Trailer Trash
By Gary M. Lumpp • Sep 3rd, 2004 • Category: EditorialsWhen it comes to getting attention in the micro-budget world, it’s almost as important to create an eye-catching trailer as it is to actually produce a good movie. A trailer that creates good word of mouth or attracts the attention of a random viewer at one’s website can make all the difference in reaching an audience. The following is a random selection of trailers I’ve downloaded from the internet over the past year, and my initial reactions.
I’d have to say it’s a good sign when it’s hard to tell what the actual budget range of a movie is just by watching the trailer. Unaware’s features cop cars, men in uniform, and plenty of night time shots where one can actually see what happens. The story the trailer tells though is a little hazy – it seems to be a thriller, but it’s hard to tell if certain scenes are flashbacks or are supposed to be encounters with ghosts. Bigger names Joe Estevez and Linnea Quigley get just enough screen time to establish their presence, but it’s not easy to see who’s going to be carrying the narrative. But above all that is a professional look and feel, and it had me wanting to know more about the project.
Three and a half stars.
The trailer for Around Midnight does its darnedest to recall memories of the old Hammer flicks, with plenty of thunder and vampires. The shot-on-video approach though belies the overall gothic vibe, but the actors seem to enjoy getting to play creatures of the night. There are also some attempts and no-budget effects, some of which work thanks to the shortness of each scene. There’s no indication that there’s an actual story here – all the viewer needs to know is that there are vampires, blood, attractive women, and Suzi Lorraine hosting. And for some, that’s enough.
Two stars.
It’s the perfect example of how to cut a small budget trailer so it looks like it’s made with big Hollywood money. Amazingly quick cuts, stylish computer graphics, money shots, great locations…the list goes on and on. In fact, it might be almost too fantastic for its own good. There are some scenes that look like they wouldn’t hold up as well if not a part of the trailer, but it’s got me convinced that I should check it out anyway. The story has something to do with a man who loses his memory, but really this is about a director who knows how to handle himself behind the camera. A trailer everyone should check out.
Four and a half stars.
Capturing the feel of softcore porn movies of the early 70s, it’s hard to imagine how much nudity is in the actual movie based on the amount of skin shown just in the trailer. This is director Joe Sarno’s return, and he doesn’t fail to entice. Isadora Edison looks like a real find, but there’s only so much to go on here to see how her performance holds up for the full running time. There isn’t much to be said about the sets or the acting of the cast, but that’s not the point of this trailer. It’s a drama with lots of sex, and based on that it does its job well. On a side note, the quote “Do you think he diddled momma?” could be the newest so-bad-it’s-funny line of the year.
Two and a half stars.
A prototype for most micro trailers, Unearthly Harvest’s does a good job of setting up a story (most lines of dialogue move the story forward), but unfortunately the acting seen only in snippets comes across as the weakest part of the flick. The effects look pretty impressive, even in the make-up doesn’t hold up well to the same scrutiny. The same goes for the look – some shots look cinematic, others look like they’re in a kitchen with one light pointed at them. From what I gather it’s a haunted house movie, so the title is up for interpretation.
Three stars.
This is a much more experimental trailer, simply taking a rock song (punk? college rock? Not quite sure.) and putting it over various images from the movie. The story seems to be about some attractive goth girls, hanging out, and violence and/or rough sex. It’s a different kind of approach, but it would have been interesting to see if the actors hold up as well as the soundtrack.
Two and a half stars.
If there’s one thing writer/director Scott Phillips does well, it’s picking out music for his trailers. Phillips tackles a feature this time around, and a zombie opus at that. From what I can tell a lone warrior walks the undead-infested back hills, meeting up with various survivors along the way. The action scenes look surprisingly good, and the zombies look decent, but the acting comes across a bit stiff. The movie itself looks hip and the trailer communicates that well, and it might just have the makings of a cult hit. And hey, you’ve got Stephanie Leighs naked in a bathtub – what more do you want?
Four stars.
The trailer for Eamon Hardiman’s follow-up to Escape from the Dead lets the viewer know they’re in for another zombie flick, this time with three Catholic schoolgirls fighting the undead while surrounded by plenty of backwood eccentrics. The vibe here is similar to that of Stink of Flesh, and the music keeps things moving. There are quite a few technical gaffes though, so it’ll be interesting to see how the actual feature looks.
Two stars.
This is a bit of an odd one, if only because I remember the contest that was run when it was in pre-production to find a new scream queen. But instead of a horror flick this looks to be more of a parody of no-budget monster movies, this time with a farmer who somehow transforms into a large killer rabbit thanks to a bite from a lab rabbit. The lab rabbit is actually a stuffed animal, and plenty of attractive young women in pink bunny suits (think Playboy, not Bugs) run around while getting stalked. There’s nudity and some fake blood, and one pretty good laugh in its 1:20 running time. But the humor looks kind of broad, so it might not be for everyone.
Two stars.
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