Scream 4 Analysis

Bebe Henderson

It is conventional in nearly all film trailers for this to be the first shot you see.

This simple shot informs us that whatever is going to happen in this film has

happened before.

The iconic Scream mask which the audience would have already seen in all Scream Movies. This plays a huge part in

the film. We automatically assume that this person is the villain. A Medium Close Up is used so we can see the person properly – the lighting surrounding them is quite dark so that

we are able to concentrate on the mask and nothing else. hat

Our first location shot is of a High School – the audience automatically assume that this is where the killers’ victims

will be. Teenagers are always the main target in Slasher/Horror films. The lighting used is very natural to make everything seem normal and peaceful, but the audience know

that this will change very soon.

This shot tells us that the Police are informed and involved with whatever is happening. Will they be able

to capture this killer?

Another shot that emphasises the fact that someone or something has come back from the past and is going to

repeat the same events.

Our second location shot of the trailer. We are shown a large isolated house in the middle of no where. This is a prime example of a conventional scene where murders could happen within Slasher films. The fact that the house is

covered in shadows from the trees, and that very little lights are on in the house makes it even scarier.

People that watch horror films will instinctively know that this quote has been used in all Scream films and a lot of

other Horror films, therefore this is a very conventional shot. The fact that it is written on the wall is also a very common

thing shown in Horror films. It is a Close Up shot is it concentrates on the writing only.

This shot reiterates my earlier point of teenagers being the predictable victims. Here we can see three very

pretty girls who look as if they are being questioned by the police. We assume that the three girls will be killed

quite shortly into the film.

The final shots in the trailer are the title page and the release date. The fact that they have repeated the number ‘4’ within the title and the date makes it very consistent.