In an age where films are readily available in any format and new content is created all the time, paying to see a re-released film in the cinema is possibly the ultimate tribute to the communal big screen experience.
Every film trailer is a vital cog in the marketing strategy, but these mini masterpieces operate on another level - that's what makes them distinctive. Encouraging audiences to see the film is still the primary focus, but the re-release has a different energy, more akin to an invitation and a celebration. To a large extent they’re free from the scrutiny of opening weekend pressures and the social media response that some contemporary films must contend with.
Showcasing the magnificent restoration work of a film classic is at the heart of these amazing trailers and often serve to mark the anniversary or to coincide with a certain time of year. They offer a unique opportunity to discover a historic film for the first time in the perfect setting, and opening it up to a whole new audience. For existing fans, it represents nostalgia, fandom and an appreciation for a lovingly restored makeover.
These six iconic films below get the trailers they deserve – refreshed, polished and rebooted.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfF0vxKZRhc
Kubrick’s film is so packed with iconic imagery, this brilliant trailer comes across as almost effortless. It’s a gorgeous crescendo of sound and visuals and one of the best re-release trailers of all time.
2. La Haine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKwcXt3JIaU
In some ways, this is a trailer that doesn’t want to be a trailer. It has too much energy and anger to be confined, but that tension makes for an electrifying 1 minute 37 seconds of pure adrenaline.
3. M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsVproWjN6c
A black and white classic from the 1930s, ‘M’ was always a visual treat that felt ahead of its time. A perfect film to exemplify the amazing results that can be achieved through restoration.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzjOVmhzN68
This trailer sifts through the comedic baggage associated with Freddy Kruger by focusing on the best moments from the original, and delivering something genuinely frightening.
5. Beau Travail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh4HzACZOOQ
The poetry and atmosphere of Claire Denis’ film is in every frame of this trailer, with a beautifully sparse soundscape and contextualised with a perfect selection of reviews. Resisting the temptation to include that iconic ending is also a gift for first time viewers of the film.
6. The Silence of the Lambs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSQciiKhqXc
A classy, well cut trailer, full of suspense and excitement. Effectively defying its iconic reputation by giving nothing away, the trailer feels urgent and fresh even to those most familiar. It also proves once again that BFI are masters of the re-release.
- Theo Martone
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