Genre research fatal attraction

Genre Research- Teaser Trailer Style- Fatal Attraction (1987) By Olivia Houlton

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style• Camerawork• Angle- This teaser trailer uses many low angles throughout to

connotes different meanings. Firstly, there is a low angle 52 seconds in when Dan is attacking Alex. This angle makes the audience feel vulnerable and scared of Dan in this aggressive outbreak, implying the power and authority Dan has over Alex. Secondly, 56 seconds in there is use of a low angle as Alex throws the phone to the floor, also making the audience feel scared and wary of her and her unpredictable behavior as she towers above them. Also, 57 seconds in a low angle is used on a shot of Dan and Beths’ daughter when she can’t find her bunny. This is effective in suggesting chaos and disorder in the Gallagher household.

• Movement- the majority of camera movements in the trailer are used on Alex. For example, 50 seconds in the camera zooms out of a middle shot of Alex leaning on the counter. This is effective in creating an eerie and unnerving feel. Secondly, the camera zooms in 1 minute 16 seconds in on a shot of Alex switching the lights on and off. Similarly this also creates a creepy feel as she is sitting very still and the only movement is the camera.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style• Shot type- 5 seconds into the teaser trailer, there is

a conversation between Alex and Dan before the affair, where there is use of close ups, 180 degree rule, shot-reverse-shot and over-the-shoulder-shot. All these techniques create a conversational feel and make the audience feel involved in the discussion, also they create an eye-line match which produces a sense of realism and interest. Also, 14 seconds in there is a close up of Alex and Dans legs which gives a sense of the intimacy and passion in their relationship at the time. Also there is a use of medium-long shot of Beth talking to Alex once she found out about the affair, effective in showing her tense and edgy body language. Also, it allows all the family photos around her to be visual, giving rise to how Alex has disrupted their lives.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style• Composition- There is use of the rule of

thirds 18 seconds in of Beth happy and cheerful when she doesn't’t know about the affair, symbolizing the order and structure her life is in during that point. However 49 seconds in the rule is broken in at shot of Alex leaning on the counter where is is positioned central in the image. This could be conveying show disorder and trouble have broken loose and how Alex is slowing going mad over her obsession with the Gallagher family.

• Depth of field- The teaser trailer is in deep focus to capture a sense of realism.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style

• Sound• Non-diegetic- Voiceover- whilst there is a voiceover saying

“A look that lead to an evening” there is a parallel image of Alex and Dan looking at each other, this narration at the start marks the moment they first saw each other and the significance it plays in the film. Secondly, there is a sound track played throughout which is a deep base-note sound, bringing a sense of drama and seriousness throughout the footage. Also, there is a sound-bridge 1 minute 4 seconds in of a man saying, “Whatever resentment she’s feeling she’s probably got it out of her system” over the footage of Alex on a rollercoaster with Dan’s daughter, Ellen. This is effective in showing how this dialogue is a lie and Alex is going to even more extreme lengths to get Dan’s attention and has even turned to kidnapping his daughter. Also, there is another sound bridge at the very end when Alex is switching the lights on and off and there is a video recording playing “guess you though you’d get away with it, well, you can’t” then the title appears.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style• Diegetic- There is lots of dialogue at the very beginning

during Alex and Dan’s conversation. Dan says, “I don’t think having dinner with anybody is a crime”. This is ironic as that dinner eventually leads to the Alex’s murder. Also, following dialogue effectively shows how the seriousness of the situation is developing. For example, 38 seconds in Dan says, “I’m scared Jimmy” and 55 seconds in Beth says down the phone “if you ever come near my family again I’ll kill you, you understand?”. This use of sinister dialogue demonstrate how the affair is spiraling out of control. Secondly, there is a sound effect of a phone ringing 25 seconds demonstrating how Alex keeps obsessively calling the family in a bid to get Dan’s attention. Also, there lots of screams, for example 1 minute 8 seconds in Beth screams for her daughter and 1 minute 13 seconds in Alex screams when attacking Dan.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style

• Editing• Shot order- 37 seconds in there is a medium-close-up

shot of Alex lurking in the darkness then it cuts to a shot of Dan saying “I’m scared, Jimmy”. This shot order reinforces how dangerous and frightening Alex is. 43 seconds in there is a shot of Dan explaining to a friend how he doesn't’t want to loose his family then I cuts to a shot of Beth finding out about the affair and hitting him. This order conveys to the audience how Beth thinks what he did was unforgivable and how his worst nightmare is coming true. 52 seconds in there is a shot of Beth threatening Alex over the phone. Then it cuts to a shot of Alex throwing the phone to the ground. This shot order symbolizes how much to two women hate each other and how much dislike there is in their relationship.

Fatal attraction- Teaser’s Style• Continuity- The majority of the teaser trailer is a montage

of clips to only tease the audience about the contents of the film. However, there is continuity at the very start in the conversation between Alex and Dan to slow the pace shown a little and show the significance of the night they first met.

• Transition- The dominant transition is straight cut to help jump from shot to shot quicker. However the first shot opens with a fade perhaps to symbolize the mark the dawn of their relationship. Also, it helps to add drama to the opening shot. However the final shot, of Alex turning the lights on and off, is followed by a wipe transition. This could perhaps symbolize how their lives are slowly being covered by darkness.

• Shot duration/pace/rhythm- The duration of shots is quite consistent throughout about 1-2 seconds per shot. However during the rollercoaster section the pace is noticeably quicker, this is to symbolize the chaos and disarray of the kidnapping event

• Special effects- The shots within this teaser trailer are very natural to further create the sense of reality so there is limited use of special effects.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style• Mise-en-scene• Setting- The overall city-setting may be used to represent the

unnatural quality in Alex and Dan’s relationship. Also, it could be used to reinforce the idea of chaos and disorder.

• Props- 1 minute 13 seconds in, Alex is shown holding a knife and running to attack Dan. This prop represents Alex’s violence and psychotic behavior

• Costume/hair/make-up- During Alex’s first appearance she is wearing a very low cut, provocative dress, foreshadowing the affair about to take place. Also here she is represented as a very glamorous and desirable women. However this image is later contrasted 50 seconds in where she is wearing an unflattering white dress with make-up running down her face, showing how her personality has changed throughout the film. Also, Alex has blonde, frizzy hair and wears quite heavy make-up. This could represent how she is quite a false character as our first impressions of her as a calm and collected lady are later ruined when she shows signs of obsession and disturbance. Conversely, Beth wears very proper and suitable clothes with very light make-up and is brunette. This very natural look could symbolize how real and genuine her personality is. Lastly, Dan wears very formal suits with tidy hair representing him and a respectable man and therefore inspires sympathy from the viewer when Alex turns on him.

Fatal Attraction- Teaser’s Style

• Facial expression/body language- 50 seconds in Alex is shown leaning on the counter, smiling and crying at the same time. This performance effectively show how psychotic she is becoming. Secondly, 19 seconds there is a shot of Dan hugging Ellen. This affectionate body language encourage sympathy from the audience as their family is being torn apart by Alex. Also 59 seconds in there is footage of Beth asking if anyone has seen Ellen”. Her worried tone and furrowed eyebrows imply that she is extremely concerned and further gives rise to how Alex is ruining their family.

• Lighting/colour- 38 seconds in there is a shot of Alex in extremely dark lighting symbolizing how she is up to mischief. 1 minute 3 seconds in there is a shot of Beth running from a light room into a dark room whilst she is frantically trying to find her daughter. This shows how she is heading into darkness both literally and metaphorically as Alex is getting more extreme in the ways she is tearing their family apart. Lastly, during the last shot, Alex turns the lamp lights off symbolizing how her own life will is soon coming to an end in her murder.