Taken - Trailer Analysis

Taken

The trailer begins with slow paced editing, showing how happy and calm the daughter is during her birthday.

After the daughter mentions wanting to going on trip to Paris the screen rapidly flickers black and white several times. Also, a sudden low pitched sound (sounds like a lightening bolt) happens simultaneously. This is done to suggest danger related to the trip to Paris.

After this, the editing becomes very fast paced. This is done to increase the tension, making the audience focus.

The next shot is a close up of a phone ringing. After the daughter answers her fathers phone call, the screen splits into two sections. One section shows the father and the other shows the daughter. This is done to show the actions of both characters as they talk to each other over the phone.

The next shot shows the daughter talking to her father, frightened as she sees her friend (Amanda) being kidnapped. As the daughter panics, the screens splits back into two sections showing the daughter and Bryan mills (the father) talking on their cell phones. This is done to show how professional Bryan reacts at knowing that his daughter is going to be kidnapped. We see Bryan quickly open a suitcase filled with gadgets that will help him uncover the kidnappers identity.

This is done to show how resourceful, prepared and determined Bryan is in trying to find his daughter.

The daughter quickly runs into a bedroom and hides underneath a bed. This is done by several jump-cuts, emphasising how quick the daughter has to hide if she wants to avoid being found.

The screen then splits into 3 equal sections. One section shows the daughter hiding underneath a bed. Another section shows Bryan embracing his daughters imminent fate, saying "they are going to take you".

The next shot is a medium close up of the daughter being pulled out from underneath the bed. This is very effective as the audience sees the daughter suddenly disappearing from the scene. This shot is know to make people "jump" because it is so sudden and tense.

The camera shows the speaker where the man at the other end breathes. Within extremely fast cuts, a beard flashes showing foresight into the kidnapper.  

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."