Research into similar products: Silence of the lambs trailer.

Now that my first draft for my trailer has been handed in i thought that this would give me a good opportunity to take a look back at some trailers for the appropriate genre of mine so that i can further my knowledge and understanding of trailers and also see for myself what i could potentially do better when it comes to perfecting my own trailer.


The first thing that is shown to the audience is the image of the company that is distributing the film. This simple but also important feature just tells the audience who has distributed the movie and may also attract the audience to the film if they have seen a movie by Orion pictures before. However what really attracted me to this part of the trailer was the close ups of one of the main characters Hannibal. Why i really liked this close up is how it is presented. First of all the music that accompanies the shot is very harrowing and disturbing and makes it even more intense. Secondly i also very much liked how they used to shot to interrupt the Orion pictures highlighting how this character may be deranged. Thirdly the shots instantly present this character as being dangerous without having to mention his name or whatever he may of done.


This shot above is something i also thought was very effective. The audience is given a POV shot which puts the audience in the eyes of the character. We see the shot of her walking down the dark corridor but what i really liked about this shot was the camera was shaky and seemed unbalanced suggesting that the character is a little worried and so should the audience and also suggesting that this place is dark and dangerous but the people inside these cells are unbalanced and deranged.

The first piece of dialogue we hear in the trailer is "do you spook easily starling". I really liked this way of opening the trailer and thought it was very effective because although it very much sets the scene for the rest of movie implying to the audience that the movie may show some scenes that will scare them and that this movie is indeed a horror movie but it also seems to invite the audience into the trailer as if the character is also talking to them asking the audience if they are scared easily which would attract and also creep the audience out as they'd be guessing what could happen in the trailer leaving them guessing.
Coming in at 14 seconds the trailer includes some diegetic narration which states " he keeps them alive for three days then he shoots them, skins them and then dumps them". I really liked this inclusion into the trailer as it gives the audience some backstory and also gives the audience the vital information for the plot and motives of some of the characters in the film while also acting as a way to scare the audience as the crimes that are taking place within the film are disturbing and are not in the norm when it comes to crime films.

Editing with this trailer is something that i thought was very effective. In the beginning of the trailer the editing is very slow and methodical making for a disturbing and unsettling feeling as the audience are constantly expecting something to happen but yet it doesn't making them unsettled and weary for the rest of the trailer.  Furthermore when the trailer is reaching its climax stages editing becomes quite fast paced this is also to scare and put the audience on edge as they won't be able to see what is happening properly in every scene and are left guessing but also suggests that anything could happen in the next scene.

This is also a shot that i found very effective. The shot is very unique and stands out within the trailer because of what it can mean. It shows how Hannibal is seemingly a mastermind and has now made it into the detectives head. This shot i also believe is done to show that Hannibal is antagonist and he has clearly done some bad things and should not be trusted. However i like how his face is fuzzy and not that clear seemingly to suggest his motives are not that clear.

This is also another shot that i liked from the trailer. Hannibal is looking straight at the camera and so within the narrative it seems as though he is looking directly at the audience creating a sense of unease and mystery around him.  The constant cuts to Hannibals face is really effective and something that i really liked as it adds to the mastermind feel to him to once his in your mind you can't escape him.


The soundtrack in the trailer is your standard stereotypical soundtrack for a thriller/horror movie as its used to toy and also add to horror and creepiness of the trailer and i believe with this trailer the soundtrack is very effective. It is able to add to the mystery and scariness of the movie all in one managing to constantly leave the audience in suspense and fear.


Overall i really liked this trailer and how it was made. Now that my first draft has been handed in i really think that this is a trailer in which i will look back upon for guidance and help when looking into the codes and conventions for the thriller/horror genre as this trailer manages to do this perfectly being able to thrill but also scare the audience.