- The film title: Shaun of the Dead
- Year of release: 2004
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Producer: Nira Park
- Production / financing company: Working Title Films and StudioCanal
- Actors: Simon Pegg (Shaun), Nick Frost (Ed), Kate Ashfield (Liz), Lucy Davis (Dianne), Dylan Moran (David)
- Films origin: The films name is a spoof of the horror movie 'Dawn of the Dead'
- Synopsis: Shaun of the Dead is a British zombie comedy that was released in 2004, with actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost among the main characters. It features Shaun (played by Simon) trying to save his close friends and family from being turned into zombies after a members of a whole community are turned into the walking dead whose only desire is to feast on the living.
ANALYSIS
The trailer for Shaun of the dead uses high-key lighting throughout which gives the audience a clear view of what is happening and a brief insight into what the film is about. From settings used (i.e. the bus) and the accent in which the actors speak we can tell that the film takes place within England, most probably London.
Right from the very beginning of the trailer the audience are introduced to the to main characters. The characters are presented as normal, everyday people, with whom almost everybody will be able to relate to, which may make this teaser trailer more appealing to a much wider audience than some other horror films. This is conveyed through the costumes, accents, settings and mannerisms of the characters. The setting can be used to make the characters seem much more realistic as for example in the first shot it is clear that the two men are in the pub which is commonly culturally associated with 'lads' or men or a 'laddish' culture which I believe will help the target audience to warm to the two main characters.
Another element that will help to make the main characters more 'likeable' is their costumes as the majority of them are wearing plain clothes as for example Ed goes throughout the entire trailer in a t-shirt and jeans.
From simply watching the trailer, it appears as though the target audience for this film would be a wide one as it could possibly appeal to people aged 12 to 24.
Another aspect that will allow the audience to relate to this particular film is that it has been filmed using predominantly steady-cam which gives the person watching it the feel that they really are a part of the action.
As with a lot of horror film trailers, a degree of realism is added as numerous fictional news broadcasts have been incorporated into the teaser including popular news broadcasters added for extra familiarity.
This trailer has also been edited extremely effectively as it followed more conventions of horror films by including blood, violence, and the use of quick cuts. Although all of these techniques were used the production team behind the from were still able to get across the comedy aspect of the film.
I say this because just from watching the trailer it is clear that not only is it a horror film but a comedy horror without the use of system-generated laughter in the background.
What I believe will make this film different for the target audience is that it is unique in being one of the first ever UK comedy horror films which is most definitely going to make it more attractive an tempting for the audience to watch.
One thing that this teaser trailer achieved effortlessly was to convey what the film was about without giving too much away, and it did exactly what it says on the tin - teased the audience.
I would say that this trailer in hand with the poster and magazine cover did a great job of creating a buzz about the film encouraging and urging audiences to want to go and see the film.
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