Sara Bentley reviews everyone's favourite part of the going to The Pictures - the trailers...
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Probems in Suburbila: The Oranges
The Oranges first came onto screen almost a year ago at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. Barring an appearance at the Montclair Film Festival in May, it will be another two months before the feature is treated to a limited American release in October 2012. Julian Farino’s venture into Suburbia on screen is perhaps lacking in its release credentials, however this is in no way suggesting it to be lacking in content.
Taking a look at the theatrical trailer for The Oranges, the Suburban world of West Orange, New Jersey is introduced by the narrative voice of character Vanessa Walling (Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development). Tree-lined streets and vast houses mark the affluence of the area. The Wallings and the Orstaffs go jogging, share family meals, and generally display a satisfaction and contentment for their elevated lifestyle. A storm soon hits the calm, however, when daughter Nina Orstaff (Leighton Meester) arrives back home for Thanksgiving. This is not a typical tale of boy meets girl. It is however a rather typical tale of the inappropriate relationship battling social expectation and acceptance. The comprehensive trailer is portrayed with huge attention to comedy. From witty remarks and glazed expressions, to all out laughter-inducing scenes, this is indeed a feature aiming to shine in its humour. Amongst the typicality of a light-hearted comedy, however, there would appear to be the potential for a poignant story of emotional progression.
For such an established figure in the world of television, it is with a slight leap of bravery that Farino makes the transition into feature film directing. He does, however, bring with him for the journey a multitude of acting talent in the likes of Hugh Laurie (House), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Adam Brody (The OC), to name but a few. This is very much a feature film from a TV director with a predominantly TV cast. The question stands, can they make the breakthrough to the big screen?
The Oranges will enjoy a limited US release on 5th October 2012.
Four Times the Fun: Paranormal Activity 4
It’s Take Four for the Paranormal Activity saga as the fourth feature makes its way to the big screen. Following considerable effort in the advertising and marketing of the feature, involving the release of three short clips throughout the week, a theatrical trailer is finally revealed.
All the usual traits are there – the hand held camerawork, the incorporation of on screen video recording equipment, the shadows and the saturation of colour. From a narrative perspective, the feature also seems to work on par in its depiction of an unknown entity causing disruption and seemingly supernatural chaos to a household. Interestingly, the trailer clings to its predecessors through a direct reference to the three previous features. It claims ‘All the activity has led to this,’ suggesting the film to offer answers and a long awaited explanation as to what has really been going on.
A simple depiction of another film to add to the pile would perhaps not suffice in this growing world of sequels, trilogies and sagas. In offering more in terms of information, there is at least an attempt to gauge fresh interest and appeal. Will this be enough to generate the awe that surrounded the debut release? Or will we simply be treated to yet another scary film?
Paranormal Activity 4 will be released into UK cinemas on 19th October 2012.
Repetitive Strain: The Helpers
A group of friends have some car trouble during their road trip to Las Vegas. They stop for help at the nearest town, and are convinced to stay over at a motel until morning. Come nightfall the group find themselves trapped in their rooms at the hands of a sadist gang, and are subject to horrific torture. Sound familiar? The plot for Chris Stokes’s 2012 release The Helpers is achingly familiar to an almost frustrating extent. Right from the beginning with classic cult horror The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974), through to more modern takes as the Saw franchise (2004-2010), the genre has seen itself repeated time and time again.
One should perhaps refrain from a complete abhorrence and disregard for what can only be described as an unnecessary addition to an already overcooked genre. The theatrical trailer for The Helpers at least has a good go at marketing the feature from a unique angle. The repeated soundtrack is eerily calm, and though in keeping with the opening scenes of a group of friends bonding, it becomes increasingly unnerving as the narrative dramatics rise in contradiction. The onus throughout the two minutes of the trailer is on the use of on-screen video recording. From the offset, the frame of a hand held camera is frequently displayed as a character claims to be ‘documenting their trip’. This theme continues throughout the trailer with the use of CCTV footage in the motel rooms, along with the emphasised sound of a camera shooting photographs heard in sync to the jump cutting shots of the group in disarray. Though again harking to such horror films as The Blair Witch Project (Daniel Myrick) and Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli), there is intent here on showcasing the feature’s artistry. Black frames complete with text offering additional narrative information breaks the momentum in an attempt to increase tension.
Achingly familiar and admittedly somewhat boring, one can confidently suggest that The Helpers offers nothing valuably unique to the genre. Though the trailer is potentially worth a watch, the feature itself? I wouldn’t be so sure.
The Helpers is set for a US release later this year.
Sara Bentley![]()
Probems in Suburbila: The Oranges
The Oranges first came onto screen almost a year ago at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. Barring an appearance at the Montclair Film Festival in May, it will be another two months before the feature is treated to a limited American release in October 2012. Julian Farino’s venture into Suburbia on screen is perhaps lacking in its release credentials, however this is in no way suggesting it to be lacking in content.
Taking a look at the theatrical trailer for The Oranges, the Suburban world of West Orange, New Jersey is introduced by the narrative voice of character Vanessa Walling (Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development). Tree-lined streets and vast houses mark the affluence of the area. The Wallings and the Orstaffs go jogging, share family meals, and generally display a satisfaction and contentment for their elevated lifestyle. A storm soon hits the calm, however, when daughter Nina Orstaff (Leighton Meester) arrives back home for Thanksgiving. This is not a typical tale of boy meets girl. It is however a rather typical tale of the inappropriate relationship battling social expectation and acceptance. The comprehensive trailer is portrayed with huge attention to comedy. From witty remarks and glazed expressions, to all out laughter-inducing scenes, this is indeed a feature aiming to shine in its humour. Amongst the typicality of a light-hearted comedy, however, there would appear to be the potential for a poignant story of emotional progression.
For such an established figure in the world of television, it is with a slight leap of bravery that Farino makes the transition into feature film directing. He does, however, bring with him for the journey a multitude of acting talent in the likes of Hugh Laurie (House), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Adam Brody (The OC), to name but a few. This is very much a feature film from a TV director with a predominantly TV cast. The question stands, can they make the breakthrough to the big screen?
The Oranges will enjoy a limited US release on 5th October 2012.
Four Times the Fun: Paranormal Activity 4
It’s Take Four for the Paranormal Activity saga as the fourth feature makes its way to the big screen. Following considerable effort in the advertising and marketing of the feature, involving the release of three short clips throughout the week, a theatrical trailer is finally revealed.
All the usual traits are there – the hand held camerawork, the incorporation of on screen video recording equipment, the shadows and the saturation of colour. From a narrative perspective, the feature also seems to work on par in its depiction of an unknown entity causing disruption and seemingly supernatural chaos to a household. Interestingly, the trailer clings to its predecessors through a direct reference to the three previous features. It claims ‘All the activity has led to this,’ suggesting the film to offer answers and a long awaited explanation as to what has really been going on.
A simple depiction of another film to add to the pile would perhaps not suffice in this growing world of sequels, trilogies and sagas. In offering more in terms of information, there is at least an attempt to gauge fresh interest and appeal. Will this be enough to generate the awe that surrounded the debut release? Or will we simply be treated to yet another scary film?
Paranormal Activity 4 will be released into UK cinemas on 19th October 2012.
Repetitive Strain: The Helpers
A group of friends have some car trouble during their road trip to Las Vegas. They stop for help at the nearest town, and are convinced to stay over at a motel until morning. Come nightfall the group find themselves trapped in their rooms at the hands of a sadist gang, and are subject to horrific torture. Sound familiar? The plot for Chris Stokes’s 2012 release The Helpers is achingly familiar to an almost frustrating extent. Right from the beginning with classic cult horror The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974), through to more modern takes as the Saw franchise (2004-2010), the genre has seen itself repeated time and time again.
One should perhaps refrain from a complete abhorrence and disregard for what can only be described as an unnecessary addition to an already overcooked genre. The theatrical trailer for The Helpers at least has a good go at marketing the feature from a unique angle. The repeated soundtrack is eerily calm, and though in keeping with the opening scenes of a group of friends bonding, it becomes increasingly unnerving as the narrative dramatics rise in contradiction. The onus throughout the two minutes of the trailer is on the use of on-screen video recording. From the offset, the frame of a hand held camera is frequently displayed as a character claims to be ‘documenting their trip’. This theme continues throughout the trailer with the use of CCTV footage in the motel rooms, along with the emphasised sound of a camera shooting photographs heard in sync to the jump cutting shots of the group in disarray. Though again harking to such horror films as The Blair Witch Project (Daniel Myrick) and Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli), there is intent here on showcasing the feature’s artistry. Black frames complete with text offering additional narrative information breaks the momentum in an attempt to increase tension.
Achingly familiar and admittedly somewhat boring, one can confidently suggest that The Helpers offers nothing valuably unique to the genre. Though the trailer is potentially worth a watch, the feature itself? I wouldn’t be so sure.
The Helpers is set for a US release later this year.
Sara Bentley
