REAL TRAILER ANALYSIS
Before making our own trailer, we are going to analyse real and successful theatrical trailers for other Horror films. By analysing these trailers we will take note of what makes them successful and potentially implement certain techniques into our trailer when we make it.
Scream 1996 Theatrical Trailer
This is the theatrical trailer for Scream 1996. Scream is a Slasher movie directed by Wes Craven that has now developed into a Horror movie franchise with many sequels. The Scream theatrical trailer includes a kind of self parody, the trailer is edited together to look like its mocking the stereotypical tropes found in many Horror films while in itself becoming a classic Horror film. The self parody features the characters are breaking down what not to do in order to survive a Horror movie, while it changes to shots of characters of the film doing those exact actions. During the trailer, each scene is narrated. The narrator of the trailer has a stereotypical 80s-90s horror narrator like quality to the voice which conform to the Horror tropes of the time. Throughout the trailer the lighting features very high key and low key lighting. During the scenes, the high key lighting seems to be used to signify safety, in every scene where the lighting is high key, the characters are usually in their home with at least 1 other person or not being attacked. The low key lit scenes typically show the character in danger or about to move into danger. Ghost-face the alias name of the killer in the film is a stereotypical Slasher-Horror movie killer. He is dressed in a huge black robe like cloak to cover his entire body while he wears a mask to cover his entire face. Ghost-face's signature weapon is the use of a knife, one of the most common signature weapons in all of the horror genre. Ghost-face himself gives a similar visualisation to that of a grim reaper due to his attire.
As this film was directed by Wes Craven, the film follows some of the Wes Craven styles and tropes. In his films, Wes Craven usually makes Slasher-Horror films. In his slasher horror films Craven usually features the idea of an absence of family or absence of authority, this means the victim is alone and isolated without anybody to help them and they must escape using their own wits.
As this film was directed by Wes Craven, the film follows some of the Wes Craven styles and tropes. In his films, Wes Craven usually makes Slasher-Horror films. In his slasher horror films Craven usually features the idea of an absence of family or absence of authority, this means the victim is alone and isolated without anybody to help them and they must escape using their own wits.
Friday The 13th 1980 Theatrical Trailer
This is the theatrical trailer for the 1980 Friday the 13th movie. Friday the 13th is a Slasher Horror movie directed by Sean S. Cunningham. Friday the 13th is now a very popular Slasher-Horror franchise containing many sequels/spin-offs and remakes. The Friday the 13th theatrical trailers main theme throughout the trailer is the countdown. The countdown throughout the trailer seems to signify the number of victims in the trailer and a count to 13 referring to the name of the film Friday the 13th. Each number has a corresponding victim shown with something bad or mysterious happening to them whether grabbed or stabbed. All of the victims shown within this trailer are either isolated by either location or being alone or they are in a dark place with very low-key lighting where the killer and mascot of the franchise "Jason" can hide. Similar the theatrical trailer for Wes Craven's Scream 1998 film the narrator for the trailer uses the same stereotypical Horror narrator voice from the time.
Similar to Wes Craven. Sean S. Cunningham seems to be focusing also on the idea of absence of authority due to the lack of others around the victims in this trailer. There is a notable absence of adult males, instead the killer "Jason" seems to favour women and teenagers of both genders although he seems to primarily target females, a conformity to the stereotype in Horror films.
Similar to Wes Craven. Sean S. Cunningham seems to be focusing also on the idea of absence of authority due to the lack of others around the victims in this trailer. There is a notable absence of adult males, instead the killer "Jason" seems to favour women and teenagers of both genders although he seems to primarily target females, a conformity to the stereotype in Horror films.
Insidious 2010 Theatrical Trailer
This is the theatrical trailer for the film Insidious 2010. The Insidious film was directed by James Wan. The film has spawned some sequels and a prequel and has become a popular modern Supernatural-Horror franchise. The theatrical trailer for Insidious seems to have a large focus on miss-happenings around the house throughout the trailer. The characters notice strange things going on in the trailer and get outside help. The trailer features very quick cuts to keep tension but also keep whats happening a mystery to the viewer. Besides some obvious sound effects there is a noticeable lack of music backing the trailer, instead the trailer features the metronome as the only backing sound, (until the action starts, then there is a small background track to accompany the metronome) as the trailer progresses and quick cuts become common the metronome backing the trailer also speeds up to keep the tension. During the trailer the lighting is very low key throughout giving a kind of black and white look with how dim the the colours are and the way the lighting in each scene is constructed.
James Wan in this trailer focuses on the element of mystery and the inability to understand or fight back against the supernatural being that inhabits the house despite the fact the family are all together and not isolated.
James Wan in this trailer focuses on the element of mystery and the inability to understand or fight back against the supernatural being that inhabits the house despite the fact the family are all together and not isolated.
Poltergeist 1982 Theatrical Trailer
This it the theatrical trailer for the 1982 Poltergeist film. Poltergeist was directed by Tobe Hooper and also worked on by Steven Spielberg. Poltergeist has become a classic Supernatural-Horror film with sequels and remakes. The trailer for Poltergeist focuses on the supernatural element and the things that cannot be explained and happens to the characters. Throughout the trailer the characters are affected by items being shoved around the house, bright lights flashing and general unexplained phenomenon. The lighting throughout the trailer is constantly changing, when the family are together and safe the lighting is generally well lit, when the Poltergeist is causing damage then the lighting goes very high key to an almost blinding white light to represent the supernatural being. The lighting goes into a lot more low key tones when the daughter is heading towards the television, the item implied to be either haunted or of huge significance. The music throughout the trailer is not your stereotypical tension filled music like in todays horror movie trailers, instead the backing track seems to be an orchestral like epic track that builds throughout the trailer when they are attacked by the supernatural being. This is in contrast to the beginning where the music is more lighthearted and sombre before it changes during the sound effect of static coming from the television.
Tobe Hooper focuses on during this trailer similar to the Insidious trailer, the element of mystery and the inability to fight back against the supernatural forces at work within their house despite the family being together and not exactly isolated.
Tobe Hooper focuses on during this trailer similar to the Insidious trailer, the element of mystery and the inability to fight back against the supernatural forces at work within their house despite the family being together and not exactly isolated.