The Purge Trailer Analysis.

The Purge Trailer Analysis:

The trailer starts of with the first clip being a moving sunset which soon founds into a black screen where the text of “America Nation Reborn” appears in white, it then fades the “Americ” out to then create the words “A Nation Reborn” doing this shows there is change is something as it is being ‘born again’. This then fades out so where then view a long shot of a family all holding hands (mum, young girl and dad) although you can only see the shadow figures you can tell they are happy. In this scene they are shown to be walking into the distance sunset like a happy beginning. Following this the screen returns to a black back ground where the same white styled text reappears with the message “Unemployment is at 1%” and then continues to zoom in on the screen to emphasise the fact. The scene then quickly cuts to view another family sitting round a table at dinner (dad; left, mum; right, son; back and daughter; front). For this they have used an over view shot where the camera has been placed on a work surface from a distances. As the audience in the same seem when the come across a close up of the mum laughing and smiling towards her family which then cuts sharply to view a mid shot of the dad smiling and joking. Doing this implies it is either between them or the vibe at the table is happy and jolly.

This scene fades out so we as the audience view a dusk sky, with the pink and blue clouds moving softly, this helps to bring across the impression of happiness and peace. Again the seen subtle fades out to then view the daughter) we saw round the dinner table) with her boyfriend in her room with all her trophies on the side. This implies she is a clever and intelligent students but like to mess around. Viewing the same character helps to inform the audience that the family that were viewed around the dinner table are the main characters in the film. Another fade into the black background where the continuously white styled text appears with “Crime is at an all time low” again this zooms in onto the audience, then fade cuts to a white transition. Using white usually implies white, purity and innocence. We then see the view over the mums shoulder as well as the women she is with (can only assume she is another neighbour as they are in between houses). Are communicating with neighbours in the car that is driving past them. This clips shows they are a friendly neighbour and get on well with each other. Then there is a clear mid shot of the two women smiling with one another, but it clear it is a put on smile and isn’t meant or felt from within. The scene fades out to hen view a crane shot of the whole suburb estate they must live in to help set the scene for the film. Another black background fades in followed by the white styled text which says “Because one night a year” this text then begins to jump around over the screen as if it has been affected by something and the peace piano music that had been being playing throughout the trailer without any other noise is interrupted and ruined with the text begins to jump around and the noises we now hear are of camera and technical error sounds. This then informs us as the audience that something is about to change and the peace we saw wasn’t going to last and something was about to change things.

After all the  change and disruption the next scene that appear is of cctv camera clips where you can see individuals being beaten and murder by others.

03.22.2013-PURGE FEED, HOUSTON, TX; AM 04:42:09

03.21.2014-PURGE FEED, JACKSONVILLE, FL; AM 07:44:05

03.22.2015-PURGE FEED, CELINA, OH; AM 04:31:35

Looking at the different clips it showed that with the dates and information shown at the bottom that whatever was taking place was clearly an annual thing as the dates went up a year. After viewing the cctv another black background appears with the same white styled text with the message “All crime is legal” which also jumps all over the screen like the following message. Another cctv footage appears;

03.21.2014-PURGE FEED, SIOUX FALLS, SO, CAM 1; PM 20:53:04

In this footage we come across a guy aiming a gun at someone who is obviously a victim in the moment. The next you hear is guns shots being fired and as the audience you can only think the worst. And with the drastic change that has occurred within the trailer is hard to understand until you continue to watch the trailer. Then the black background appears with the logo of the Universal Globe fading in so the audience know who’s film it is before the carry on to find out more. I think this was done as they knew the audience would be watching closely as they wish to find out more of what’s going on a why so they would pay attention to the logo. Next a long shot of an extremely large and expensive house appears on screen in the dark. When then hear a older man’s voice narrate the next few scenes “Tonight allows people a release”, following this is a view of the dad from earlier sitting on the sofa towards his children. And with this scene we are able to work out the house we view from a long shot it where they live and also it is the dad taking over the trailer.

The camera then decides to place itself in the middle of everything as if it is trying to create a point of view shot of what is going on as if we are one of the children listening. There is then the follow on to the next scene where we see and over-the-shoulder shot of the daughter and her boyfriend looking at her neighbour sharpening his knife in his back garden. This was shot at a birds eye view and then zoomed in to get more detail within the image. The camera continues to create an extreme close up of the neighbours hands whilst he sharpens and all we can hear as an audience is the knife against the metal and the sound of alarms going on faint in the distance.

Again we then view another set of cctv footage of a guy being beaten to death, followed by crane view of fires over roads and gangs in hoodies and then a huge house fire with a camera view from the front;

PURGE FEED- 03.21 2016, WARREN, RI, PM 09:25:30:14

PURGE FEED, 03.21.2016, PROVO, UT, PM 08:35:15

PRUGE FEED, 03.21.2016, SALEM, CR, PM 23:29:23

Having a variety of different footages from different times and different states of America also informs the audience it happens all over the country between the 21^st March at 7pm and 22^nd March 7am (12 hours).

This scene fades to black again with the voiceover “from the hatred and violence they keep up” having the background allows the audience to take in all that he is saying and allows what they have already seen to sink in as there is nothing else for them to think about at that time. We then return to view the dad on the sofa still “inside them”. Another over0the-shoulder shot is used with the boy this time when he asks his parents “Why don’t you guys kill” from this the camera cuts to view the worried look on the mum face who then looks towards the dad who at the moment is out of focus on the camera the boy continues with “someone tonight?”. Then the next scene is over a close up of a pair of hands that are reaching out for a gun in a cupboard, you can hear alarms going off whilst this scene is taking place. We then come across a bird’s eye shot of the dad and mum dealing/fixing/loading guns up which tells us the thought they had earlier on may not be the same as they have now. So the audience are aware something happens for this action to take place. It then fades to black again. And we hear the dads voice replying with “cos we don’t feel the need to Charlie” so it is clear that the image of the loading the guns is in the future and was used to hint to the audience things are changing. Whilst the dad is talking we come across a side view of him, with an out of focus shot of the mum to his right shoulder. He continues with “just remember all the good the purge does” the shot of the mum change and we see a mid shot of her looking at her son. To reply all the young boy does is nod his heads towards his mum’s direction.

The scene remains the same but we come across from a different angle as the daughter sits on her phone messing around trying to not pay attention to everything. In the background the dad pipes up again with the reassurance that they’ll “be fine, just like always”. Whilst they gather on the sofa together the dad just gives his son a subtle taps in inform him that everything is going to be okay.

There is then an action shot where we see a close up of a hand pressing the armed button to activate the security system. Suddenly a deep and intense music appears when a long shot of the house occurs again, but when we view the house this time it is pitch black and all of the shutters on the house are coming down for protection and it informed us what the ‘armed’ button done.

The camera changes it angling from the outside at get right near the moving shutters to subtly tell the audience how strong this metal was. We then see the same angle from the inside and it is clear that all is being blocked out the house, including the natural light from outside. This all fades to black and then the pounding noise is heard to confirm that it is all locked up and complete.

The next shot we see is of the empty street we saw earlier when the neighbours were talking and driving past, this is there to show the contrast and the seriousness of the event that is about to take place. The only noise you can hear are all of the houses alarms being set and armed. Then comes across over the television system a deep and informing voice “this is your emergency broadcast system” see son, mum and dad sitting on the sofa listening and watching the screens nervously whilst clasping each other hands “announcing the commandment of the annual” cuts to the daughter who looks up from the mobile once she realises it is beginning to pay attention “purge at this” view of a close up of the dad looking worried but trying to remain calm for everyone else “siren” view a junction in one of the local streets with no movement taking place “all emergency services will be suspended for” low angles shot of the mum and son but at a mid view so we are able to see the facial expression to the news taking place “12 hours” extremely close up of all of the family holding hands together “your government” view the family house from cctv camera  “thanks you for your participation”. This moment was to set the scene for the audience so they were aware of everything and how the characters felt at that time to try and make everything for realistic and true whilst they watch the trailer/film.

Everything on the screen fades out but is all affected whilst it does so and the noises of alarm seems to get louder and clearer as it progressed, even the cctv camera on the house become affected. I think this is done to show things are efficient and are about to go wrong (message for the audience). Then from no where a figure appears from the left side of the screen towards the house opposite trying to hide. Another alarm siren is set off whilst this scene is happening. The individual begins to exclaim “help me!” and where everything is so quietly his voice echo’s across the estate. It flicks back to inside the house where we see the son just standing there watching al of the screens with the cctv on, he seems to have a worried and concerned look on his face whilst tells us he has see the human outside asking for help. It then quickly cuts back to the cctv camera outside “someone please help me!” then a straight cuts is used to show the low angled shot of the mum running on a treadmill within the bedroom area then straight to a close up of the dad working. This shows they are not playing attention to what is outside and are trying to take their minds off the evening. It changes back to view an extreme close up of the young boy who seems to be even more worried now and then the individual outside shouts “I just need to get somewhere safe” the next we see is the young boy and his hand twitching towards the disarm but on the security system “can anybody hear me?” the man exclaims powerfully. This then fades to the daughter in her bedroom with her head phones in lying on her bed; this also tells us that she isn’t even paying attention to what is happening or about to happen. Then a straight cut is used to show the tension between scenes at that moment and then next thing we know the boy has disarmed the security system. When cut to the welcome area of the house where the boy managers to run himself to to be able to get the individuals attention and get him through the front door of the house, once his gets to the door an over –the-shoulder shot is used to see the man reacting to the boy actions whilst the young boy is shouting “lets go! This way!” the guy reacts and begins to run towards the camera as it remained still. The noise of the alarm disarming themselves is in constantly ear shout to emphases the actions the boys had decided to make. When then see the dad running towards the room where the system is exclaiming “CHARLIE!” and without even thinking he re-arms the whole system. As the shutters begin to shut again it cuts to the guy running towards the house and the boys shouting for him to “hurry” luckily the guy manages to slide underneath the gap that was left right into the camera that remain fixed that whole scene shot. We next view a side shot of the young boy being comforted by his mum. Then all you can hear is the dad exclaiming “WHY DID YOU LET HIM IN OUR HOME?” the boy innocently stands there looking upset whilst the dad gives him a disappointed look as he knew his son meant well by his actions by didn’t think of the consequences. We then see the son and mum together still comforting each other whilst the dad continues to shout “we have no idea who’s after him!” not seeing the dad talk but hearing him speaks means we are able to pick up on the instant expressions the characters have on the moment.

It all fades to black when the sound of a door bell goes, the same white text from earlier reappears with “from the producer of Paranormal Activity” the door bell goes again whilst the black screen remains except that text disappears with a fade out and more reappears “And Sinister”. Breaking the text up allows the information to sink in more with the audience as it is know to make a larger impact on someone when something it broken down. Again the door bell goes, except this time it returns to a straight cut back to the film but we view 4 different screens;

Top left: guy in mask, girl to hid right in background.

Top right: front garden with people messing around wearing masks.

Bottom left: another view of the front garden with another group of people in who were also wearing masks.

Bottom right: the drive way where a different car sat with even more people in who were also wearing masks like the others.

But because of the guy being at the front of the camera in the top left he makes the biggest impression and you cant help but see him first. Although you still notice what the others are doing also the lighting on him is a lot stronger where it is by the front door where the others are playing in the shadows. Then a new voice appears saying “Our target for…” low angle of backs on individuals walking around the perimeter of the house “this years purge is hiding in your house” then we come across a quick and short cut of the guy they let into the house, where the guy from outside continues with “you have 1 hour to find him and give him to us”. Then the camera decides to fade to a mid shot f the dad, mum and son watching the television screens looking panicked. Cuts back to the guy who were first saw wearing a mask in the top left. But this time he has removed the masks to show that he is confident to take the actions he says forward because the facial expressions give it away to the characters as well as the audience. He dresses smart and comes across well off but continues his speech with “or we’ll kill all of you” it the flickers onto the him more closely as he moves himself towards the camera to put him out of proportion and with that he follows on with an evil smile we then see large views of all the screens that were split into 4 where all of the people are up in the cameras still masked as they are cowards within this process. Whilst viewing the larger views there is creepy and earry music played to help set the vibe and scene. All of this then fades out to show a change in scene and time and to emphasise the darkness that is about to take place, all you can see is a torch light with the music becoming more intense. Then dad is holding the torch as he edges through his own house terrified the light of the torch the lights up a wall in front that has the message “don’t look for me” written in blood. This helps to give across a horror based feel as well as a mystery and we know they will try to look for him. It then returns with a fade transition of the mum comforting the son who is out of focus, doing this implies to the audience the son in venerable and the mum is going to make an impact and has more dominance in the particular moment. The mum suddenly speaks u with “they can’t get in here, right? They can’t get into our home? With her voice quivering, this implies the fear she is going through and she already knows the answer to her questions. Again the scene fades black to show a change in time where we then see a close up of the dad in full focus and something move in the background that at that moment is out of focus until he dad moves out of the scene where the camera pulls into full to make out the image of a masks within the house. The darkness is used for the next transition (scene change)where we next see the once confident young teenage girl, crying underneath her bed in the darkness whilst someone above walks around. As the foot moves towards the bed you pick up on the music becoming louder the build tension at that moment.

When it fades to black again more white text appears with “This year” whilst loud and powerful music begins to increase, cuts to action shot of the mum and dad running as the security is destroyed. The camera then dolly's them from behind as they run. The a straight cut appears of a viewing from the cctv as a guy in a mask is being shot by another in a mask. To show change a black fade out is used to then come across and girl in a beautiful white dress covered in blood. This is only a close up so the audience aren’t actually aware of who is wearing the outfit, this leaves tension within the scenes to come. As these scenes continue the music become even louder to make the tension even more of a part to play. This fades to seeing the guy they saved from the people holding the daughter hostage with a gun to her head this is only visible due to a torch light being shone on their faces., this suddenly cuts to black so the audience have a moment to take in what they just saw as the tables have seemed to turn again. It allows them to question and stay unknown to the story as well as knowing the basic story line.

The next part of the trailer is second long clips of different action parts that take place. As the are happening the music that has been building in the scene is now at its peak moment this si done so the audience have more of a knowledge to what is happening but don’t have enough to give things away to them to spoil their viewing;

Cuts to dark panic of bodies.

Cuts to glass window being smashed.

Cuts to mum struggling on the floor.

Cuts to dad fighting masked person.

Cuts to guy being dragged around the floor.

Cuts to mum screaming on floor up at a masked figure.

As these scenes calm down it fades to black again to show a change in time, speed and scene to the scene of the dad fighting the masked person a few weeks longer to tense the audience a little bit more. This fades out black to the see the guy they saved now holding the neighbour we saw earlier on hostage. This allows us to assume that guy they helped was inside help for the individuals who were masked. Then a gun shot is fired but there is no scene to show was it came from, so that is left a mystery for the audience to find out when actually watching the film. This then cuts to the dad at mid shot firing a large gun, so if you go back to the beginning of the trailer the mum and dad said how they don’t feel the need to kill anyone it shows how things can change and all the fades out and cuts have informed that to the audience without actually having to say anything. Following my point on we see the mum swinging for a woman below her except this is shown in day light. This all then fades to black again to show the change when we see the dad looking towards his daughter saying “we’re gonna make it through tonight… and everything is going to be okay” the daughter looks to have been crying a replies with “nothing is ever.. going to be the same” the pauses in between both of their speeches shows that is was there to create tension and anger between them both.

The another fade occurs where there is amid shot of the mum holding a gun firmly in her hands walking through a hall ay of the house and an out of focus mask appears from a window behind her and is pulled into focus as she leaves to show how venerable the mum is as she is now unaware of the danger despite her having a gun. The music then begins to build as another fades out of black occurs and screams and panic arises to set the scene of horror and fear within the audience viewing. The suddenly a cut is made to an American flag fading it with wind movement behind it and the words “The Purge” appears clearly in the same white text to show continuity throughout despite the drastic changes made within the film due to actions. The flag then fades out the leave the white text on a black background. The gospel music that has been playing throughout is at its peak again and cuts instantly for effectiveness.  Fades to complete blackness with now music, just silence to allow the audience to take in everything before the entire text ad advertise reappears onto the screen.

White text then whips on “on May 31, survive the night” the sound of the tape being affected reappears to remind everyone of the beginning of the trailer so it replays in their minds again.