Name: the Devils DollsDirector: Padraig ReynoldsDate: 27 June 2016

Name/ Date/ director

Length 2.07Genre- HorrorTarget audience- 18+ (UK)

ULR Link-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqFnG0JemDw

“In the aftermath of the hunt for a serial killer, an ancient curse consumes a city, causing a series of brutal murders and pitting a detective against the clock to save his daughter's life.” (taken from IMDB)

The trailer starts off dramatically with the establishing shot of the ambulance and police van, and later showing the shot of two people murdered and covered in blood. Straight away the theme of horror is shown as it clearly represents the idea of death and darkness. Likewise, throughout the trailer, there was a series of events that was shown to be the most scary/ gruesome parts of the film as it also helps to give the audience a slight idea of the main concept of the trailer. Furthermore, the shots that have been presented weren’t shown in an order and was sort of jumbled which was done to engage and confuse the audience at the same time.

Narrative/ plot

There where a total of 12 character that where shown in the trailer, that of which the main character where a small family of a dad, mother, and their young daughter. There was also another women who knew about the curse in the city and presumably helps them when they need her. PaceThe pace of the trailer went some what like this;•slow •Fast •Slow•Medium•Fast•Slow•Fast

No. of Characters

The music that was playing gin the background was a quote yet effective piece of sound, since the amplitude/ sound of the bass, will increase at the part that’s makes the audience jump and that worked well as a scare factor. There was also, the effective use of silence, making the audience feel uncomfortable throughout when not know what to expect after. There was mainly non- diegetic music used and a sound bridge was also common or simply diegetic sound being played at6 a scene to make the audience aware and understand what was going on, or what the film is about.

Music

Production Companies

Worry Dolls ProductionsDistributors

IFC Films (2016) (USA) (all media)Studio Canal (2016) (UK) (all media)Silverline Multimedia (2016) (Philippines) (theatrical)IFC Midnight (2016) (USA) (all media)

Production company/ institutional identity

In the trailer the main editing technique that was used was; jump cuts which where done to make a dramatic point where the scenes may have gotten intense. Shot – reverse shot was also used to show the conversation between the characters. Cutting rhythm which was used in the middle end of the trailer to create excitement since the editing rhythm shortens to produce an ncrease in tentionCutaway was also frequently used as well to show the bridging interucut between two shots in the same scene

Transition/ Editing

“ you should have seen it before”“ every heard of the name Henry Lynn Bail?... Serial killer”“he was random and vicious”“ help me please”“ you got something that belongs to me… I have to have back that item”“ she’s my little girl for Christ sake, did you see what she did?”“ I can the darkness already growing in power”These are only some of the dialogues that where said in the trailer, and it clearly connotes the image of horror, as it uses the cliché phrases, mentioning ‘ darkness’ ‘help me’ ‘serial killer’ etc…

Dialogue

Since the film has just been released, there haven’t been anything claiming the USP of the film or any merchandise that has been distributed

USP ( unique selling point )

Butchers- the place smeared with blood and a symbol drawn from it and two dead bodies shown on the ground, symbolising the image of death straight away. There was also Ariel shot of a forest like area, where presumably the abandoned building was located, this can be a representation of isolation. Furthermore, there was also a shot of an old house, which wasn’t at all modern, but fit will with the location of the film. Looking into the whole theme of old, there was also an old book being displayed, which is support of the narrative, showing how this follows the basis of an ancient legend of voodoo dolls, and mentioning voodoo dolls here were also several shots showing the voodoo doll, since the movie is based around this, it was a clear obvious thought of it appearance.Likewise, looking into the main conventions of a horror, it seems to be fairly typical sight to see a weapon in horror movie, this was evident, where the main weapons that where shown where; a knife, a gun, a chainsaw, a scissors(used as a weapon to stab someone) . And with the representation of violence and deathly imagery, there was a clear use of dark lighting being used to connote the dangers of these harmful objects. Between the family that where targeted by the bad stuff, seemed to look like an anomaly in comparison to the rest of the people in the small town, this was shown through the way that they where dressed, behaved and in general, seemed to differ from the rest of the characters.

Mise en Scene

The font used for this graphic isn’t anything that look at all sinister, however, what makes it sinister is the background, whereby the clouded effect used in the back of the text, seems to cover over the text where the word ‘Dolls’ is used. Likewise, the contrast between the white text and the black background work complementary with each other, making the title stand out more. Furthermore, there was also the image of the voodoo doll, which is a clear representation of what the movie is based around.

Graphics

The main conventions that this trailer had followed, was the fact that it had the theme of darkness, death and possession all involved, making this film even more sinister and following the most common conventions of horror.This can clearly be presented when there where the key objects of threat being displayed, such as the knife, gun, and chainsaw. There where also the sound of a female screaming, showing that she was a victim, which then helps to support these stereotypes of women/ females, being vulnerable, weak and helpless. In the establishing shot, there was blood being shown, which clearly signals to the audiences that it may also a slasher movie, likewise, the scene where an abandoned building was being shown, was a cliché aspect to show entrapment and also helpless of the victim, since there is no way for them to get help. Lastly, the target ended u being a kid, and this is typical appearance of children, being in horror movies.

Conventions

The most obvious verbal and non-verbal signifiers where, the image of a the voodoo doll, where by the whole film is based on the legend of a voodoo doll, hence the appearance of the voodoo doll seemed inevitable, as it’s the aspect of sinister in the film. Furthermore, there is also the objects of weapons, where the main weapons that where shown where; a knife, a gun, a chainsaw, a scissors(used as a weapon to stab someone) . And with the representation of violence and deathly imagery, there was a clear use of dark lighting being used to connote the dangers of these harmful objects. There was also;•Abandoned building•Screaming•Blood•Creepy old lady •A child who gets possessed.

Verbal / non- Verbal signifiers

From this trailer I have learnt, that sound as well as symbols and costume are made to be very effective as it as a whole helps the audience understand the genre of the fil, since if the codes and conventions of horror are applies, it makes it clear to see what to expect. Through sound, it helps to make the trailer itself all that more scarier, and helps to make the audience when the sound increases at specific parts, and that’s what makes horror, horror.

Conclusion