Hush Trailer Analysis

Unlike the previous film trailers I analysed Hush was produced by a British independent film company, not produced by high budget film American company like Fox. The music at the start is very creepy and intense; this allows the viewer to recognise the genre immediately. It does not set a happy mood like Disturbia and Taken. There are lots of fast transitions and editing used to build up to a climax. This is very effective as it draws the viewer’s attention and is synchronised with the soundtrack. A voice-over narrative is not used in the trailer; instead various captions are used and dialogue to help fit the story together. The captions mainly are rhetorical questions as it questions the viewer which is an influential way of getting viewer to want to see the film. The font is very creepy almost horror like, with moving and flashing after effects to disorientate the viewer. Disorientation is an essential element of selling the film as it and convention used in many trailers to appeal to the audience. Many camera shot have a handheld shaky effect, this again disorientates the viewer. Many close-ups are used of the male protagonist fear and sadness so that the viewer feels sympathy toward him. This makes them want to know how the film ends. This trailer clearly follows Propps theory of 8 different functions. The main protagonist being the hero, his girlfriend being the damsel in distress, whilst the kidnapper the villain. The characters used convey the stereotypical roles of these functions. However rather than using a city like convention used in thriller films like taken, Hush is set in the suburbs. This is a USP of this film. The codes of clothing are also very recognisable in this film as the Villain is dressed in black and covered up to create a mysterious effect. The camera shots of the villain are of all different parts of his body without including his face; this creates anticipation for the viewer. On the other hand conventions are also subverted by costume as the hero is dressed very casually looking very vulnerable. Not strong and confident like the conventional hero.