TRAILER GENRE ANALYSIS: THE ROOMMATTE.

          For my Genre Analysis, I have chosen a film roommate, because it is a thriller in the genre and subject, like the film idea I came up with and so it will be useful to analyse this film to see how I can make my trailer more effective.
          There are several criterias that define the genre. Well firstly in order to "thrill" a person, they need to be relaxed in the beginning, as when you try to scare and creep them out the effect will be greater. This is the reason for the first part of the film to have a relaxed atmosphere and for the second part of the trailer to be in complete contrast-jumpy, tense, fast. Violence, screaming and attacking are all elements of thrillers and they help to nerve the audience. Enigmas are created, such as the mentioning of "medication," which the audience did not expect and which will make them think about the reason for taking the medication. Several life threatening situations are presented in the trailer to raise the expectation of the audience and make them think about the reasons and the situations in which these occured.
          The first half of the trailer that shows peaceful college life has a relaxing, indie soundtrack, which is supposed to as I previously said calm the audience. The dialogue between the characters is casual and friendly. However as the second, more thrilling part of the trailer begins; The soundtrack changes to a creepy piano music, jumpy noises, shooting screams, clock bell, dialogues during attacks and which are more angry and nervous. The loud knocking at the end and the roaring scream are used to make the audience jump and emphasise the depth of horror elements presented in the thriller.
          Looking at the mise en scene and iconography there are elements which are very much common in the thriller genre. Small libraries, rooms and gothic buildings are not locations that people to make people feel calm and relaxed, but on the opposite to nerve them. The low key lighting and darkness are used so the audience feel more terrified. Using a simple prop of an earing, but ripping it out through someones ear, attempting to set someone on fire with a lighter, use of a gun, someone hanging out of the window on a piece of material are all examples of mise en scene and iconography to keep te audience on the edge of their seats.
          There are also several themes present in the trailer. Apart from psychotic behaviour, violence, obsession and hate; there are more normalistic themes like friendship, love, student life, entertainment and this is again to contrast the moods and atmosphere for the audience.