28 Days analysis

In 28 days later a lot of different techniques are used in order to represent the horror genre. In terms of editing, in the trailer there are a lot of short clips that follow each other, face pace editing was also used in order to create panic, urgency and danger. From this part of the editing it gives a clear idea to the audience that this is a horror trailer.

There is a lot of fade to black in this trailer. The only place where another fade is used is where  a picture is being folded in to the middle of the screen. At the beginning of the trailer a cut to black transition is used in order to fit with the short and fast clips. This mixture is used to build tension. Parts of the trailer where the scenes are not intense, fade into black is used to because the shots are longer.

Furthermore due to the pace of the trailer we can catch the difference between the undead and the living as for the scenes where the living are showed their movement is faster whereas the undead movement is the complete opposite.

Sound is also used in order to represent the horror genre. Some of the sound effect involves explosions, sirens and disported radio sounds. The radio sound effect demonstrates that they are lonely and that they have no one this is because they have a lack of contact. The sirens ans explosions give a sense of panic as well as danger.

Dialogue was also used, for example « We should all leave now » or « We will become just like them » creates curiosity among the audience and they might ask themselves questions such as what’s going to happen? or what are they running from? These quotes shows the horror genre as it is supposed to be spooky and mysterious at the same time.

In terms of camera angles, close ups were used in order to show the audience a clear visual of what the characters in the trailers felt. It showed them being scared for their life and fighting to stay alive. Close up are used to show the expression of people hiding, panicking, looking terrified. Also this shot was used to show the faces of the infected people which was a good way to increase tension. It also shows the lack of information that they have, they are represented as emotionless monsters who cant feel anything which means that they are not humans anymore.

Long shots were also used to present the horror genre. This shot is mainly used to show the difference between the people who are humans and the people are not, this helps the audience understand the storyline. Furthermore long shots ware used to show the characters running away from danger which builds worries among the audience as they might be wondering who is changing them?

In terms of lighting a lot of dark lighting with sometimes red filters were used. Throughout the trailer its very dark because most of the scenes are filmed outside where it is night times, this makes the trailer scarier as it makes it more realistic by using natural lighting. Th red lighting is mainly used for the explosions and the red filters gives feeling of danger as it makes the scene look bloody.

The setting used are very simple and are part of the code and conventions of a horror trailer. For example we see abandoned streets with litter all over the floor with old buildings destroyed and cars tipped over. In addition to this the shot used are quiet long in order to show the audience a clear visual of how empty and destroyed the town looks which add some mystery and build tension as they do not know what happened.

Costumes are also important in the production of a horror trailer. For the male characters we can see, helmets, body armors, guns which fits perfectly with the male genre as they would normally wear body armors and poses guns. This also shows that they are trying to protect themselves from something that is stronger than them. For the scenes in the hospital doctors are seen as wearing white gowns and scrubs which is what you would expect to see in a hospital this makes the trailer more realistic. For the zombies they look pale and they are clothes are overly ripped and the end of their eyes are red. This make-up and costumes make the zombies look realistic even though we know that zombies are supernatural.