrew Sarris' 'Auteur Theory' could be applied to Hitchcock films. Hitchcock has developed his own style of film making, and also his films reflect his personality and part of his (sometimes dark) soul. 

Psycho (1960) Image Analysis

This is the first scene from Psycho (1960) that reveals the killer, but the angle in which it has been shot at doesn’t allow the audience to see the face of the killer; this brings a sense of mysteriousness to the scene. The establishing angle allows the audience to look down on the action; this suggests that the audience is supposed to view the scene from a God-like perspective. The low-key lighting casts an eerie and tense atmosphere over the scene. The low-key lighting, as well as the shadows, suggests that there is evil and negative energy present. The empty space between the staircase and the corridor separates the image into two sections; this could represent the good and the evil within the scene. The knife is the most dominant prop within the image, this suggests that it is sufficient within the scene; the knife could also represent a phallic symbol, we later find out that Norman killed both characters within the film; the phallic symbol could demonstrate his fascination with woman, especially his mother, and his lack of masculinity. The editing within this scene was fast paced montage, this technique was used to build tension and insert panic into the audience. The Bates house is also an old, Victorian house; this by itself brings a haunted and disturbed atmosphere into this scene.