FILM TRAILER ANALYSIS – ‘THE

HOLE’

• The film trailer begins in a conventional way with the green background and white informing audience that the trailer has been approved for the target audience. It then cuts to a high angle shot before quickly cutting to a low angle shot of a family arriving at a new house. The ambient lighting and absence of any music helps connote verisimilitude and convey the everyday setting of the equilibrium. A quick shot-reverse-shot sequence is then used as the audience are immediately introduced to the three main protagonists. Next we see the names of two film companies displayed on the screen, a black background is used to connote darkness and the presence of evil whilst the contrasting white text has connotations of a ghost, implying the supernatural element to the film. Furthermore, on the ‘Bold Films’ title the text is very wavy and more reminiscent of a supernatural antagonist. Next, another low angle shot is used as we see the young protagonist walking down the stairs into the basement, low key lighting is used to create a rise in tension whilst the use of a stereotypical basement setting helps convey isolation of the character, creating a rise in suspension.

• Next in the trailer we see our three main protagonists crowding around the main antagonist of the film, ‘The Hole.’ The pink colours being worn by the female help to connote femininity whereas the dark colours worn by the other two give them a more strong and masculine feel. A close–up shot is then used on the hole as the protagonists open it, the hole is padlocked down suggesting that it shouldn’t be opened because of the horror that lies within. A close-up shot from an alternate angle shows the hole being opened and smoke escaping, the smoke helps emphasise the spooky setting and reinforces the conventions of the horror genre. A series of shot-reverse-shot sequences are then used as the camera cuts from high angle shots of the protagonists looking down at the hole, to low angle shots looking up at the protagonists. The ever-changing shot angles help to connote a sense of conflict, one shot shows the protagonists as inferior whilst the other shows them as superior. This engages the audience an may engage them to go and watch. A second shot-reverse-shot sequence is then used as one of the protagonists pours a tin of nails down the hole to check the depth, this is done from a high-angle shot where the hole is positioned in the middle, emphasising its power and importance to the plot. It then cuts to a low-angle shot which tracks the nails as they fall down the hole, the used helps connote danger and mystery as it seems like the hole is bottomless.

A text sequence then appears as a shot-reverse-shot sequence cuts between the text on the screen and to shots from the movie. The background used for the text uses dark and grey colours connoting the dark and sinister mood of the film and the presence of a supernatural antagonist. A long shot is sandwiched in between the text clips as the hatch to the hole is lifting up, the diegetic sound of the hatch being opened, combined with the sudden presence of the scary non-diegetic music creates a rise in tension and attempts to unnerve the audience. A close up shot is then used on a clown puppet, the evil grin on his face creates a rise in suspense and has an unpleasant feel that scares the audience. Furthermore, in the text clips the words “DARKNESS” and “FEARS HIDE,” are in a larger font style further emphasising the conventions of a supernatural horror film. Next a long shot is used on a shadowy figure in a dark room, the low-key lighting creates a dark and sinister atmosphere, also the fact that the audience cannot identify the character in the shot adds to the mystery and further unnerves the audience. Another shot-reverse-shot sequence is used as one of the protagonists scampers through the door to escape this unknown antagonist, the close up shot of the door knob being opened highlights the danger of this antagonist, whilst the close up shot of the young protagonist connotes fear and innocence evoking sympathy from the audience and turning them against the supernatural antagonist. This is another important convention of a supernatural film, the audience must side with the protagonist and feel like they’re with them throughout the film.

Another text clip is used with the same dark and grey background to connote fear and mystery. Next a medium close up is used and shows the the protagonists stood next to the hole, the mise-en-scene of them wearing protective helmets and holding bats, this helps connotes fear of the unknown and underlines the superiority of the supernatural force. A close-up shot then shows screws to the hole’s trapdoor unscrew, connoting the disruption and the fact that the evil within is about to be unleashed. We then see an extreme long shot as a protagonist is thrown threw the door, again the dark setting and the use of smoke helps connote a supernatural element, whilst also emphasising the power and danger of the antagonist. Low key lighting is a sustained theme throughout the next couple of shots, the darkness conveys fear and danger. A low angle-shot is used as one of the protagonists is talking with his younger brother saying “there’s something in the house,” the whispering tone and dramatic non-diegetic music connotes fear of the characters and amplifies tension and suspense. A high angle shot is then used on the female protagonist climbing a ladder, the shot helps convey her inferiority and the superiority of the antagonist. Next a medium close up shot is used on what is seemingly the main antagonist , his dark and scruffy appearance connotes his violent personality whilst the the darkness surrounding him and the fact we can’t see is face also suggest dangers of the unknown.

A long shot is then used on another supposed antagonist sitting down on the floor beside the two protagonists. Once more the darkness and translucent nature of her face mean the audience can’t clearly identify her. Not only does this create a fear of the unknown, it may also engage the audience as they will want to go and see the film I the cinema to learn the identity of the mysterious antagonist. Another long-shot then depicts the same antagonist crawl into the hole, connoting its power and how unconventional it is, it also contributes to the sinister atmosphere. A low angle shot is then employed as we see the main protagonist jump into the hole, the fact that we see this from inside the bottomless hole, emphasises its depth and its danger. The trap door then closes in the subsequent shot connoting the captivity of the protagonists, this may also engage the audience as they will want to go to the cinema to find out if the protagonist survives. The film’s title is then displayed, the grey smoke conveys the supernatural element whilst the dark setting underlines the forms and conventions of existing horror film.

Applying media theory - TODOROV• EQUILBRIUM: Susan, Dane and Lucas have recently moved from Brooklyn to the quiet neighbourhood of

Bensenville. Initially Dane describes his new home as boring, until he and younger brother Lucas befriend their next door neighbour Julie.

• DISRUPTION: Whilst exploring their new house, Dane Lucas and Julie eventually discover a locked trap door in their basement. They manage to unlock the trap door and uncover a hole underneath it, the hole is pitch black and appears to be bottomless.

• RECOGNITION OF DISRUPTION: The hole possess the ability to bring fears t life, Lucas is scared of clowns and Julie is scared of an old friend she let fall to her death. Initially Dane claims he has no fears, but eventually admits to Julie that he is afraid of his violent, drunk and abusive dad. Lucas is then taken into the hole by a supernatural version of his and Dane’s dad.

• ATTEMPT TO REPAIR: Dane then jumps into the whole in order to save him, he quickly locates Lucas who is trapped inside a model of Dane’s old house, he frees him and Lucas climbs to his freedom. Before Dane can escape he is pulled back down by the supernatural version of his father. Dane eventually overcomes him in the eventual fight, claiming that he is no longer scared of his father. He eventually climbs to his freedom.

• NEW EQUILIBRIUM: Dane escapes the hole and goes to find Lucas and Julie before locking the trapdoor shut on the hole as the film ends.

APPLYING MEDIA THEORY – CHARACTER PROPP• THE HERO(ES) = Dane, Lucas and Julie are the three main heroes in the film,

they lead the narrative and the plot focuses on them trying to overtake their fears.• THE VILLAIN(S) = The villains of the film differ depending on the hero, that

is essentially the idea behind the plot. For Dane the villain is his drunk and abusive father, for Lucas it’s clowns and for Julie it is the ghost of her friend she failed to save. The hole itself could also be viewed as the antagonist.• The two binary opposites of the heroes and the villains are pretty much the

only character types in this film. There is no donor, false hero or dispatcher. In a way you could view Dane as the main hero, with Lucas as the helper and Julie as the princess, but all three are moulded in the format of heroes.

APPLYING MEDIA THEORY - NARRATIVE• The Hole is a linear narrative as the main story is the three antagonists trying to

overcome their fears created by the hole. Although it could also be viewed as a multi-narrative as there is a different fear and therefore a different storyline for each character. It is also a closed narrative and forms a parallel plot.

• THE NARRATIVE COMPONENTS:• Characters = Dane, Lucas, Julie and their respective antagonists e.g. clowns.• Events = The process of trying to overcome their fears created by looking into a

supernatural hole.• Locations = The quiet town of Bensenville.• Time = The narrative appears to take place throughout the summer holidays.• Issues/themes = The main issues and themes are fear, darkness and triumphing over

evil.

APPLYING MEDIA THEORY - REPRESENTATION.• The teenagers and children in the film are initially represented as

weak and vulnerable, shown by several high angle shots highlighting their inferiority. However this representation shifts towards the end of the film, the teenagers and children in the film are presented as powerful and strong shown by the destruction of their fears. The pink clothing worn by Julie connotes her femininity whilst the dark black and blue colours worn by Dane and Lucas underline their masculinity. The low-key lighting used in the shots of the hole helps connote its dark and sinister nature and amplifies a fear of the unknown.