Analysis Of Gothika Trailer: Codes And Coventions

Gothika Movie Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0e8SfWvXdM


Gothika is a supernatural thriller about a psychiatrist who, after a car crash, wakes up to find herself a patient at the same instituation she works for. The trailer conveys many conventions and codes for a thriller. It starts with a voiceover but breifly with a black screen; this is usually used to creating intrgiue for the audience as the setting or character is unknown but updates them with the narrative. It then denotes that the two main characters are in an asylum; which the audience can now connotes things such as the antagoanist is another human being and perhaps psyhoglogical twists within the narrative. However, this could also be denotated as a 'safe setting' as the trailer shows houses and offices 'normal settings' in which the audience is meant to feel safe. This is an often used convention of a thriller to lull the audience into a 'safe sense of security'.

The lighting used through out the trailer is low lit and very little natural light e.g from outside, which gives the surroundings a claustorphic feeling and can even create suspense. The mis-en-scene varies from being clutterd or with very little in it although the restricted camera shots makes it seem smaller and prision like. The characters all wear either dark coloured clother (black/grey) or whites. Another convention is not a lot of use of colours to add to the sombre atmosphere.

The use of typograpy in a 'type writer' style font, as if the audience is reading a past case at the asyslum, using the colours white and red. The white could asscosicate with the supernatural e.g ghosts in which is part of the narrative and the red, often seimotic for danger in the thriller/horror genre. The use of non diegetic sound is also important; slow paced tense music helps to create suspense, while the high pitched screeching violins fastens the pace and gives the impression that something bad will happen in the narrative.

Editng: The use of slow pace scenes to build suspense and then fast pace rapid cuts to add confusion and tension to the audience. This is a typical convention of a thriller. Another thriller convention is 'Theatre of the mind'. In the trailer the protaginst has a car carsh although only sound effects are heard and the events are shown afterwards. This is often used as the viewer's imagation is more likely to be worse than the actual events shown which can create more suspense and thrill the audience.

Camera Shots: Over The Shoulder

An 'Over The Shoulder' Shot is usually used to give the effect that the audience is accompanying the character in the situation. It could also be used in a situation where the character could be up to something, for example being devious.

Camera Shots: Close up

A close up shot is often used to show detail that is worth attention from the audience. It can also be used to show facial expressions and create a 'personal' effect to the audience when up close to a character's face.

Camera Shots: High Angle

This is a high angle shot and gives the audience a view as if they are the more powerful/ domainate figure. It can also give the audience the impression of sleathing into a shady situation. This shot can also be used to comdeic effect and could be P.O.V from a character.

Camera Shots: Low Angle

This is a low shot angle, which is not a commonly used but when used it represent levels of high power/domnenice. It can aslo be percieved as a point of view shot (P.O.V) and can be used for comedic effect.

Camera Shots: Mid

This is a medium shot and is used to show some upper body gestures and facial expression. From this angle, the audience is curious to what the character is seeing off-screen.

Camera Shots: Establishing Shot

This is an establishing shot and is often used to state location and setting or to help the audience realise a change in setting/location.