Genre Theory – Steve Neale

 Inferring genres of trailers based on genre theory

The genre is a mix of science fiction, action and fantasy based on the trailer for Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, 2022. 

Still image from Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, 2022, showing the sci-fi elements as seen in the trailer.

Here, iconography and narrative considerations are important. The trailer's chaotic structure, which switches between several realities and tones, disrupts traditional linear storytelling. Its extensive iconography, which includes anything from martial arts fights to chaos in IRS offices, also characterizes its approach to merging genres.

By mixing several genres together, misleading the audience, and highlighting existential and cultural effects, this movie specifically challenges norms of genre. The heavy focus on absurd humor and multiverse ideas highlights the audience saturation effects in the post-superhero movie world.​

The movie is an action-sci-fi mix those mixes superhero-like abilities with existential questions about identity, family, and choice which expands audience appeal. A key to its impact is in the way it combines emotional and humorous moments with intense action scenes.

The genre of Phantom of the Paradise, 1974, is rock musical, horror, and satire based on the trailer.

Still image from Phantom of the Paradise, 1974, of the masked man appearing in the shower shot.

Here, character conventions and iconography dominate. Classic horror and musical elements are shown through the visual style of gothic clothes and rock-opera theatrics, as well as characters like the disfigured protagonist and the evil song producer. The perception of the genre depends more by these images than by the story alone.

The movie mixes genres in a way that criticizes commercialism and the music business. By focusing on the sale of art, which was particularly important in the 1970s music scene, it plays with cultural effects.

The quick tonal shifts that happen when the drama/chaos of people yelling and dancing gives place to a horror-like scene with an unseen threat posed by the guy bathing make this genre hybridity clear. It's a unique mix of rock music and gothic horror, with both elements used on purpose to parody the excesses of each genre.

The genre of Electric Dreams, 1984, is a romantic sci-fi film, with some comedy elements.

Still image from Electric Dreams, 1984, showing the main characters that'll eventually fall in love after some chaotic events.

Since the film focuses on the charming story of an uncommon love triangle involving a man, a woman, and a sentient machine, audience appeal is key. This maintains a lighthearted, humorous tone while highlighting the science fiction aspect that involves human-technology connection.

By including a sentient computer in the love triangle and highlighting the social and cultural context of the 1980s growing tech obsession, the movie challenges the conventional romantic comedy.

Its unique combination of science fiction and romantic comedy lightens the otherwise dark concept, which is part of its appeal. Genre piggybacking and mirroring of contemporary audience consumption experiences is the genre hybridity in the film.