Trailer Analysis
Black Mass
The trailer starts with some upbeat, fun music and there's some friendly conversation between two characters, this is conventional of action as usually the first scene is something simply to draw the audience in, as it's an action drama film it starts far more life like and down to earth than several other action films that cut straight to the explosions and gun shots. The simple chatting continues as the audience watches it, waiting for something to happen, at 45 seconds in things take a darker turn and the music cuts out and is replaced by dramatic pulses as the antagonist turns sinister, the music is now eerie and suspenseful as the shots on screen show how violent this man is. The dramatic drum pulses of music continue as the antagonist delivers his dramatic monologue. All this time the music is building in tempo in the background - increasing in volume to, filling the trailer with tension, making the audience wonder what's going to happen. A single gun shot near the end of the trailer is the only real bit of violence in the trailer aside from a few kicks and punches but much less then is conventionally seen in action trailers but as this is also a drama film it's done to make it seem more life like. To conform with the drama genre there is laughter at the end of the trailer to show the audience it's not all doom and gloom.
The trailer starts with an establishing shot which conforms to conventions but after that the trailer mostly subverts from conventions, the first shot is a close up shot of the antagonist revealing him to the audience straight away unlike in other trailers where conventionally they aren't seen till much later and are hidden partially. A long shot of the family eating gives the film a very mundane feel to it, quite dull and plain - something not conventionally seen in action trailers as there's nearly always some fight or explosion somewhere. The first scene drags on for quite a bit to with some shot reverse shot highlighting how simple this scene is - no action, no car chases, no inter-cutting it with some fast paced montage - it reinforces the idea this is an action/drama film and so has a much more realistic feel to it then many other action films that are ridiculous and have the main character performing a pirouette around a shower of bullets. Finally we get to see some action some of the story behind this 'villain' and his bad side starting with a medium shot showing his emotionless face as he stares at this man he was being so friendly to about 10 seconds ago. Several low angle shots show this antagonist to be strong, powerful and someone not to mess with, there's also a close up shot of him as he delivers his dramatic monologue reinforcing the idea he is dominant and scary.More low angle shots of him as he beats a man and as he shoots another man - highlighting his violent side and showing how he's above everyone, people are terrified of him. A final close up shot of the guy he was talking to shows his anger at the antagonist and shows how quickly he can make enemies. The trailer subverts from conventions as there's no fast paced montage, no shots of explosions, shoot outs, car chases and no shots of women either but their is dramatic pauses showing how important they are in any trailer.
The first 30-40 seconds of the trailer is simple chatting as the audience see the main characters, this scene drags on and can be quite dull as there's no inter cutting to any action scenes or anything like that. It turns quickly though and things start to become more sinister, there's more low key lighting and several shots of violence although not too fast paced as is conventionally seen in action trailers. It cuts back to the scene in the home at the dinner table where the trailer started and all the shots that follow show hoe frightened people are of this man and present this idea very clearly to the audience, through the use of low angle shot's too, that this man is dangerous, powerful and has many enemies. This trailer subverts from convention as it's much more slow paced and doesn't fit as much in as other action trailers usually do, showing more of it's drama side but it is still fairly dull. There's no big CGI shots, no fast paced montage and not really any establishment of good vs bad or even a plot - it's all very confusing and quite boring and leaves he audience wondering what the point of the film is.
The film production titles appear first which is much earlier than conventionally seen in action trailers and conforms more to the drama side of things. The establishing shot of the city has low key lighting connoting something sinister and dark may happen here, this is contrasted by the soft lighting in the dining room where the main characters are eating and could suggest how they don't think what they're doing is dark or evil. All of them in the room wear white except for the antagonist who wears black which suggests he's sinister and dark, the red titles that appear on screen connote blood and danger too. In the following slow paced montage most shots of the antagonist have low key lighting and he's always in black (mainly leather) reinforcing the idea he lives in a dark world and does evil things, there is also often red around him connoting he kills people and has blood on his hands or that danger follows him everywhere or that he may end up dead as he has created so many enemies. The antagonist is wearing bling and rings which is conventional as it suggest's he's a thug or gangster of some sort implying he's the bad guy yet no good guys are established in the trailer which is unconventional.. In the whole trailer there is a single gun shot, no explosions, no car chases no real action which is what people look for suggesting this may be a predominantly drama genre film as there's also no woman either which is particularly usual.
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EDIT: The official main trailer released a few weeks ago is far more conventional and features a fast paced montage with gun shots, girls and a clear establishment of good vs evil and an explanation of the plot.
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