28 Days Later Trailer Textual Analysis on 28 Days Later Trailer 28 Days later is a Dystopian film about a strange virus that is set free from a science lab, and it begins to spread throughout the UK, turning people into zombie like humans. The film has many different postmodern elements to it and that is why I decided to do a textual analysis on the trailer. 28 Days Later Trailer

Narrative structure and Themes The narrative of the trailer starts off saying ‘on the first day’. This is then is a theme throughout the trailer, as it goes onto ‘Day 3’, Day 8’ and so on. This creates a sense of anticipation in the trailer as it leads up to the 28th day. It also gives the trailer a clear narrative structure that is easy to follow. As the days go on the more of a panic there is about this infection. Challenging narratives are used at the beginning of the trailer, it is a clear critique of society and what might happen if science does go wrong, it also makes the audience question what they would do if this happens. After it comes up with 28 days Later, the trailer then focuses on the main protagonist in the film, who is called Jim. Jim wakes up from a coma and finds himself in a deserted London, which creates a sense of loneliness. The rest of the trailer shows how Jim trying to understand what is happening and his fight for survival. Jim is a unconventional hero because he is forced into action, this is typical of dystopian films.

Character The main character in the trailer is Jim. He is portrayed as quite a lonely and confused character in the trailer, and you can see how he is a anti hero. In the trailer you get a real understanding of the confusion and loneliness Jim feels, the picture on the left is great example of just how lonely he must be because London is completely deserted and is also in quite a bad state. It could also be seen as a critique of society that this man was the only survivor, and it could be implying that a city like London would not be able to handle a problem like this. The main character is the protagonist in the film, even though he is a anti hero.

Camera The first part of the trailer has a lot of shots from different angles as we establish the main character Jim. For example the image on the left is a Birdseye view of Jim in London and it makes him look very isolated. It also makes it quite hyperreal for the audience watching because they are seeing London, a location fairly near them empty and dirty. There are many different shots of the main character in the trailer and it gives us a good indication of how alone he must feel. Even when Jim meets 3 other survivors, they are still massively isolated as seen by the second example of the taxi going along the motorway, for a motorway in the UK to be empty like that is a strange site for anyone watching. Additionally the fact there was only 4 survivors could be seen as a critique of society, because only 4 people surviving is not a lot compared to how many people are in London. After there are many different shots of Jim from Establishing shots, close ups to Birdseye view shots, it moves onto the action in the film. It almost turns into a montage of action and it makes the film seem very appealing. The action shots are all quite quick shots so it is harder to analyze.

Sound And Titles The titles in the trailer are very clear and fit into the theme of the trailer very well. This picture on the left is a great example of how well the titles are used in the trailer. This example shows the fading of ‘ On the first Day’ then Exposure is in the front in a brighter colour, this gives the effect of the first day fading away quickly and the infection being exposed just like the title. When the ‘action’ starts in the trailer and the trailer picks up pace, the titles appear faster and are more rigid, this adds to the pace of the trailer at that time. The Sound in the trailer at the beginning is very frantic, chaotic and gives you sense of suspense. After that it shows Jim in London shouting ‘hello’ and no one answers and it echoes everywhere, Then after this shot to the right, the sound goes into a soundtrack after he sets off the alarm in the car. The Soundtrack is just in the background and it keeps with the pace of the action in the trailer. Additionally, there is a voiceover over the Soundtrack, and it is a lot of shouting and screaming and it adds to the suspense as the trailer comes to an end.