Horror Tralier Analysis

I worked with class mates and analysed three horror movie trailers, this is what we found:




This is the trailer from the horror movie 'The Ring'.

Conventions of a movie trailer:
There are short clips from scenes in the movie, just long enough to entice the viewer, but not so long as to give anything away. These clips are clips the target audience want to see e.g. scary and unusual . By doing this the viewer is made to want to watch more; they want to know what happens to the people in the clips.

There are inter-titles giving a brief description of the narrative of the film and also helping to identify genre. By cutting up the inter-titles and stretching them over the length of the trailer the viewer is drawn in; kept in anticipation to here the next part of the narrative. By only half describing the narrative the viewer is made to want to know more, much like the short clips from the scenes in the movie do.

The key characters are identified. This is done by using short close-up shots of them in the trailer. This gives the viewer someone to identify with making the film relatable.

The music used over this trailer helps to identify genre. Sustained dissonant chords give an uneasy feeling to the viewer, suggesting the film will do the same. The music also builds up nearing the end, putting the viewer on the edge of their seat, but by leaving the end of the music open the viewer is left curious and still with the feeling of uneasiness, making them want to see the movie for closure.

The voice-over on this trailer is done by taking short clips of sound from the film itself and putting them together. The use of these short clips also leave the viewer questioning the trailer and wanting closure.


Horror conventions within the trailer:
The settings of this horror trailer are fairly conventional; we are shown clips of dark corridors, large open rural areas and several shots of claustrophobic looking rooms. All of which indicate some sense of fear. The light in most of the shots is motivated and dim, adding to the feeling of isolation and horror.

By using expressive camera work the viewer is shown a different, scary perspective of what is in the shot. Sped-up establishing shots of open rural areas give great impact to the feeling of isolation, CUs and ECUs of characters help to show extremes of emotion to the viewer.

Conventional character types are shown such as the 'inocent child', 'final woman' and the ' false hero'. This helps the viewer identify with genre.


I like the quick cuts in this trailer, they create a fast tempo building up the viewers anticipation. I also like the establishing shots of the open fields which are then sped up creating an eerie isolated atmosphere.





(Above: 'SAW 3D' 2010)

All trailers need to indicate a range of information within them in order for the respective target audience to understand what it is about and in turn persuade them to go watch it.


GENRE -
It is a necessity that trailers specify the genre of the film. This will categorise the film and will draw in their target audience, if this is done poorly it could lead to a loss in sales and a sense of confusion from the audience.
Within 'SAW 3D' the trailer sets out the intentions and genre from an early off set. As it is a teaser trailer it has a lack of time in which to get across the films values. In this example it is shown within the first 10 seconds with a clever use of colour and effects ( Red and static/ broken effects) that this film falls in the horror or thriller category.
Linking this with Horror Conventions, the use of red symbolises blood and pain etc. Whereas the static and use of heavy base adds to the trailers sense of atmosphere. Furthermore, as the trailer continues the audience are met with a variety in horror conventions in relation to genre. The use of overlaying titles in conjunction with the voice over focusing and emphasising words such as: 'fear','suffering' and 'death' (0.17-0.20), equally reinforces the horror conventions.

NAME -
The name of the film is going to be key to the sales and to the publicity of the film. If there is no title specified the audience will be left in disarray and will feel no need to see something they don't know about. However, in some cases there is no title announced to add to the films over all mysterious nature. This technique is mainly used within viral advertising, in an attempt to create this 'buzz'.
'SAW 3D' has a large build up until the title is released at 0.47 seconds, because there is such a large build up with the use of voice over and overlaying titles the audience are in suspense as to what it is about. On the other hand, as this film is part of such a large franchise the audience recognise it's conventions and follow the build up as it teases with phrases such as: 'Witness the final saw', this used as a method of enticement for the audience.

PRODUCTION VALUES -
Similar to many horror trailers 'SAW 3D' mentions no names within it's advertisement. As the characters are generally poorly developed and seen as 'throw away' characters, there is little need to use big names in the film and trailer, as that is not why people watch the films. This is an equally similar reason for the lack of directors name within it and to an extent the producers studios are quickly rushed, giving the sense that this film is eager to show action and excitement, giving the audience another reason to go see it.
The title does however show some production values. Looking at the overlaying titles there is an incorporation of special effects as the trailer is trying to highlight the fact that this new film is in 3D, as this is a teaser trailer it is missed out, but in longer renditions of this trailer it is heavily capitalised on.

ADDITIONAL CONVENTIONS -
Linking back to genre, this film highlights that it is a torture film as most if not all of the footage shown is of a torture disposition, the snippets of film shown are at the climax of fear which entices the audience further.
As this franchise of film is famous for it's gore rather than it's character development and narrative, these aspects are then ignored in the trailer. The audience see a variety of character all leading to a similar fate. the basic narrative is some what outlined, but this is nothing more than it being a torture film. This tells the audience to expect excitement and horror as appose to narrative and in depth plot.