Deconstruction of The Shining Teaser Trailer

As Teaser Trailers are typically less than 2 minutes long, it is a convention to use fast-paced montage editing, in order to fit in a variation of shots and parts of the movie. However unlike most teaser trailers this Teaser Trailer is made up of one shot, which automatically makes it interesting to watch. The screen starts off black, and soon there is a fade into the shot: a corridor with two bright red elevator doors at the end of it. There is a chandelier attached to the ceiling, and paintings on the walls- signifying this is quite a luxurious hotel.

The credits roll upwards and it is more reminiscent of the ending of a film, rather than a teaser trailer. The non-diegetic sounds starts quietly at first and it is difficult to determine what the sounds are. A high-pitched melody plays over the buzzing, creating an eerie, tension-building soundscape. The typography is simple, so that the audience can read it easily and quickly. The shot is still motionless- it is only the music that continues to build suspense. The lack of movement makes the audience feel uneasy- as though something shocking will soon happen. The non-diegetic buzzing sounds get more aggressive and the melody gets faster.

As the elevator doors are also red, when the blood first spills out of the wall, it is unclear what is happening. There is a contrast between the deep red of the elevators and the pure white of the walls, which is further illustrated by the gallons of blood that sweep through the corridor- staining the white walls. The source of the blood is left unexplained and the sheer amount of it is enough to make the audience feel uncomfortable. It fills the corridor and even has the strength to drag one of the sofas towards the camera. Blood engulfs the screen and the audience can see the shapes of furniture moving, as it is appears to float away in the river of blood. The screen turns to black- although not in the gentle fade that the audience is lured in with at the start- a blunt straight cut that leaves the audience guessing the possibilities of the teaser trailer and what the full film will be like.