And just how does it accomplish that, you ask? Well, by showing less, actually. The first trailer had a very straightforward approach, introducing us first to the characters, then the plot, and basically walking us through to the middle of the second act. By all accounts, the trailer seemed to be selling a very traditional, albeit gorgeous-looking, gothic monster tale. Here’s where the second trailer gets it right. It’s technically more of a teaser, and it hooks us by doing just that – it teases us. It doesn’t try to tell us too much, merely giving us glimpses of a shadow and fog-ballasted world, populated by a cadre of brooding, menacing characters. It sells a mood, and it sells it well.

We’re given lots of new footage, and once again, the transformation scenes look amazing. The action is also turned up a bit, hinting at more rabid destruction than the original trailer. Anthony Hopkins is straight-up terrifying, concealing an insidious threat with every line he utters. Mix it all together with a more modern, tempo-driven soundtrack, and you’ve got a pretty piece of marketing that I think will get a lot more people excited for this movie.

Check out the trailer after the jump. Read»

The Young Victoria came out in the U.K. earlier this year, but doesn’t hit Stateside until December 18th. It’s earned strong reviews for its powerful and humanizing performances, anchored by Emily Blunt’s turn as the titular queen of England. I can usually find room in my viewing schedule for a couple of regal period pieces, and though many can be stuffy and boring, when done right, the genre can be downright captivating. After all, who doesn’t like some insight into the world of royalty?

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the film traces the tumultuous early years of the queen’s life, leading up to her ascension to the throne. Queen Victoria is remembered nowadays mostly for her self-imposed isolation during the last forty years of her life, following the death of her husband, Prince Albert. The film, however, aims to show a different side of the queen, focusing on her youth and treating the story as a coming-of-age tale about a fiery and passionate young woman who only happened to be heir to the British Empire. Her real-life love story with Prince Albert (portrayed here by Rupert Friend) plays a central role in the tale, and is indeed one of the more moving chapters of her history.