ANALYSING TRAILERS

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

TRAILER INFORMATION

Shots: 54 Length: 2.29Characters: 1 antagonist, 1 protagonist, starring 3 others. Location Features: Mini-Van, weary ‘spooky’ house, graveyardProps: chainsaw, coffin, painting, car, pool table, illegal drugs, record player, bloody sink, bullets, needle and thread etc.

CHARACTERS

The main antagonists identity is very hidden in the trailer, we aren’t actually introduced to him clearly. However it is clear that the antagonist is a man, we know this from the characters big build and in which the way he dresses. The antagonist is clearly dressed in working overalls which may lead us to believe that he is a local workmen. His main prop is a chainsaw which also lets us know he is the main antagonist given the name of the film ‘TEXAS CHAINSAW’. In the trailer we aren’t given much information about him other than the fact that he plans to kill all of the other characters and in which he does succeed.

CHARACTERS NAME: LEATHERFACE

CHARACTERS NAME: HEATHER

The main protagonist is named Heather. We are lead to believe that she is the main character in which she has brought her friends to her recently deceased grandmothers house. A few shots in the trailer are shown of heather being victimised by the antagonist (Leatherface) including in a coffin located in a grave yard, tied by her wrists in a basements and simply located around the house. We are shown that Heather isn’t exactly the strongest character however nor is she weak. In the trailer we are clearly identified with Heather right the way through whereas the rest not so much. This once again clearly shows that she is the main protagonist and main character in the film.

THE OTHERS.

The other three (main) characters are what seem to be Heathers companions. As well as Heather they are all late teenagers(early twenties). However in the trailer we only see them towards the beginning in the Mini-Van, and other times throughout the setting of the house. Straight away we are lead to believe that these characters aren’t the straight –edge type of people, for example; they wear minimal clothes, smoke drugs, quite disrespectful etc. We are also shown a male character wondering around finding mysterious places which could mean that they are quite adventurous. Finally, towards the end of the trailer, these characters are shown as quite daring as they attempt to fight of the antagonist with no weapons what so ever.

COSTUME

LEATHERFACE’S COSTUME.

As clearly shown, Leatherface’s costume is simply a mask and overalls. Judging by the overalls we are lead to believe that he may be an ‘ordinary’ workmen who works for his local town/village. The mask however, makes us think that he most definitely would like his identity hidden. This could mean that he is a local business man and that everyone around would know that it is him committing these crimes. The mask also allows there to be a lot of suspense, in which the audience don’t know if they are to ever find out his identity.

OTHER COSTUMES.

The other 4 main characters are similarly all dressed the same. All characters wear minimal clothing and are dressed quite inappropriate. However, there is a difference in clothing with the main lead heather and the other female character. Heather is wearing jeans whereas the other is wearing bare minimal. This could lead us to believe that straight away the other female will die first whereas Heather could be the final girl. The other females clothing makes us believe that she is quite flirtatious and ‘bitchy’ whereas because Heather has jeans on it may mean that she has more respect for herself and is more wiser than the rest. Finally the boys, in the trailer the boys are seen with no tops on. This could suggest that they are quite confident and popular, this could also imply that the boys aren’t as wise as Heather and make wrong decisions when it comes to tackling the antagonist.

COSTUME CONCLUSION

Overall, the costumes used in this trailer can be easily replicated in my own . The use of different characters dressed differently allows my trailer and characters to have variety. Variety in clothing can determine different characters personality. For example my main character, final girl if so, can be dressed quite maturely whereas the typical ‘slutty’ girl almost every time dies first.

PROPS

The props which have been used in the trailer all play an important role in the final film. For example we are first introduced to a mini van, the mini van in which is there vehicle to the destination. However, we are lead to believe that this vehicle is in full working condition, which in fact may not be the case during the equilibrium. The mini van has been used as a prop so the audience is clearly shown that the antagonist is smart enough to jeopardise their ‘get away car’.

Secondly, the main prop overall would have to be the famous chainsaw. Given the title of the film, the chainsaw holds the most important role/prop. The chainsaw is used by the antagonist throughout the film and is used as his main and favourite weapon. The chainsaw is the only main prop used throughout the trailer especially when the trailer shows us snap shots of when the equilibrium kicks in.

Another prop that is used is a record player. The record player is used as juxtaposition when they are being attacked and the music is suddenly ‘happy’. This creates a sense of sadisticness and cruelty.

These props could easily be used in my trailer however using safer replicas that would cause no danger.

LOCATION AND SETTING

The location of the trailer is set in a weary, isolated destination. Which in most horrors is typically the case, the use of a basement also plays an important role in horrors as basements are seen as a typical horrific place. The basement in the Texas chainsaw is the home of ‘Leatherface’ .this means that the character prefers to be hidden away in a quite desolated place. When equilibrium kicks in, the setting and location is in a remotely large house (mansion) in the early hours of the morning. With it being in the dark, it allows the film and shot types to be more typically horror. This also means as there is no outsiders it eliminates the element of rescue. Therefore this implies there is no hope for survival adding to the tension.

This could be easily replicated for my trailer as I could use the countryside, including fields, barns etc. I could also use the basement of a regular house and edit in some weary ‘spooky’ effects.

SHOTS, SOUND AND EDITING

The shot types in this trailer vary. At the beginning of the trailer, the shot types are very slow and calm creating a sense of peace. However, shortly after the shot types staggeringly increase. The shots become faster and shorter creating a sense of panic which also draws the audience in. The shots start out as establishing shots which introduce the surroundings, this clearly represents isolation. Shortly after the equilibrium has been disrupted it’s mostly medium shots with only one character in them, demonstrating their vulnerability.

The sound and editing play a role together in the trailer. They work together in setting the mood. For example the sound and editing at the start suggests that everything is calm however that mood doesn’t last very long. The sound and editing then picks up dramatically and a lot of flashing effects start to show, this allows the shot types to become faster creating a more dynamic scene. The trailer towards the end is very dramatic itself including the sound and editing making that happen. The editing of the shot types become more ‘horror like’ and the sound becomes more weary and disturbing.