Dawn of the Dead 2004 Image Analysis 3

This shot is from the end of the film, the surviving characters are on the boat and at this point, Ana is looking at Michael (her lover), who has been bitten and has stayed behind. This shot represents freedom and escape. It is untypical of a horror film to have an attractive, blonde female survive as they are stereotypically the female victim, so the fact that Ana has survived empowers women and challenges this stereotype. Her face and the background are slightly out of focus in this shot, and the main eye-catching object is the American Flag. This has a link contextually, perhaps to do with 9/11 which was only three years previous to this film, the zombies represent the middle eastern countries and the flag represents America, the fact that it is in focus suggests America's reign as the most powerful, economic, influential country.

Dawn Of The Dead 2004 Image Analysis 2

I like this shot because it challenges stereotypes. Usually, you'd expect the hero to be male and the blonde female would usually be expected to be the victim. In this shot, it shows the blonde female being heroic by stabbing the zombie. Something else, which is typical of horror films, is the body horror. It is really successful in this shot, the blood and the stabbing looks realistic, but something else which adds to the uncomfort of the shot is the dirtiness of the zombie, under her arms she looks sweaty and unclean which would make audiences cringe just as much as the blood. The location of the shot is one which audiences would be familiar with, which would make them more afraid because they may feel like something like this could happen to them. The blonde girl is stabbing the zombie with a long, sharp object which is a representation of a phallic symbol. She is demanding the male, hardcore characteristics by using this weapon.

Feedback on Rough Cut

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 5/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• A range of shots
• Ending was good

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• No swinging in the hanging scene (A little unrealistic)

• Hanging Scene

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Text is too quick
• Hanging scene, the foot is not on the ladder when It is kicked

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 8/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• I liked the setting and the narrative
• Good camera angles

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• When the ladder in the hanging scene is kicked away your other foot hardly moves as if you were not standing on it
• Used "Hush Little Baby" twice near the end

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Has a flowing narrative
• A nice speed to it
• A variety of angles

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Different types of cuts
• Fade into inter-titles is needed

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Good shots from different angles

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Flow during the middle

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Liked scene of hanging
• Liked the ending
• Like the music “I’m Back”

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• First half needs more
• Story-line needs to be more clear
• Bit slow

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 6/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• The hanging scene
• The use of music at the end
• The mirror scene

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• I thought there was too much being shown of the past and the woman’s life before
• The shots could be quicker

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Jump scene at the end was good
• Fast paced bit in the middle worked really well
• Hanging bit was really good
• “I’m Back” sounded really effective

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• More close ups
• Beginning was a little confusing

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 6/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Ending shots
• Montage after suicide
• Creepy music

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Narrative is confused

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 6/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• End music
• Light flicker works well
• Good jump scare
• I like the mirror part

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Slightly clearer narrative

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NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Good music at end of hanging scene
• Liked mirror bit
• Flashing lights

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• A bit confusing narrative

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• The music
• The photograph shots
• The close ups of faces

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Shots are slightly short and quick at the beginning

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• Really well shot (Close up at the end)
• Loved the creepy lullaby
• Lots of quick shots work well especially Alex’s hair

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• A shame about the music
• Some of it could have been shot a bit smoother
• Story-line needs a tiny bit of work

NAME OF TRAILER: LULLABY YOUR SCORE: 7-8/10

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRAILER?

• The flickering lights are really good
• Good story-line
• End music works well

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE TRAILER?

• Hanging scene could have had a bit more pace and emotional reaction

Shooting Schedule

Shot list

 

 

Class Trailer Review 3: Grave Encounters

Plot:
A camera crew decide to go and investigate what is said to be the most haunted building in North America. They discover weird and demonic occurances during their stay, which in the end results in one of them becoming possessed. 

What I liked:
The location of the trailer works well. It is a key convention of horror films that the location is creepy and gives an automatic sense of negativity, which this surely does. Something very effective in this trailer is the use of 'ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE', these labels adds to the realism of the film and the storyline because we are lead to believe that the recordings are genuine. I also liked the use of night vision camera effects, they add to the fear as conventionally, scary stuff happens in the dark. It also makes me feel uncomfortable when the camera goes all grainy as it's as if something is happening that we can see but they can't. 

What I didn't like:
This kind of film has been done several times. A camera crew going to a scary place and one of them is affected by a scary creature, be it ghost, demon or monster. It has become slightly boring and conventional. This trailer is an example of the handheld camera that I don't really enjoy, they're filming looking for trouble, whereas in Cloverfield, they're filming and trouble unexpectedly comes. I also find the typography in this trailer a little bit uninspiring. 

My Score: 5

Class Score: 6

Moodboard 2

Class Trailer Review 2: Toxic Avenger.

Plot: 
A child who gets taunted and bullied falls into a barrel of toxic waste which turns him into a deformed creature, he decides that with his new appearance he'll do all he can to save the world and kill the criminals and morally bad people.

What I like: 
I think that the trailer is good at representing character stereotypes. It's obvious by gender, clothing, and general appearance who is the villain or who is the victim. 

What I don't like:
I really dislike the voiceover throughout the whole trailer and the unnecessary repetition of the words 'The Toxic Avenger', these irritated me so much that that is the reason why I wouldn't watch the film, which is a shame because it could have a really good storyline. I also disliked how the trailer was very long and contained a lot of the films 'best bits', so watching the trailer is actually like watching the film.

My Score: 1

Class score: 3

Class Trailer Review 1: Cloverfield.

Plot:
A group of people throw a party in a New York apartment when they are disturbed by a loud bang outside. This is followed by the ground moving, at this point they go out to see what is going on and notice there is a large explosion in the distance so they all try and escape the area but when they get out of the building, things start flying towards them suggesting a deep danger.

What I like:
Usually, in other horror films such as Paranormal Activity or The Devil Inside, I feel that the use of handheld camera is a bit cliche, and doesn't always have the desired effect of making a story seem real. In this trailer, the handheld camera makes the plot very believable and it doesn't feel like you're watching a scripted film. I also like how it doesn't show you too much of the film. It is mainly setting the scene and then at the end suggests the genre and brief storyline of the film. This grabs audiences in and makes us want to go and watch it to see exactly what will happen. 

What I didn't like:
I thought that it didn't really have a lot of horror conventions and never really made me feel scared. It was appealing for a sci-fi film but the storyline didn't make me "shudder" which is what the definition of horror is.

My Score: 8



Class Score: 7.5