The Shining

Trailer Analysis

Genre and audience

• The shining is an example of a psychological thriller.

• They typically focus on the unstable emotional state of character, mystery and thriller.

• The film is rated age 15

• Target audience – 15 to late 30’s.

• Audience are able to relate to the family relationships.

Narrative and plot

What does the trailer reveal about the plot, and how does it create a sense of narrative?

• Man moves to a hotel for the winter with his wife and son.

• Audience are told the back story to the film – The previous caretaker of the hotel, due to severe isolation suffered a mental breakdown, causing him to kill his wife and kids.

• The back story is revealed to the audience through a voiceover.

• This leaves many questions unanswered.

• Code of enigma is created – What has led the man to violence/madness? What is the significance of the back story? Are the two linked?

• Sense of mystery is created, this being the film’s unique selling point.

Commonly used camera shots

• set the scene of the film• shows the hotel stood by itself, emphasising it’s isolation, adding to the

mysterious element.

Long establishing shots:

Close ups:

• These tend to be of the character’s faces

• This shows their fear, creating a tense atmosphere

• Brings the audience to ask questions

This particular close up is effective as we see the man in a menacing light, creating a sense of suspicion. This is therefore going to intrigue the viewer.

Editing

• The most frequent use of editing within the trailer are jump cuts.• The pace of editing gradually increases throughout the trailer, creating a

great sense of momentum

• Fade to black is also occasionally used.

• Fade to black is used after this shot• This is effective as it shows his

suspicious nature of his character• What has caused him to act in this

way? The audience will question his intentions.

Sound

• Both non-diegetic and diegetic sound is used effectively.

• Ghostly /eerie sound at the beginning can be heard when the audience are told the back story.

• This gives the impression that something is unsettled from the onset.

• Drumming sound – this picks up pace as the trailer develops, building momentum, providing a sense of excitement to the audience

• Diegetic high pitched screeching sounds and the repetition of the bell ringing add to the tense atmosphere.

“I can assure you Mr Allmun, that’s not going to happen with me.”

• The audience learn that this is not the case and so causes the audience to expect something bad to happen because of this man.

• The person responsible for the drama is revealed to the audience, however, we are told nothing about why they are doing so.

• This will intrigue the viewer to watch the film in order to find out.

“Is there something bad here?”

• The audience will question this, again providing a sense of mystery.

• They will be inclined to find out the answer by watching the film.

Characters and relationships

• The audience is presented with two sides to the main male character.

• This creates a sense of suspicion – can we trust him?

• The mother and son are stereotypically presented as the weaker characters, alongside the powerful and controlling male.

• Less interaction is seen between the father and the son as t is with the mother.

• This suggests a divide or separation between the two

Mise-en-scene

The hotel appears lonely, in the middle of nowhere creating a mysterious atmosphere and a sense of intrigue.

The maze adds to this mysterious mood

Props such as the axe, knife and baseball bat can be seen. This emphasises the characters lack of safety as they need a form of defence for protection.

The film trailer as a promotional device

• The most effective way of capturing the initial interest of the audience

• Creates a sense of excitement, and sets up the dark and mysterious mood

• Stirs the emotions of the viewer

• Presents it’s unique selling point as being the mystery

• The shining is a critically acclaimed film, and still influences popular culture today.