Final Destination

9 shot analysis

Shot 1

Immediately, we can visualise the themes of the film ‘the final destination’, with blood splattered artistically surfacing and around the lettering, we can see that although it’s messy, it’s also quick articulate, planned to look like a natural occurrence even if calculated. We are introduced with a rock, sort of angry, thrashing music soundtrack which collaborates with the energy of the violence shown on screen. A typical thriller convention to pair music to cradle the situation atmosphere adds a different feel, complementing each other with the visuals and sound.

Shot 2

Straight away in shot 2, the colour theme in this trailer is a dark liquid blue that represents blood, structurally daunting and caliginous. The demographic targeted for this film is obvious to be the certified audience of 18+, with the graphic display of murder methodology, the pictures and animations are cynically harsh and brutal, clearly showing to not be appropriate for younger audiences. The music is still repetitive, this time including the sound effects of the ‘accidents’ shown in the video, the crunch of the collapsing scull and bones.

Shot 3

This seems to be the shattering of some sort of material, whether glass or another substance, it could be representing some sort of moral indignity being broken, or as previously shown before, more bones being broken. This trailer is clearly showing various methods of murder, whether accidental or not, this shot could show deaths challenge towards life, can anyone shy away from fate? The music hasn’t really changed, it remains quick paced and quick heavy, following the theme of crudity.

Shot 4

This introduces new ideas between the methods of the deaths, a clear warning sign ‘do not return’, the colours light and dark contrast towards a cyclical theme of good and evil. The clear twists and knots in the barbed wire could represent the caged lives of the characters stuck in a murderous cycle of fatal destiny, what can be done to save anyone?

Shot 5

The shards of glass could represent shattered lives and pieces of a puzzle, if anyone can be saved. Again the same colour blue runs through all of the shots in the trailer highlighting the x-rayed copies of skeletons, this could possibly link to the sci-fi or crime genre, the morbid visual of skeletons apparent, with no restriction to viewers. The music slightly adapts, slowing down to create tension, then again climaxing to the chorus (revelation of another death).

Shot 6

The train at the end of the tunnel clearly cancelling the chance of the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. This could show the absence of freedom, the shot is so dark and blocked, no shadows, no life. The trailer is quite psychologically disturbing, as it’s all shown to be almost pure science and calculation, an almost eerie acceptance. The titles are in order, quick sure and stable, portraying the smart order and judgements of the deaths are clearly planned.

Shot 7

The fractured skull could represent the psychological damage applicable in this film, physical harm being the major parts in the trailer/film the smudge and interruption of blood smeared on the texted shows the infection of the untimely deaths. From the skull spreading away to the text to the next victim. The skull looks as if it is situation in a picture or a scan, it’s questionable whether it has been photographed, shown in such detail, the x-ray effect still remaining, suspecting there may have something to do with criminology?

Shot 8

All of these shots seemed to be perfectly naturally framed measured deaths, the arrangement radiates the false believe of accidence, while there is obvious an interruption in fate and death itself, or is it the result of an individual themself? The structured familiar park ride shows a body being crushed and broken in half, assuming they have fallen off the ride, the blurred but detailed shirt number and jacket is violent but not extremely gory and unwatchable.

Shot 9

How abrupt and sort of climaxed the end of the trailer is pretty much summarises the theme of the trailer. It’s obviously a horror thriller purely for the enjoyment of specifically arranged murders/accidental deaths. Following the conventions of a thriller with the incidental music, sound effects and visual effects, this trailer is dark and simply cold blooded.