Personal trailer review 1: The Devil Inside

Name of film: The Devil Inside

Year released: 2012

Genre of trailer: Horror

Your mark (After viewing): 9/10

What happened in the trailer?

When Isabella was 8 years old, her mother allegedly murdered 3 people during an exorcism performed on her. From then she was transferred to the Centrino mental hospital in Rome, Italy. Isabella then becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother

Which positive, clever or interesting aspects do you think you could include in your own trailer? What generic features are fulfilled well?

- The level of information given produces a clear understanding of the narrative so the audience clearly understands the plot
- I like the use of handheld camera's in the trailer, I want to use this in my trailer as it provides the trailer with a sense of realism.
- In terms of editing, many of the transitions are accompanied by dramatic sound effects to add excitement to the trailer
- I liked the bad TV effect used, it works well with the handheld camera aspect, both I want to use in my trailer
- The body horror effect used on the girl who is having an exorcism performed on her is very convincing, the amplified sound of her bone cracking contributes to the chilling effect
- I liked the jumpy ending, this makes the audience scared and convinces them to want to watch the full movie. This can be a very important factor in selling the film and I want to focus on this is my trailer

Which aspects of the trailer did you think were unsuccessful, and would put off its target audience? How is it disappointing?

- I didn't like the start with Maria talking to the police admitting she had commited 3 murders. I think the voice was cheesy and I don't understand why if she was possessed the devil would call up the police. However I did like the concept itself but the voice ruined it. Before the phone call there is an inter title that claims 'This is the actual 911 call placed from the home of Maria Rossi on October 30th 1989' this would put the target audience off after they had watched the trailer as the voice of the possessed Maria Rossi is so unconvincing.
- I think that the trailer may have given away too much of the narrative, although it made the story clear when I went to watch the movie I knew what was going to happen and the only scary bits I had already seen in the trailer.

Conclusion:

I think this is a really good example of a trailer that successfully sells the movie and makes you want to watch it. I gave the trailer a 9/10, but the movie itself I would give 4/10 as it was very poor. The only good bits were in the trailer which I had already seen. However I am judging the trailer and not the full movie which is why I rated it so highly.