Similar Products - Trailer Analysis

We jump right into it with an upbeat handheld sequence that is fairly light hearted. The characters are briefly introduced through image over an upbeat piece of music. All this in terms alludes in no way whatsoever that this is a horror film. But this isn't a bad thing as it builds up the trailer nicely. After a series of home video footage we then cut to traditional cinema shots on the characters. They discuss the film's primary setting, Chernobyl, in a joking way. The music then cuts to a montage of real-life footage, completely contrasting to the prior sequence. The text on screen then reads over these said images: "IN 1986, CHERNOBYL REACTOR 4 EXPLODED", then, "THE RADIATION WAS WORSE THAN 400 ATOMIC BOMBS". A voice over speaks over the images and talks about Chernobyl, . Along with this voice over dialogue, the images, the text and of course the dark, ambiguous score, the atmosphere is established and a sense of tension arises. The production company logos appear, very quickly. The mood then shifts into the borderline action genre, because of the tone of the music and the way the trailer cuts in time to the beats of the score. The camerawork is very handheld; as if one of the characters is filming the rest of the group. It is extremely effective in making the audience feel a part of the action and taking them on this journey with the characters. The trailer then takes a turn by making the audience feel on edge with a mock scare (a character puts his hand into a lake and pretends to be attacked by something in the water, terrifying the other characters). The audio level is significantly higher to make the audience maybe jump, though exaggerated for effect. A long music note then occurs that implies a sense of dread for both us, the audience, and the characters. The music then builds to a small climax when a character looks at her photographed image and spots a shadowy figure in a nearby window in the distance. The image is very disconcerting - especially with the music and then the silence. The pace of the trailer seems to significantly pick up and this mentioned sense of dread continues to become more and more prominent. The setting itself becomes darker and transitions into the dead of night, with very little visible around the characters. The terrifying sound of a screech is heard. The music comes to a jarring climax and everything goes dead quiet. The lack of sound is certainly disconcerting. We see several shots of characters looking terrified; one of which is being stalked/hunted by a terrifying, shadowy figure. The trailer then comes crashing into a loud, action-packed series of images. People scream and the music screeches. The text then reads on screen: "FROM OREN PELI CREATOR OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY". There is then a series of quick fade in and fade outs, in time with the music which deliberately sounds strikingly similar to a countdown siren. Then there is more text giving the time of release: "THIS SUMMER". Then, towards the end of the 'montage' comes perhaps the scariest section of the trailer. The music comes to a large climax and there is complete quiet as the characters spot a 'little girl' with her back turned to them just meters away as they shine their flashlight and the videocamera on them. They then approach her and a woman screams behind them. Text: "EXPERIENCE", "THE FALLOUT". There is then another series of quick, flashing images that get faster and faster each time. Characters are attacked, they run, gunshots are fired, chaos erupts. The trailer then comes to a penultimate climax. then, the final title appears: "CHERNOBYL DIARIES". The trailer then immediately cuts to a close-up of a character being attacked and they scream. The quick series of shots are extremely intense. The film credits then appear and the music slowly fades out.