Trailer Analysis: Se7en

• The trailer begins with mid shots of 2 male characters in action. This can be seen as an introduction of the two suggesting that they work together. The use of quick cuts to focus on different objects, such as a body, an open window and a glass links to the genre of the film which is psychological thriller and crime fiction.   

• Low-key lighting is used in scenes when the detectives are at work, This emphasises the mystery and gloominess of their jobs, This contrasts with the high-key lighting used in the detectives house and this may show that the seriousness and darkness of their jobs are left on the doorstep and within their household is where their happiness is maintained.

• The weather in the trailer is constantly rainy and cloudy; this creates a dull and gloomy atmosphere. 

• Throughout the trailer, there are props used that are associated with the crime genre, these are guns and torches. Lose ups of these props could represent the violence that may take place within the film. There has also been a use of blue infrared lights, which are usually used in investigations. In one scene of the trailer the infrared light reveals the words ‘Help me’. This is intriguing for the audience and keeps them engaged.

• A voice over has been used throughout the trailer. The voice over begins by describing one detective as ‘looking for a way out’ and the other as ‘looking for a way in’, then sums them both up as ‘caught in a game’. This suggests that they are in some kind of trouble.

• The trailer contains many onomatopoeic sound transitions between clips; this gets the audience jumping and generally makes the trailer more exciting. The non-diegetic sound gets faster as we get to the end of the trailer; this creates excitement for the audience.

• The voice over states the names of the characters, this could be used to attract the audience.

• The use of inter-titles is effective. The inter-tiles state a number of words such as sloth, greed, pride and lust. The colour of the font is red, which is associated with danger and blood, this could signify what is going to be in the film.

Director Of Film Genre: David Fincher

David Fincher

David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American director and producer for films, television series and music videos. He was born in 1962 in Colorado, and first began taking interest in film when he was given a Super 8 camera at the age of 8. In 1983, after high school, Fincher worked for Korty films where he worked on the animated film Twice Upon a Time. He later co-founded the video-production company Propaganda Films and starting off directing music videos such as the R&B artist Jermaine Stewart "We don't have to take our clothes off". Mr Fincher also worked with big brand companies such as Sony, Chanel and Levis.

Awards:
David Fincher has 59 wins and 103 nomination, examples include:

2011 - Nominated (Oscar) - Best Achievement in Directing (The Social Network)
2009 - Nominated (Oscar) - Best Achievement in Directing (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

2015 - Nominated (Golden Globe) - Best Director - Motion Picture (Gone Girl)
2011 - Won (Golden Globe) - Best Director - Motion Picture (The Social Network)
2009 - Nominated (Golden Globe) - Best Director - Motion Picture (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Films:
David Fincher is known forthe movies:
Seven (1995)
Fight Club (1999)
Zodiac (2007)
The Social Network (2010)
Gone Girl (2015)

Poster Analysis: The Gift

Trailer Analysis: The Gift

• The use of cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound and editing in this trailer gives the movie a sinister mood to it. This is highly effective for a film because the conventions fits the genre psychological thriller so it’s easy to establish and draws fans of psychological thrillers in to the film.

• The first shot from The Gift trailer is a close up of a ribbon, which audiences would automatically link to a present. This connotes that the present is significant in the film and is the root of the story line. It is also unexpected for something as friendly as a gift to turn out to be something with a dark twist to it making the story line unpredictable.

• The colour of the ribbon is red, which is associated with danger, aggression as well as sin. This is one of the signs that it could be dangerous. The red ribbon is repeatedly shown in different shots within the trailer, this could also link to the psychological aspect of the genre.

• At the beginning of the trailer, the music is calm and slow until the story picks up. Once the story picks up eerie non-diegetic sounds are used to create a disturbing atmosphere.

• The volume of the music in the background changes overtime, which could increase and decrease tension. The change in volume also creates panic as it creates a mysterious effect. 

• Inter-titles are used in the trailer. One inter-title said "From Blumhouse the producer of insidious", as insidious is a popular scary movie this could suggest to the audience that this movie has the same potential and will be as good as insidious.

• There is repetition of the phrase 'Let bygones be bygones' which means leave the past in the past. There is also repetition of the phrase 'Simon says' which is a well-known children’s game. Overall the repetition will play with the audiences mind and keep them intrigued, it also implies that the phrases are significant.

• The trailer contains a number of jump cuts as well as quick cuts. This creates a sense of panic for the audience as everything is moving fast. It also makes the film seem very active and implies chaos.

Conventions Of Psychological Thriller

The conventions of a psychological thriller incorporate elements from the mystery and drama genre, in addition to the typical traits of the thriller genre.

Mise-en-scene:
Shadows and low key lighting - These conventions are used to add and create tension to the scene for the audience. They also represent the mood of the character or atmosphere of the scene or location at the specific time.

Costume - Characters in a psychological thriller are usually dressed casually or smartly as the locations are mostly set in a modern setting.

Location - Psychological thrillers are conventionally set in a family home, mostly where the family have just recently moved in to. They could also be set in an empty outdoor area to emphasise the mystery within the genre.

Sound:
The sound within a psychological thriller is commonly eerie and slow, this is used to build up tension, suspense and create a sense of fear.

Cinematography/Editing:
Quick cuts - This refers to numerous shots within a scene, in a brief duration. This is usually used to create panic.

Close up shots - This is a frame which tightly frames a person or object. In psychological thrillers this is typically used to emphasise the facial expressions of a character, enhancing their fear or anger. It is also used to emphasise the importance of an object.

Flashbacks - These are scenes in the films which are set at an earlier time. This is used to show what previously happened, giving the audience an insight into the characters past and showing us why they may act how they do.

Genre Mood Board: Psychological Thriller

Trailer Analysis: The Woman In Black

The trailer begins by introducing the audience to the setting, through a number of shots such as mid shots and long shots. These shots are accompanied by non-diegetic sounds made by the toys in different areas of the room. This immediately gives the target audience a disturbed atmosphere.

A child, using a voice over, narrates the trailer. The child narrates the story line in the form of a poem/ nursery rhyme, which can be identified due to the rhyming and constant pace of the speech. The use of a child and narration in the form of a nursery rhyme connotes innocence however by looking at the location of the trailer it makes the audience rather suspicious and engaged. In the voice over the word 'she' is repeated, this could link to the title of the trailer 'The Women In Black' as we could instantly assume the women is who is being referred to.

Diegetic sounds of the wind, rain, lightening and the slamming of objects associate the scenes within the trailer. These sounds are effectively used and repeated to create a sense of unease and discomfort.

As we get closer to the end of the trailer, the pace of the different scenes increases. The use of quick cuts creates and builds tension for the target audience as well as a sense of fear. The trailer also shows snippets the more active and exciting scenes at the end of the trailer, this is effective as they'll be memorable as well as attract the audience to watch the while film.