3 Analysis of existing Horror Trailers

3 Analysis of existing Horror Trailers

Psychological: Insidious

In the beginning there was use of close ups. Also different angles from low to high to show the expressions of the characters face. Establishing shots to show the outside and view of the house, this makes the audience feel welcomed into the scene. There were shots of the family before it turned the other way. Zoom shots to put emphasis on what's going on. The use of sound also played a big role.Diegetic sounds that goes along with the editing pace. This creates tension also when the sound goes along with the metronome it ticks along at the speed.Most of the sounds are dark and gloomy. Also the sound and editing worked together. The use of multiple clips together, and at a fast pace indicates that it was montage like. The trailer had aspects of stereotypical views as the woman screamed. Fast paced action to end with and slow paced to start with, that use of contrasting techniques allows for us to understand the what it’s about. The way the house was decorated made it seem like an old type of house. The mise en scene shows us this. It gives us a thought of the past. Everything that is old is much scarier. Like the old fashioned clock and rocking chair. The characters are represented as not know what will happen and not having the ability to do anything about it.

Slasher: Psycho

In the beginning the use of camera work is pretty important, there are camera shots of a person. There are close up shots, the camera is used to work around the stereotypical views of a horror movie. The mise en scene is used to convey the genre and message of the film. For e.g. the low key lighting to convey the genre once again. The props were used to create tension and suspense. Mystery is something this trailer creates. The film is under the subgenres of Slasher, Psychological & Thriller. Scary type of music is used, music was used to express the atmosphere. As the trailer continued the pace of the music increased and the atmosphere became more intense. The non diegetic sounds adds to the dramatic scenes that were occurring. The trailer may confuse the audience at some points, because at one time it is fast paced and at another point it is slow paced.

Monster: Jaws

At the beginning we see a black screen. Black is typically associated with horror and dark things. This is so the genre of horror is reinforced to the audience. We hear sounds of a shark, this makes the audience feel right in the scene, non diegetic sounds. The trailer also uses a lot of fades. Fade from black and fade to black. It fades to black instead of another colour, because black conveys dark feelings such as the horror genre. When we see the establishing shots it again, fades from black. The use of cuts, when someone comes out of the water. Shot reverse shot was used, to show us the perspective from under the water and above the water. When people are hidden from the camera it is usually because their identity is supposed to be hidden. Along with dramatic sound effects and the shaking of the camera we can see that it is getting intense. We can see the woman being submerged into the water, and the screen flashes also, until the shark fully has her underneath.