In order to create a realistic horror film trailer we have to research and analyse existing trailers. In doing this we can ensure we’re following the typical codes and conventions of a horror trailer and draw inspiration from them to create our own storyline.
The first trailer we decided to analyse was the trailer for the film ‘The Strangers’. ‘The Strangers’ is a horror film, which was released in 2008 based on true events. It shows the story of a couple holidaying in a wood cabin and then being tormented by ‘strangers’ who decided to target them ‘because they were home’. We decided to analyse the trailer as we have experienced the film ourselves and it was a film that stuck strongly in our minds due to its terrifying nature and the fact it is realistic to everyday life and it is in a natural setting making it seem feasible. These are the kind of feelings we would want our audience to experience when watching our media product. We also have an interest in the setting; we would ideally also like to set our trailer in the woods.
At the beginning of ‘The Strangers’ trailer we instantly see a typical code and convention of a film trailer. ‘Rogue Pictures’ comes on the screen, which is the production company of the film. When producing our media product we will have to ensure we include something similar as it is a vital part of a trailer and in order to have ours accepted, we will need to follow these codes and conventions.
In order to set the scene of the film, it is important to have an establishing shot. From this trailer the establishing shot of a house set in the woods. This instantly allows the audience to recognise the nature of this particular film and where is going to fit within the horror genre. There is not much use of lighting within this shot and the house is completely engulfed by darkness. This brings the connotations of being alienation and that supports the setting of this particular film as when you’re in the woods there isn’t normally a lot of civilisation nearby.
We are then shown a montage of shots and quick fade edits of a couple within the house creating a romantic atmosphere, we are shown candles being lit, a bubble bath and rose petals which is all the mise en scene we would expect in a romance as opposed to a horror. This will make the audience question what is about to happen as they will immediately identify there will be a huge contrast within the story line from fairytale to nightmare. By playing with two different genre's the audience are kept on their toes and wanting to watch on.
Disruption of the calm is then represented but a quick cut edit from the loving couple to them looking at the window in horror to a shot of the window. Quick, cut edits are a typical code and convention of a horror trailer as they specifically create suspense and create a much more tense atmosphere.
There is then a black out and the words ‘Inspired by true events’ fades in to the shot. This is a code and convention of a horror film trailer as text breaking up shots provides a narrative without a voice distracting them or disrupting the atmosphere the images create. The words themselves, ‘inspired by true events’ is something that we may consider to use in our trailer as this instantly makes the audience shocked at the images they see even more so than usual as they instantly put themselves in the shoes of the actors and believe that it is possible for that to happen to them. People watch horror films to be scared but if the plot isn’t feasible or life-like, they may not frighten as easily, whereas if they think its situation that someone has experienced and been through, the film is going to have a larger impact on them and achieve its purpose. I think this is something we will definitely take in to account when creating our trailer.
Featured in the trailer is a point of view shot from the ‘stranger’. This is a typical shot used in a horror film as it creates dramatic irony; the audience knows what’s going on whereas the characters do not. This feature can be used to build suspense as it is giving the audience insight in to what may happen meaning they are constantly waiting for the people outside to do something. This also frustrates the audience in a ‘he’s behind you’ kind of way.
Throughout the trailer there is a mixture of edits used. Fade edits create gentle transitions from shot to shot and bring connotations of calm before the storm whereas cut edits build tension. Between various shots, there is more text helping to build the atmosphere and to continue the naration.
Further into the trailer there is a close up of the lead female looking worried. This gives an insight to the emotions she is experiencing at this point, as she does not know whether there are people outside or if it’s just her mind playing tricks on her.
We then see a long shot of the woman walking towards the door and then a cut edit to an extreme close up of her hand locking it. This symbolises she is feeling unsafe and trying to comfort herself by locking herself in the house. The extreme close up of her hand focuses on the action of her locking the door and it may fool the audience into thinking she has locked the ‘strangers’ out whereas in reality, as this is a horror film, that is not going to be the case.
The next shot used features the rule of two thirds. The woman is standing in the kitchen; the suspense is building as the camera is focused on her standing to the left for some time. Then, slowly, one of the ‘strangers’ comes into shot behind her. This is the first time the audience is being faced with one of the ‘strangers’. Throughout the trailer so far, the audience have been conditioned into believing the ‘strangers’ are outside. As this particular scene follows the locking of the door, this is going to come as a surprise to the audience and will make them curious to know how they managed to enter. Also, the fact the woman hasn’t yet noticed the stranger will excite the audience. The rule of two thirds works effectively in the horror genre as it creates dramatic irony and therefore urging the audience to carry on watching to see what may occur next.
We then start to see when the ‘strangers’ start playing games with their victims heads by making them thinking they’re there one minute and when they look to double check, they have mysteriously disappeared. The technique used is interesting and this may be something we may use in our trailer. Not only does it build suspense further, it starts to play with the audience too, bringing in the realisation that the ‘strangers’ intentions are to frighten the couple before deciding their fate. The camera first shows one of the ‘strangers’ lurking in some trees, then cutting to the man walking into the house and looking behind him, cutting back to exactly where the ‘stranger’ was but has now disappeared. Similarly, it show one of the other ‘stranger’ standing in some trees looking towards the house from the point of view from the window, then a quick cut edit to the woman standing up to look out of the window, then another quick cut edit to a point of view shot of the woman seeing no one in the trees. The quick movements of the ‘strangers’ may have the audience believing at this point of the film, that they may not be human. This may be backed up by the fact the ‘strangers’ are wearing odd masks. They may feel it something else messing with the couple and this intrigues them to keep watching and find out more.
There are some quick transitions between shots of the couple moving around the house warily as they feel as if they’re not alone anymore. Things get switched on within their house and their phone is thrown onto the fireplace. They haven’t come across anyone within the house yet so they are very cautious. There is a quick cut edit to the woman entering the bedroom with her hands clasped over her mouth in shock which tells the audience that the torment is progressing. A point of view shot follows, showing the window with ‘hello’ written all over it. This is a chilling image and also ironic as the ‘strangers’ are greeting the couple which would be a normal, everyday polite thing to do but in this situation, however, the way they carried out the greeting became odd and just another way to terrify the couple. There is a slow zoom towards the window which symbolises the realisation that things are going to take a turn for the worse and the couple’s worst fears are confirmed; there is someone messing with them.
A cut edit follows to a long shot of the woman staring at the window. Within the shot we see mise en scene of the bed with rose petals. This image also holds some irony also as at the beginning of the trailer we see how the couple intended to have a romantic night and it could have been mistaken for a trailer of a romance film. This image now represents how the events have taken a turn for the worse and what they are about to experience definitely won’t be the quality time they expected. This would be a good feature to include in our trailer as the direct contrast will show the audience how something they could plan to turn out beautifully, could quickly turn into something dark.
There is an over shoulder shot which represents conversation between two characters. We see the woman over the man’s shoulder and the expression on her face is very worried. They know something is trying to get to them but can’t explain what.
There is a cut shot back to the man and we see an axe coming through the door and it cuts directly to a close up of the axe. This is clear iconography of horror/murder. An axe is common tool used in horror films and instantly represents death. We know that axe isn’t just going to be used for breaking into the door.
Now there has been an introduction to action i.e. the axe coming through the door, the viewer prepares to engage with more horror scenes. The rest of the trailer includes many quick, cut edits flicking through so quickly it is hard to make out what is going on. This is a code and convention of a horror trailer as it is giving glimpses into what is going to happen within the film without giving too much away. It also creates an atmosphere where the audience is trying to take in so much information and it creates excitement. The things which can be distinctly picked up in the final part of the trailer is things like the flash of a knife, the words ‘killer’ and the masked ‘strangers’. Altogether these things represent the happenings of a frightening film. As the audience has been set up with the opening of the film in some detail, by only having glimpses of what is to follow will urge them to go to the cinema or buy the DVD in order to see how it ends themselves. We should look into having a similar feature in our trailer.
After all the action there is then a blackout and a slow fade in to one of the ‘strangers’ masked face. It’s a very gloomy shot and the light is flickering as if in candle light. In the bottom right corner ‘The Strangers’ fades in to shot as well. This is a code and convention of a film as it is revealing to the audience the name of the film.
There is then a fade in to the names of the two lead actors, the tormented couple. This is definitely something we should include in our trailer in order to have it accepted as a real media product.
The last shot of the trailer includes information of when the film comes out and the website of the film. This will be featured in the end of our trailer also.
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