1408 Trailer Analysis

1408 is a psychological horror film starring John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson, It is about an author specialising in the paranormal. He has become cynical and jaded after many years of investigating and turning up nothing. Word comes of fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin hotel in New York over 56 people have died in it, Mike (Cusack) thinks this is a perfect opportunity for his book he decides to stay in the room, despite the hotel managers (Jackson) warnings. Horror ensues..

The trailer for 1408 is 3.09 mins long. It shows the usual studio logos, dimesnion films well known for thier pshcological thillers, then begins. The First shot is a close up of Mike talking to his Daughter who tells him "everybody dies" this instantly sets a nasty tone throughout the trailer and places its roots in the horror genre. We hear piano music which sets an intriguing tone largely due to pianos being associated with horror, due to thier roles in haunted houses and horror stories of old. The beginning of the trailer primarily tells the audience about the main character . It shows tracking shots of him going about his job as a paranormal author whilst a voice over says "when Mike Enslin lost his daughter, the after life became his obsession, now after years of searching he no longer believes" The shots in this montage are the usual long shots to show mikes loneliness after loosing his daughter and do show his disillusion at the paranormal. Throughout he wears dark clothing which is synonymous with people mourning ( about his daughters death).

The lighting in the trailer is low-key throughout, particually after the opening shots of his daughter. We often see lightning effects which are stereotypical of horror films. The sound effects in the film match these stereotypes, we often hear creeking doors thuding noises. The occasional scream is also put in place to shock the viewer.

The editing throughout the trailer is very stereotypical of a horror film, using fades and flashes to create atmosphere and pace. The white flashes are synomous with the afterlife and the boundry between life and death obviously something very important in horror films.