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1. 2 NON-GENRE SPECIFIC FILM
ANALYSIS -
MEDIUM RESEARCH
J A M E S T H O M P S O N

2. FILM 1: EXPLORING THE HORROR GENRE:
EDITING AND MISE-EN-SCENE
• For my first non-genre specific film, I chose to have a look at the horror
genre. I decided to analyse the trailer for the horror movie “Don’t Breathe,”
which has just been released in the UK.
• The editing of the trailer varies in different parts. There are slow sections,
where shots linger and there is little audio input in order to build tension,
however there are other sections where the editing is very fast paced and
dramatic, with increasingly haunting music in the background. I feel this is
done to help represent the film as a whole, telling the audience that the film
builds tension slowly but also has high-octane, quickly paced chase scenes
as well.
• Mise-en-scene wise, the trailer features environments and props that would
usually be associated with the horror genre. For example we have the old,
abandoned looking house, a gun, darkly lit bare corridors and a basement.
These things help the audience identify the genre, so they know the kind of
film that is being advertised.

3. FILM 1: HORROR GENRE:
LIGHTING WITHIN THE TRAILER
• As this is a horror movie, the style and lighting of the trailer plays a big
role in how the audience will perceive what they are seeing. In the trailer
for “Don’t Breathe,” I feel the lighting plays a big role in the overall
mood of the trailer. The lighting in the trailer is predominantly very dark,
with it only being light at the beginning. This is a typical horror
convention, as horror movies often start off light and cheerful before
descending into madness. The shots become darker and darker as the
trailer progresses, drawing the audience in as the action unfolds.
Establishing shot of
trailer, showing a light
environment
<<<<<<<<
Closing shot of trailer,
showing a dark environment
with the villain clearly visible
>>>>>>>>

4. FILM 2: EXPLORING THE DOCUMENTARY GENRE
EDITING, MISE-EN-SCENE AND STYLE
• For my second non-genre specific film, I decided to analyse the trailer for
“Touching the Void.” This is a documentary, however it features real actors
as they demonstrate the true events that happened during a climbing
expedition accident.
• The editing and overall style of the trailer is interesting, as the first half
features voice-overs mixed with text. The voices feature the real people,
telling of their experience in classic documentary style. However the second
half of the trailer is much more fast-paced and high-octane, showing actual
action taking place as if the trailer is advertising for an action film. This
shows that “Touching the Void,” is a mixture of a documentary and
action/adventure film, and as such is advertised this way in the trailer.
• Mise-en-scene wise, the trailer is very bright. I think this is done to help
clearly portray the environment in which the film is set, which is the Andes.
As the film as a whole is very brightly lit, it is important that the trailer helps
to show this aspect so the audience know what they are in for.

5. EXAMPLES
<<< Example screenshot of
shot from first half of trailer,
which features a voice-over
and is styled in a more
conventional documentary
way. The pacing of the shots,
for example this one, are a
lot slower.
<<< Example screenshot from fast-
paced second half of trailer, which
features dramatic, energetic music
and is advertised more as an action
film than a documentary.