Trailer Analysis: A L I E N

Narrative

The beginning scene.

The trailer begins with an ominous rendition of a craggily surface, almost like a planet.  It reveals to be a rocky surface holding an alien looking egg.  The egg cracks and all hell breaks loose. Explorers going in to a spaceship. Ripley running through a claustrophobic corridor, dimly lit by malfunctioning lights. Fire, a threatening, scary looking cat. All of a sudden people start to spasm out the cat screeches. People start to implode into entire screens of guts. And then peace, on the outside of the madness: from space.  And in space, no one can hear them scream.

Cinematography 

Ominous cat that intensifies the action

The vague look of the cracked rocky surface of the egg draws the viewer into wondering what it is. The title “Alien” also slowly and ominously comes in as the viewer wonders what such a strange font could say. The sun is not present throughout this entire trailer. Shots of people distressed, in pain, suggesting the nature of the film. The constant screen is covered with organs and struggling people (including mysterious hands) struggling to survive. Cats are usually associated with evil, and this suggests a deeper meaning to the trailer, an evil has been released. The shaky footage also intensifies the action as Ripley, the protagonist, runs through the dark corridor.

Editing

The hands of intensity.

The ominous begins with smooth transitions between cuts that contrast with the quick cuts that seem to become quicker as quicker as the action intensifies.  The beginning with many slow, smooth transitions give a sense of foreboding to the scene. And then, the egg is cracked and whatever it contains is now loose. The very quick cuts create a sense of fast paced action and excite the viewer. And then to top I off, the shots seems distressed and then become grotesque. Its goes from foreboding into a surreal death sequence.

Sound

Not much can be differentiated between the score and sound FX. The thumping backbeat that begins with a howling screech after the empty vastness of space can be heard. Despite the fact that there is no audible speech in the entire trailer, it needs none. Despite being silent, its lack of speech creates even more tension. The sound of this trailer crosses the line between a clean soundtrack and the gritty sounds of a shuttered reality.

Score- The film has a simple beat which can suggest a similar feeling to the beating  of a human heart, a usually suspenseful sound related to stress on oneself.

Fx- An odd and scary screech comes when the egg cracks. There’s a constant screeching in the background. The pitch of the background noise begins to increase as the action intensifies. And then a thud as all hell breaks loose: again. People begin to loose organs and the body fluid splatters everywhere. The screech can either be a alien screech or alternately, a screeching siren. As sirens are usually associated with urgent danger, this can be a deeper meaning of the trailer.