Sara Bentley reviews everyone's favourite part of the going to The Pictures - the trailers...
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A Chill through the Flames: Carrie
Even for those not alive in 1976, everyone remembers Carrie. The almost cult-like tale of a mousy school girl who releases her telekinetic powers upon her class mates one night has become iconic within cinematic history. Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Brian De Palma was able to bring words to screen and bring to life this harrowing horror. How, then, does one remake such a classic some 36 years later?
The modern remake of Carrie has indeed been blessed with an extensive build up to release. Posters and stills dotted around the internet capture the iconic image of a blood soaked Carrie (embodied by rising star Chloe Grace Moretz). Five months before its scheduled release, a teaser trailer is finally unveiled.
A camera pans from above across the darkened city streets. As a voiceover describes the once peaceful town, a burning building is soon brought into focus. Police sirens, wind whistling through trees, and spine tingling sounds of the night are heard through news reports of ‘something unnatural’, a ‘conspiracy’, and a ‘defiance of logic’. As the camera swoops through the burning streets, the eerie sounds of a female voice singing ring out, until finally the figure of a blood soaked Moretz is brought sharply into focus. She stars into the camera in a look of bewilderment and horror, until a cut to the title frame ‘Carrie’ snaps our attention away.
Chilling, eye catching, and most certainly what director Kimberly Peirce would have wanted from this teaser trailer. Peirce certainly has some pressure on her shoulders. With a somewhat concise directing history to date, she is walking a treacherously ice path. With a strong cast and marketing capabilities on her side, can Carrie live up to expectations?
Carrie is currently in post production and set for a UK release on 5th April 2013
The Quirks of the Rom Com: Save the Date
Boy meets girl; boys asks girl to marry him; girl says no. Cue drama. It is a narrative not so far removed from those gracing the majority of romantic comedies to hit cinema screens nowadays. Director Michael Mohan, however, would appear to have tapped into something slightly intriguing with his latest release Save the Date. Premiering back in February at the Sundance Film Festival, the film has endured a long wait until its eventual release towards the end of the year.
The trailer for Save the Date showcases the feature’s most endearing attributes: A dry sense of humour entwined with a cute and quirky style. One is reminded of 500 (Days of Summer) in its light-hearted and almost ‘airy’ approach towards performance. Childlike illustrations accompany written reviews to showcase that this is in fact an already acclaimed picture. Amongst the immaturity however there is certainly potential for poignancy. A sisterly bond; the pressures of modern day relationships; following your heart. A romantic comedy of sorts, but one that may prove a little different from the rest, and as such, all the more enjoyable.
Save the Date will enjoy a limited release in the USA on 14th December 2012.
Fire through the Haze: Safe Haven
When one watches a movie trailer and within thirty seconds the text ‘From Nicholas Sparks, bestselling author of The Notebook and Dear John’ rises onto the screen, I can’t help but let a sigh escape my lips. Yet another love story? Another tear jerking, overly romantic and, quite frankly, mushy escapade to endure? Safe Haven certainly has all the credentials. With director Lasse Hallstom on board, famous for such romantic masterpieces as Chocolat and Dear John, and the not so unappealing faces as Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough gracing the screen, it certainly looks to be a ‘pretty picture’.
Contrary to what lies on paper, the trailer for Save Haven would initially appear not quite in line. A woman runs frantically down a darkened alley to the sounds of police sirens, as a detective questions her whereabouts to the public. As Katie Feldman, Hough is a woman holding a dark secret from which she runs away from and into the strong arms of Alex Wheatley (Duhamel). Allow the romance to blossom and rose petals to fall as their relationship develops despite Katie’s darkened past. Canoe rides and thunderstorm embraces demonstrate a deliberate reference to The Notebook, thus emphasising its romantic lean. Through the clouds, however, the dark is never too far away and the dramatics soon rise as Katie’s past creeps up on her.
Safe Haven would appear a feature of two halves. Heavy on the romance, most certainly, however hints at a more thrilling and excitable underbelly keep the momentum and tension rolling. There’s an intrigue there that could stop Safe Haven becoming ‘yet another love story’, and something much more worthwhile.
Safe Haven is set for release into the USA on 8th February 2013. A UK release date is yet to be confirmed.
Sara Bentley![]()
A Chill through the Flames: Carrie
Even for those not alive in 1976, everyone remembers Carrie. The almost cult-like tale of a mousy school girl who releases her telekinetic powers upon her class mates one night has become iconic within cinematic history. Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Brian De Palma was able to bring words to screen and bring to life this harrowing horror. How, then, does one remake such a classic some 36 years later?
The modern remake of Carrie has indeed been blessed with an extensive build up to release. Posters and stills dotted around the internet capture the iconic image of a blood soaked Carrie (embodied by rising star Chloe Grace Moretz). Five months before its scheduled release, a teaser trailer is finally unveiled.
A camera pans from above across the darkened city streets. As a voiceover describes the once peaceful town, a burning building is soon brought into focus. Police sirens, wind whistling through trees, and spine tingling sounds of the night are heard through news reports of ‘something unnatural’, a ‘conspiracy’, and a ‘defiance of logic’. As the camera swoops through the burning streets, the eerie sounds of a female voice singing ring out, until finally the figure of a blood soaked Moretz is brought sharply into focus. She stars into the camera in a look of bewilderment and horror, until a cut to the title frame ‘Carrie’ snaps our attention away.
Chilling, eye catching, and most certainly what director Kimberly Peirce would have wanted from this teaser trailer. Peirce certainly has some pressure on her shoulders. With a somewhat concise directing history to date, she is walking a treacherously ice path. With a strong cast and marketing capabilities on her side, can Carrie live up to expectations?
Carrie is currently in post production and set for a UK release on 5th April 2013
The Quirks of the Rom Com: Save the Date
Boy meets girl; boys asks girl to marry him; girl says no. Cue drama. It is a narrative not so far removed from those gracing the majority of romantic comedies to hit cinema screens nowadays. Director Michael Mohan, however, would appear to have tapped into something slightly intriguing with his latest release Save the Date. Premiering back in February at the Sundance Film Festival, the film has endured a long wait until its eventual release towards the end of the year.
The trailer for Save the Date showcases the feature’s most endearing attributes: A dry sense of humour entwined with a cute and quirky style. One is reminded of 500 (Days of Summer) in its light-hearted and almost ‘airy’ approach towards performance. Childlike illustrations accompany written reviews to showcase that this is in fact an already acclaimed picture. Amongst the immaturity however there is certainly potential for poignancy. A sisterly bond; the pressures of modern day relationships; following your heart. A romantic comedy of sorts, but one that may prove a little different from the rest, and as such, all the more enjoyable.
Save the Date will enjoy a limited release in the USA on 14th December 2012.
Fire through the Haze: Safe Haven
When one watches a movie trailer and within thirty seconds the text ‘From Nicholas Sparks, bestselling author of The Notebook and Dear John’ rises onto the screen, I can’t help but let a sigh escape my lips. Yet another love story? Another tear jerking, overly romantic and, quite frankly, mushy escapade to endure? Safe Haven certainly has all the credentials. With director Lasse Hallstom on board, famous for such romantic masterpieces as Chocolat and Dear John, and the not so unappealing faces as Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough gracing the screen, it certainly looks to be a ‘pretty picture’.
Contrary to what lies on paper, the trailer for Save Haven would initially appear not quite in line. A woman runs frantically down a darkened alley to the sounds of police sirens, as a detective questions her whereabouts to the public. As Katie Feldman, Hough is a woman holding a dark secret from which she runs away from and into the strong arms of Alex Wheatley (Duhamel). Allow the romance to blossom and rose petals to fall as their relationship develops despite Katie’s darkened past. Canoe rides and thunderstorm embraces demonstrate a deliberate reference to The Notebook, thus emphasising its romantic lean. Through the clouds, however, the dark is never too far away and the dramatics soon rise as Katie’s past creeps up on her.
Safe Haven would appear a feature of two halves. Heavy on the romance, most certainly, however hints at a more thrilling and excitable underbelly keep the momentum and tension rolling. There’s an intrigue there that could stop Safe Haven becoming ‘yet another love story’, and something much more worthwhile.
Safe Haven is set for release into the USA on 8th February 2013. A UK release date is yet to be confirmed.
Sara Bentley
