Micah's Teaser Trailer Textual Analysis

Textual Analysis of "PREDATOR" (1987) Teaser Trailer

The Predator franchised films have been an exciting addition alongside films such as Alien to the Sci-Fi Horror genre that has become so popular today in Hollywood and among 16-24 year olds worldwide. The genre usually features a main human protagonist facing off against alien adversaries in an isolated environment. While the protagonist is usually the last surviving character of the film, side characters are usually picked off through out by the alien menace to a bloody and cruel end.

This textual analysis focuses on the original 1987 “Predator” film teaser trailer with lead actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leading role. There have been many sequels, off shoots and reboots following this original film making the teaser an interesting point of analysis for the time period. The trailer is 1 minute long, slightly longer then usual teasers but not long enough for a theatrical trailer.

The scene of the PREDATOR teaser trailer is set with a medium shot of a helicopter flying above a jungle. We are first introduced to the sound effect of helicopters before we see the shot the set a tense and mysterious atmosphere. The camera tracks backward along the helicopters flight path as if these helicopters are approaching the audience. Next, we are presented with a track through leaves of a group of soldiers in uniform soldiering through the jungle. The low angle shit with obstacles such as leaves in the way makes it seem the audience is looking at the soldier few the view of whatever it is that is lurking in the jungle.

The heavy weapon props and uniforms of the characters suggest these men are stereotypically brave and strong fighters, ready to take on anything. There is a close up shot of a black soldier with very low-key lighting to suggest dark themes of horror and fear. The non-verbal communication of the soldier tells us that he is un-stereotypically scared, suggesting that whatever is watching him, must be a very serious threat.

At this point, the narrator has a serious and foreboding tone of address as he informs us that the Predator can “see the heat from our bodies”. There is incident music that adds tension to the teaser as the narrator explains of the creature in the jungle. The shot then changes to a superimposed image of the soldier where his body is highlighted and stands out from the background. This makes us see the stereotypical male character as now, un-stereotypically vulnerable despite the fact he is armed and hiding.

Following this, there are then a couple of low angle shots of different characters looking up into the jungle; their facial expressions let the audience know they are afraid of the unknown. Cut in with these shots are more shots from the Predator’s point of view using the same superimposed camera shot to give the futuristic and menacing ‘thermal vision’ effect.

During the quick cuts, the narrator then starts to explain that this evil Predator in the jungle “It kills for pleasure, it hunts for sport”. This kind of narrative is typical to not just this franchise but also the whole horror genre as they are drawn in to this new terrifying faceless monster that seems to be terrorizing so many people. It is this effective use of atmospheric music, foreboding mode of address and quick cuts that provides and exciting teaser that leaves the viewers wanting more.

After a final point of view medium shot through the Predators vision, the narrator then changes his mode of address to a more positive one stating that “It’s picked the wrong man to hunt.” A slow motion effected crab shot revolves around the main protagonist Arnold Schwarzenegger. His ‘star power’ alone is an attraction point of the film which is why the teaser in fact was building up to his role as a stoic hero rather then the Predators. Schwarzenegger’s character is rugged and battle scared, his stereotypical buzz cut and muscular build make him the conventional “final man” standing character of the Sci-Fi Horror genre. In the mise en scene, a smoke machine provides an eerie and mysterious atmosphere as if the protagonist is clearing through the some to confront the Predator.

The long take of Schwarzenegger is has 9 quick cuts spliced between it displaying the main character donned in military costume firing weapons in combat through medium shots and low-angle shots to empower him further. Also as the narrator suggests he must become “more then an animal” we are shown a darer more sinister image of the hero perhaps suggesting him becoming on the same level as the Predator ironically becoming the very thing he set out to destroy. The same incidental music from the start of the teaser follows through during these shots while Foley artists have recorded and included machine gun and explosion sound effects amongst the action sequences.

The final featured shot is an over the shoulder shot of Schwarzenegger turning around to face the Predator as he dissolves in to the same heat vision effect used earlier in the trailer on the victims, perhaps suggesting he may meet the same bitter end as his comrades. The title Predator then flies in from the top of the screen on to a predominantly orange and red background symbolising the same heat vision of the Predator. The actors name is in the same bold letters as the film suggesting his importance as a means of attracting a wider audience. The narrator closes the teaser with the statement “Soon the hunt will begin”, a final means of enticing the 16-24 year old, target audience of Sci-Fi Horror fans to pursue this “hunt” and watch the film. This technique symbolises the intention of a teaser trailer for a horror film.