Nerve (2016) Theatrical Trailer Analysis

The trailer opens with what appears to be an enhanced zoom into centre of the screen which is occupied by a an apple logo. This immediately signifies technology, and given the poster filled room of what looks like a young female we assume that this is a teen film. This is further supported when the camera moves through the screen in fast paced fashion.

Which then leads onto a variety of virtual settings, this creates a relatable setting for teenage viewers, and the non -diegetic sound over the top is allowing the trailer to open with speed in order to grab the attention of the audience.

It is at this point 0.4 seconds that we are informed about the film itself, and through the clever combination of voice over and inter-titles a sense of fun and excitement is created from the audiences perspective . And taking a closer look at the inter-titles, they are big, bold, bright and they cover a lot of space, therefore making them not only more appealing to a younger audience. But also it reminds them of the childhood game "Truth or dare" which in this case had been altered to match and older audience.


The trailer then becomes even faster, which is shown through a faster tone of non diegetic sound as well as a faster pace of editing, including; shot reverse shots, close ups and over the shoulder shots. This highlights a significant change in the story line as this is when the female character becomes involved in the game.

This also has a sense of appeal as the character who has so far occupied that majority of shot composition so far (which makes us believe she is the main character) decides to step out of her comfort zone, therefore offering escapism for the audience as they are made to feel a part of the game.

We are also frequently reminded of the film name throughout, even without a narration telling us, this ensures the audience remembers the name.

The trailer continues to connect with their audience through the camera position.For example, the audience see the action through the front facing camera, this allows the audience to capture a lot of the facial expressions and emotions that are given out, we are also aware that this is not personal and if you look closely in the bottom right corner you can see a @ this signifies an online presence which will further appeal to a teenage audience.

This continues throughout the trailer, with the pace becoming faster thanks to a rock music soundtrack in the background, until it slows down at the end prior to a climax.

Also the addition of on screen text during the trailer, allows the audience to associate themselves with the setting and almost imagine themselves inside the situation. Whilst for reformers the unlikelihood of the situation is intriguing in itself.

Overall what I can take from this trailer is using visual things to trigger relatability amongst a target audience can be important, and is something I want to utilise to its full potential.