1. Title font and style. The Number 23 and Shortcoming titles are both very similarly conventional in regards to their psychological horror genre, with their dark backgrounds foreshadowing the dark content of the films and giving an air of mystery, with the use of red to connote horror and bloodshed.

2. Setting/location. The shot of the book shop in Number 23 sets the scene well as it is the place where the main character finds the book that sets off his paranoia about the ‘23 phenomenon’ which is the whole essence of the film. Similarly, the door shot in the Shortcoming trailer is also a pivotal moment in which the main character’s paranoia becomes more erratic with the subtle use of ‘823’ as the door number.

3. Costumes and props The costume used in ‘Number 23’ shows that the main character is a respectable working man, yet the ‘number 23 phenomenon’ starts to take over his life (shown with the book prop). The knife used as a prop in Shortcoming foreshadows the bloodshed caused by the ‘823’ paranoia.

4. Camerawork. Both of these shots show impressive camerawork. The shot for Number 23 is an establishing, almost birds-eye view of the horror below, giving the audience a sense of knowingness and involvement. The long shot used in Shortcoming is chilling as it is shown from the perspective of the perpetrator.

5. Editing The Number 23 trailer uses editing to connote a psychological change, such as the scene shown as two lovers embrace. The colours become more sinister (dark blacks and reds) as the main character murders his girlfriend. The Shortcoming uses editing to create a sense of shock to the audience, from a blank black scream to the use of the ‘last scare’ – pictured above.

6. Story and how the trailer sets it up The point of view shot of the book that holds the ‘Number 23 phenomenon’ foreshadows the psychological trauma that the main character ensues. Similarly, the point of view shot of the clock showing the time 8:23 shows the paranoia of the main character.

7. Suggestion of genre The psychological/horror genre is implied in both the Number 23 and Shortcoming trailers through the use of their physical writing/calculations caught in the shots which are a physical representation of the chaos in their minds.

8. Character representation. The birds eye shot used in the Number 23 trailer shows the mania of the main character and how low he is psychologically, and that he is looking up for guidance. The close up shot of the main character from Shortcoming shows the physical effect that his paranoia has had on his appearance with the use of subtle dark make-up for effect etc.

9. Special Effects. Special effects are used in the Number 23 trailer to show the main character’s dream sequence through the high contrast editing. The Shortcoming trailer uses a fuzzy TV effect connoting the loss of control and giving a mysterious element to the trailer.