1. Prom Night (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=cAr
dD-910-k&NR=1

2. About
• This film is another cross genre, starting with a chic flic and
turning into a horror. Because of this, it is helpful for me to
analyse in order to relate, help with conventions, and research
into more depth for my own trailer of this genre.

3. In the opening shots to the trailer, the audience are shown three medium shots,
introducing the main characters, in the same location of the hairdressers. The main
character is shown using the rule of thirds to show the mise en scene and also the
fact she is having her hair done, and the other two characters use the same shot
through the mirror to show the characters.

4. This shot shows a shot reverse shot, showing the girl walking down the
stairs. The camera is placed at a low angle looking up to the girl in the dress,
showing her dominance within the scene. We are then shown a wide shot,
revealing a reaction of a character who is the girls prom date, and the
parents of the girls emotions, looking not at their daughter but at the male.
This shows the stereotypical caring parents who make sure the male is
looking after their ‘precious’ daughter. The way this shot is shown is that the
male is closer to the camera, so the audience automatically look towards
him, he dominates the shot.

5. The camera is placed from a low angle, looking up towards the building. This
is to show the amazement of the building and its magnificence, and also to
emphasise its huge sizing. Just prior to this, we see the characters getting out
of the limo looking upwards, the camera takes over their position so it is as if
the audience are in the characters eyes, we are not missing out on any of the
scene, there is no element of surprise.

6. When the horror kicks in to the trailer, 55 seconds in, it is introduced through
the dim lighting which is very sudden. This is discomforting compared to the
previously lit scenes, and the audience can see that there is a disturbance to
the equilibrium (Todorov). The wide shot lets the audience see that all of the
characters within the scene are also shocked with the sudden change of
lighting.

7. When the horror genre is present, there is the mysterious person or creature which
is creating the danger. In this trailer, nothing is revealed to the audience. But we
are shown close ups of parts of this ‘males’ body. The elements that we are shown
seem to create a male gendered person, due to the suit being worn and the voice
heard. This shot shows the dominance of the dangerous man, as he is placed
above the audience and the camera. The element of surprise is present due to the
audience wanting the camera to pan upwards and show other parts to his body,
but this is not shown. The audience want to see more.

8. When the narration in the background of the trailer turns to the past tense,
and there is a character telling a story to another, the video footage turns to
black and white. This helps add the vintage, mature sense to the clips, as a
prompt to the narrative as well.

9. This shot is placed behind a closed door. This shows an element of surprise.
We can’t see the face of the character in the scene who is speaking
throughout, we are placed in the eyes of the dangerous man within the film.
It is as if the man is ready to pounce out behind the door, and the audience
is made to wait in anticipation. We want the character to turn around to see
us, but this does not happen.

10. Between shots, writing has been edited to help the audience understand the
narrative. The cliché saying ‘… to die for’ is used in realism. The producers
have purposely put this as a pun, not of a connotation of something else, but
actually the denotation. To actually DIE. This is a clever technique used.
Other edited transitions throughout are used. The main transition is a very
quick edit, flicking from one shot to another at a very fast pace. This reflects
the pace of a horror film, building up tension and suspense.