Deconstruction of Film Trailer-Interview With A Vampire-KURT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGkBMe3j-Sk
Firstly the film starts off by introducing a person with a recorder, so it establishes that the film is going to be an account from someone. The modern day “San Francisco” is then shown as setting the scene in the present time, showing it only against the night. Then it focuses upon a person wearing black standing in a window looking down over the streets as if he is watching and observing life. We are then show a slow cut to the man observing this man in wonder, glasses thick and black making him seem “nerdy” and his occupation that of a journalist. It then cuts back to the figure who slowly turns, and the shock at the uncovering of this mans face is evident and shown as there are quick cuts to the light being switched on (which indicate modern times because of electricity), and the man in the glasses reacting by quick hurried movements. When the light switches on there is a close up on the man’s face, and with makeup used to effect for the character we are given the impression this man is either un-dead or inhuman. The green eyes are neutral and help convince us that this person is casual and cool in his modern day suit, and then when he speaks his fangs are revealed, making him predatory and fearful. The fangs mark him as a vampire.
The next cut then goes along with the man speaking about his past, and the clothes help distinguish it as being in the past as they are less modern, but fanciful all the same the embroidery indicating, him being rich, and show that in his past was glamorous due to his wealth. The horse he rides in on suggests the man as being confident and possibly arrogant. The next cut then reveals only mist, creating tension as it covers the whole screen. As we can’t see at this point as an audience what is behind the mist it creates suspense and eerie curiosity. Then through the mist two horses come through, in comparison to the other horse which is lighter in colour, these horses look menacing with them being darker, and thick black plumes of feathers attached to their head, like they are sacred, and serve a spooky purpose by charging through mist in such a fashion.
The next scene again reflects on the wealth that’s going to be included into the film, as gossamer sheets, crystal chandeliers are shown, as another character fine in aspect of wealth also, seductively traces his hand against the bed, which then shows in the bed is the man shown at the start recounting his past. The imagery of this other man with yellow hair, a vampire is seen to be playing with his food before he makes a fatal move against this man who is convulsing in the bed and in obvious pain, blood seeping out among him, bring aspects of gore into the nature of this film. The next scene cuts to the image of a wrist in plain sight being grabbed by a man with force as if eager to sate his appetite with the blood from this wrist, as in the next cut it focuses on the pulse of a woman’s vein in her neck suggesting that this film is going to be about the “evil fiends” taking their fill of blood from ordinary humans because of their thirst and temptation.
Then the next scene shows the horses and a congregation of black robed figures, signifying that perhaps “vampires” of the night come together in some way in the film, whilst also creating them as powerful feared beings by their dominance with black horses and their many presences. Again the two main vampires seem to be gentleman due to their bows that hold up their hair. In the next scene with the woman there is the sense of the male charming the woman, and the potential of slightly moderate sexual scenes hinted at, with him caressing the woman’s mouth. In later in the film a man is then deeply kissing another woman, and in another scene feeding from her wrist to take blood, again the ecstasy apparent in his eyes, to show his estrangement to the normal world due to his odd taboo way of satisfying himself.
The next cut then focuses on a scene which references many vampire films, such as when vampires wake from the dead and sit up in a purposeful straight way like rising from coffins, this is seen in how the man rises up. The next scene shows a different congregation of people mourning at a funeral and the horses seen at the start are in the scene, the horses now being portrayed as a bad omen of death. Close up of the one vampire is shown in the next scene, and it gives us the impression he is connecting with the audience with being so expressive with the direction of his eyes. There is then the next scene that focuses upon a statue of an angel, and then we see it’s eyes open in a sombre dismissive way, as if rejecting the vampires, or shaking their head in sorrow, giving us the impression that the vampires are in fact doomed, if they are given the holy angels verdict so matter of fact. Again more elegant scenes follow with the next character introduced as the “adorable brat-like” child made into a vampire, spoilt and amidst the wonders of glamour. She is seen as demanding and sweet due to the way she is presented with the innocent long curls around her angelic face, whilst later on she shouts and raises her orders and starts conflict suggesting she is more than just a pretty face but harbours a dark persona. The “pretty” bonnet helps contribute at the end of the film to humorously creating the effect of her being innocent when she is in fact not.
The historical representation in the film is shown when there is a scene which shows main characters walking down a stairway into a dusty candle lit underground room, which due to only small candles alighting parts of alcoves in the room, shows there is no electricity available and that is must be set in older times when electricity wasn’t invented. It makes the film look gothic. Whilst The use of fangs gaping open in a beastly way make this film trailer look like that of “vampire” styled horrors, the fangs the main attraction in creating the danger and the weapons to kill. The flying in one scene shows that the vampires have supernatural powers. As the vampire fly’s it cuts to the vampires face close up clamping his fangs around the man’s neck, he is holding, and shows the vampire savouring the taste of blood as he pierces the man’s neck. This shows him as being merciless. Other supernatural powers show in a scene in which a man hangs upside down from a ceiling in a surprised manner. The intensity of colour used in the eyes help convey that they are not human also. Again it seems to have stuck to stereotypical vampire films with it being always set in the night, and coffins a famous icon in garnering the respectability of it portraying a vampire film.
Quick cuts then show a trunk being dragged on the floor locked with a steel chain as if restraining something and entrapping a person, whilst the next cut shows three cloaked figures in black, possibly vampires having found out where their victims are as they draw back drapes of a bed and act in a violent manner. The black colour is even more distinct as one scene shows a mass of black cloaked people bowed to the floor as if conducting some sort of mysterious dark ceremony, their faces pressed to the floor. The next scene then shows the image of the first vampire shown at the start of the film looking conflicted as he is about to sink his fangs into the woman, as if suggesting he still is confused about his morals and in fact is conflicting about being a vampire and the things he must do in order to be one, whilst the other more uncaring vampire watches him in an intrigued manner as to why he so guilty by this act that is simple to him. This helps create his character of that as an outsider, divided with the role he has to play in the world.
Chases through rain happen in the next quick cuts, and then show the vampire smashing into the window of a house that is set on fire, the danger more apparent, the strength and willingness of the vampires shown with their inhuman ability to just smash through glass. Never less in most horror trailers although there are no chases happening, but just quick movement, with the right editing this movie along with others make the quick movements into a sequence with other cuts, giving the impression of a chase. The inferno of fire could symbolise the hellish inspects and create the imagery of “dantes inferno” with doomed people in a mass of fire, as the fire rages and towers above the man, as if painting the price of sin what the vampires pay for their ways.
Candlelight is used much in the trailer making the film look natural and elegant with the sense of no artificial lighting. The next scene shows the conflict of colours in the battle against good versus evil, as a vampire dressed in blood red, walks down to the fragile women dressed in the purity of a whit dress, appearing innocent as she hugs herself, surrounded by the black cloaked figure like a swarm of bees closing in on their kill. The white standing out against the sinful black and red colours. Her appearing like an angel about to claimed by the devil, as the vampire walks in front of flames that roar up against the both sides of him.
From the characters i can glean that the vampire with blonde hair is the charismatic humorous type, whilst the black hair man sets the example of a fatherly figure to the young girl with curls, as in one scene he is shown embracing her like one of his own, uniting a strong bond between the two of them.
Screams of horror and battle cry’s are shown in later clips, the screams indicating that there is even horror for the vampires themselves to deal with even though they are scary enough of its own, whilst the battle crys signify that there is going to be action as the vampire rushes into a building bearing a weapon with murderous intent on his face, flames again burning behind him. Then the next scene shows the man at the start recording the vampires life trying desperately to get away in his car. This means as well as the story of the vampires past as the main focus, there is also another story in the modern world that takes place. The ending then reveals the star quality of the actors/actresses as the camera cuts to each one and addresses them so that the standards of this movie must be very high due to their contribution, and having an influencing factor by being mentioned at the end by their personal names.
The title of the film is shown in blood red against a black background in big font, impacting with two “evil” colours shown across the screen full to solidify that this film has nothing but evil in it. Again like most trailers it’s featured in the centre of the clip, and in capital letters so it stands out and gets the attention of eye contact properly. At the end the credits roll in with the actors the main first thing that is shown, revealing the top star quality that is going to be in the film.
The main message of the film seems to be that “Eternal” life is not as welcoming as people think it would be, and there is a miserable morbidity to this.

Sound

The sound of the film starts off with only the characters talking, then the music shifts into that of a religious choir type of music, making the film seem religious and a factor that will be shown due to the nature of the vampires in the film, or that religion is a compromising factor for them. This music helps paint the picture of there being a sinful degree in the film, and the music is also appears stern and righteous, as it seems to pass judgement over the vampires. Thunder is used to create impact in quick cuts, and explosions are used to generate the sense of being off guard and then quickly shocked. A bridge of classical music is built up so that it is the main piece of sound that helps add to the climax of sound, the classical music suggesting upper class which stays true to the film as there is much glamour and wealth shown in the clips. The roaring of flames and windows smashing create drama and continuity of action towards the end which is fast paced, then very slowly the tempo of the music fades down and slows as it highlights the actors starring in the film and the title. So the sound doesn’t jump up and down a lot but rather builds up to a climax then calms down. Although there are some clips where it pauses to hear a talking scene, and then straight on after a violence array of sound, there isn’t enough of those clips to cause disruption, so therefore the flow of sound is balanced out in a planned way to evoke tension and growing surprise in certain moments in the film, rather than deliberately pausing and stopping all the way through for scenes that will make the audience jump, relying more on the trailer to tell part of the movies story, then aiming to actually thrill the audience when they are not expecting it.