Name of film: The Toxic Avenger
Year Released: 1986
Genre of Trailer: Comedy Horror
My Mark after Viewing: 5/10
What happened in the trailer?
To accompany the shots in this trailer, the audience is also supplied with a voiceover to narrate the images on screen and to provide the narrative. We begin with the character of Melvin and he is seen being bullied and tormented by his peers and unappreciated by the adults. Running away from his problem, Melvin accidently falls into a barrel of toxic waste. After becoming hideously deformed and gaining superhuman power, he becomes the Toxic Avenger. He uses his skills to take the law into his own hands by defeating evil-doers and getting his own back on those who ridiculed him. Although, for the main part, the film is a comedy, this trailer does include the beginnings of some gory moments and some sexual scenes. The film addresses the themes of acceptance, action and even love at one point. Because of this, it tries to appeal to a wider audience.
To accompany the shots in this trailer, the audience is also supplied with a voiceover to narrate the images on screen and to provide the narrative. We begin with the character of Melvin and he is seen being bullied and tormented by his peers and unappreciated by the adults. Running away from his problem, Melvin accidently falls into a barrel of toxic waste. After becoming hideously deformed and gaining superhuman power, he becomes the Toxic Avenger. He uses his skills to take the law into his own hands by defeating evil-doers and getting his own back on those who ridiculed him. Although, for the main part, the film is a comedy, this trailer does include the beginnings of some gory moments and some sexual scenes. The film addresses the themes of acceptance, action and even love at one point. Because of this, it tries to appeal to a wider audience.
Which positive, clever or interesting aspects do you
think you could include in your own trailer? What generic features are
fulfilled well?
Right from the beginning, the audience is made aware of the comedy elements of the film. This hybrid genre of comedy and horror means the film has a much wider appeal and can attract various film lovers with something for everyone. Plus, although the narration is hyperbolic and extremely overt, this adds to the comedy and actually gives the audience a thoughtful insight into the story of the character. This voiceover idea comes across as a parody of the early horror trailers of the ’40s and ‘50s, in which dramatic music and a serious delivery were enough to have audiences flocking to the theatre to watch the latest scary movie. Although the comedy is a main aspect, the film is still seen as more of a horror than anything else. This trailer, although not showing anything explicit, builds up a lot of gory, horrific events which are, undoubtedly, more appealing when seen in full as part of the entire film. In this sense, the trailer effectively sells not only humour, but also gore. Plus, being such a long trailer, this gives more time for longer ‘scene’-style highlights to draw in the audience. The aspect I would like to include in our own trailer would be to establish a narrative as well as this, but without the use of a voiceover.
Right from the beginning, the audience is made aware of the comedy elements of the film. This hybrid genre of comedy and horror means the film has a much wider appeal and can attract various film lovers with something for everyone. Plus, although the narration is hyperbolic and extremely overt, this adds to the comedy and actually gives the audience a thoughtful insight into the story of the character. This voiceover idea comes across as a parody of the early horror trailers of the ’40s and ‘50s, in which dramatic music and a serious delivery were enough to have audiences flocking to the theatre to watch the latest scary movie. Although the comedy is a main aspect, the film is still seen as more of a horror than anything else. This trailer, although not showing anything explicit, builds up a lot of gory, horrific events which are, undoubtedly, more appealing when seen in full as part of the entire film. In this sense, the trailer effectively sells not only humour, but also gore. Plus, being such a long trailer, this gives more time for longer ‘scene’-style highlights to draw in the audience. The aspect I would like to include in our own trailer would be to establish a narrative as well as this, but without the use of a voiceover.
Which aspects of the trailer did you think were
unsuccessful, and would put off its target audience? How is it disappointing?
At over 3 minutes long, this trailer drags on for far too long and the audience begins to lose interest in the film quite quickly. Our trailer will, therefore, have to include only the most important scenes, and try to condense them as much as possible. Although the trailer clearly demonstrates its comedy elements right from the start, some of it is too overt and ends up looking very slapstick. This could alienate a large audience in the form of the horror fanbase. Without fast pace or rhythm there is absolutely no tension or build up and no shots of anything gory to get the audience interested in coming to see it. In many ways, the film is also of its time. To a modern mainstream audience, there is very little appeal in a film with such crude effects and a strange narrative. In the ‘80s, however, it fit the zeitgeist of comedy in tragedy.
At over 3 minutes long, this trailer drags on for far too long and the audience begins to lose interest in the film quite quickly. Our trailer will, therefore, have to include only the most important scenes, and try to condense them as much as possible. Although the trailer clearly demonstrates its comedy elements right from the start, some of it is too overt and ends up looking very slapstick. This could alienate a large audience in the form of the horror fanbase. Without fast pace or rhythm there is absolutely no tension or build up and no shots of anything gory to get the audience interested in coming to see it. In many ways, the film is also of its time. To a modern mainstream audience, there is very little appeal in a film with such crude effects and a strange narrative. In the ‘80s, however, it fit the zeitgeist of comedy in tragedy.
What was the trailer’s average score in class? Why did it
receive this mark?
The overall rating the trailer received in class was 6/10. As teenagers of a technological and CGI-based era in film, the trailer seemed to lack any shocking or scary elements which meant the film appeared to seem more comedic and amateur. Similarly, the length of the trailer and constant voice over repeating the title also added to the amateur style of the film. This resulted in a loss of interest as the class seemed to perceive the film as a comedy rather than a horror.
The overall rating the trailer received in class was 6/10. As teenagers of a technological and CGI-based era in film, the trailer seemed to lack any shocking or scary elements which meant the film appeared to seem more comedic and amateur. Similarly, the length of the trailer and constant voice over repeating the title also added to the amateur style of the film. This resulted in a loss of interest as the class seemed to perceive the film as a comedy rather than a horror.
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