Trailer deconstructions - Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

• Production company and green band
• Starts with an establishing shot, from a birds eye view position, of a suburb which are generally considered a 'safe' and secure place to live. This is stating that the zombie apocalypse will affect even the safest of places and you can never truly be safe

• The protagonist is wearing a nurses uniform which establishes her as a caring person. This is done to highlight that danger can affect you no matter who you are
• These beginning shots show the equilibrium that soon be disrupted. Also introduces the protagonist and her family

• Anchorage 'evening' shows the passage of time. Also ties in with title
• Long shot of the suburbs at night which shows the time
• Various shots show her family relations and life - in bed with her partner, a photo frame of them together
• Anchorage 'dawn' references the title and the coming of the danger

• Tracking shot moving from the corridor to her open bedroom door to show the imminent danger Diegetic sound of a clock ticking which builds tension. The sound gets louder and faster as the camera gets closer to the door and to the protagonist
• Blurred shot of the zombie girl, the ticking ceases when the man takes the girl in his arms and she comes into focus

• Screen fades to black before a close-up and loud, slow motion shot the the man screaming. It is implied that the man was bitten by the zombie

• The camera zooms into her face, implying that she has realised the situation with her zombie daughter
•  Pan round from right to left, demonstrating the carnage that is taking place in the suburbs. We clearly see running people and fire coming from a house

•  Fades to black, and then the tag line fades in as anchorage
• You hear news reports play over the top of shots that fade in and out, showing the devastation of the neighborhood. This tells the audience what is happening and what the characters know. It also shows that it's a widespread problem
• A long shot of the outside of the shopping mall. There is the sun behind it, giving the illusion of a halo and a place of sanctuary for the non zombies

• A wide shot of the main characters in the shopping mall. It then cuts in to individual close ups of certain characters

• Quick shots that cut to black, all showing zombies over taking civilian areas, however none of clear detail of zombie makeup.

• More quick shots that fade to black, all giving the viewer a loose idea of the plot line
• The camera starts to shake as the tension and action builds. At the pivotal points the camera judders and freezes and then moves to the next shot, by only showing segments of action sequences. All of these shots are quick

• All of this is accompanied by screaming and low modified screaming
• The trailer draws to a conclusion with a shot of the main character. An effect is used to show the burning of the tape, this fades to white
• From the white, the outlines of zombies appear pressing themselves against a screen

• The title and the anchorage "Coming soon" are last to appear on the trailer