The Happening

This trailer shows typical thriller conventions throughout. They use rapid and abrupt editing (quick cuts) to build tension and suspense. The quick cuts also get the adrenaline flowing in the audience which builds more tension and excitement. In this trailer they use 'two shot's and 'shot-revese-shot's to show people in conversations, they do this so you can clearly see facial expressions and the panic and alarm in their faces as they learn more of the situation. There is also the use of close-up shots to show the emotions of the characters, like fear and panic.

 

In the trailer they also use non-digetic sound to build tension and suspense,for example they use a heartbeat in the background then it abruptly stops, this could be to show the outcome of death and this builds fear and shock for the audience. They also use a kind of bell drone or a war siren, this for warning people, which shows that there will definately be danger ahead of them.

 

The trailer shows a sort of montage of the bad things that are happening, they do this to show the audience how far spread this epidemic is, and how it is effecting everybody. They also show a series of people watching news programmes reporting this epidemic this helps the audience to infer that it is global. The repition of the word "attack" could make the audience infer that somebody or something is doing this to people on purpose.

 

This trailer shows many conventional themes, one of which could be the 'helpless blonde' this is often a character used in this kind of genre, it represents women as the 'Damsels in distress' and men as the ones who are calm and hold control. Although the trailer its quite conventional for this genre they also use unconventional ideas, for example the worms eye view of men jumping/falling of the roof of a tall building, this is unconventional because it is not something you'd expect to see, its showing the audience something they have never seen before, the low angle also makes this scene much more dramatic then it would from a high or mid level angle.

 

 

Analysis of Limitless, showing conventions of Marxism and Feminism

Limitless

At the beginning of the trailer, the main protagonist (Eddie) does not conform to the typical stereotype of a male in this genre. We are introduced to a man who starts off as a low status citizen in New York City, with little money, power and authority, and it appears to be struggling with his life, whereas typically men within this genre of film, are associated with these things. Feminists are likely to respond quite positive to this this as it demonstrates that it is not just female characters that have to fight for equality, and that men can also be just as inferior as woman can be. A man struggling for equality in a way goes against stereotypical ideologies. However, by the end of the trailer, Eddie has manipulated some of the biggest business men in the world, and become incredibly rich and famous - and as a result, the hierarchy difference becomes more balanced, and so her becomes more equal. 

However, it could also suggest that if you are of a lower class, with little money, power isnt an option for you unless you cheat you way into the business. At the start of the trailer, the main protagonist, Eddie, states the reason 'Why he looks like this' is because he is 'a writer' suggesting that this job title hasn't got much hope, and because of the job you won't have much going for you, so potential lacks. The trailer also suggests that the only way to overcome this is to cheat cheat, ( In this case by using illegal drugs to make you more intelligent) and cheating will help you gain more authority. 

Feminists are likely to respond negatively to this trailer. The trailer shows a clear power divide between male and female characters. The female characters are not really associated with any business related power, except from Eddies boss, but she is only shown when her power is being challenged when he demands a raise. The majority of the dominant characters within the trailer are male, suggesting that women are less capable, and inferior to men. 

Women are also represented as quite shallow throughout the trailer. At the beginning of the trailer when the main character is a low class citizen with little money, women did not appear to be interested in him, however when he gained money, power, and fame, women seemed to be instantly attracted to him. This suggests that they are only willing to look twice when men have fast cars, expensive watches and private jets. 

Women also seem to be objectified in the trailer, as they only seem to appear when they are involved in sexual scenes, suggesting that they are only good for one thing, showing they are not powerful, just used. 

Example of film in the thriller genre