This post covers two atypical and idiosyncratic ways that Les Revenants appeals to and has been marketed to an international audience.
A analysis of the song Batcat by Mogwai
Stick this song on VERY LOUD to get a sense of the kind of band Mogwai are
Mogwai are a Glaswegian post rock band who have been performing since the early 1990s
A big emphasis on heavy, distorted guitar music creates a solid wall of sound. A chaotic blend of three guitarists and a bassist and drummer reinforces the hectic mode of address. The song is structured around a single repetitive and simplistic riff. Extremely distorted, at times it’s hard to make out what is actually being played. Their music is angry, anxiety inducing, threatening, which is further anchored through the music videos' use of high key strobe lighting. The music is extremely loud, with Mogwai famous for creating threatening, loud, and even torturous music. Targeting a relatively niche audience, Mogwai have a devoted fan base across the world, but especially Scotland.
So why did this band get approached to write the soundtrack?
- Highly unconventional choice of soundtrack emphasises the unconventional nature of the TV show
- The angry, threatening use of metal reinforces the themes of death and alienation.
- Metal as a genre is niche by its nature, and will exclude many audiences automatically, while also appealing significantly to others!
- The use of a Scottish rock band allows the show to target a wider audience
- It allows the show to target preexisting and pre-sold audiences of mogwai
- A highly opportunist opportunity to produce a soundtrack that will target fans of the show
- Also, Mogwai produced a conventional horror film soundtrack that will appeal to fans of the genre
- Mogwai are big in France! Big is a relative term here, but they regularly sell out big venues in major French cities
How was Les Revenants marketed to an international audience? Analysing the trailer for the Australian DVD release
You can watch the trailer in question here!
- An especially dramatic song was selected from the soundtrack, suggesting an exciting and thrilling TV show. Emphasises the hectic and confusing nature of the show in manner which is not entirely accurate
- A mix of different cast members are selected in the montage, constructing a more relatable mode of address.
- However, there is more of a focus on the younger, more attractive characters, potentially appealing to a younger audience
- Use of pull quotes from reviews reinforce the shows critical acclaim, and also reinforces the shows stylistic and aesthetic qualities, appealing to middle class audiences
- Glitching effect has been added to create a more conventional mode of address
- The trailer uses footage from the entire episode to construct a thrilling, exciting narrative