Analyzing Horror Trailers

Analyzing Horror Trailers

Scream

Film title	Scream
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	It draws the audience in by adding the realism into it. The villain is dressed differently, the villains costume is very unique.
What types of shots are being used?	Establishing shots, Close up shots, Mid shots, Tracking shots, Over the shoulder shots and Long shots.
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Villain, Jump scare, Police, Dumb blonde, Running, Paranormal Activity, Screams, Narrator, "Directed by", Film Title,
What characters are introduced?	The Villain, Police, Three guys, 3 Girls.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	The villains mask and the cliff hang of murders.

Scarred http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJCt0jZrw-M

Film title	Scarred
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	It draws the audience by wondering why the woman's face is the way it is. Why she kills other people for their face.
What types of shots are being used?	Establishing shot, close ups, mid shots, tracking shots, panning shots, High shot, First person (Point of view)
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Villain, Jump scare, Dumb blonde, Running, Screams, Film Title,
What characters are introduced?	The Villain, The main characters.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	The gore would make us go and see the film. The gore is definitely different to other films, and the plot is very unusual.

Final Destination 3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdG7A377boY

Film title	Final Destination 3
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The whole storyline will draw the audience in I think. The main thing is the main character has a vision of the rollercoaster crashing, so people will wonder what will happen them? Can you cheat death?
What types of shots are being used?	Tracking shot, high shot, low shot, Point of view, mid shot, close up, extreme close,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Jump scare, Dumb blonde, Running, Screams, Film Title, Paranormal occurrences, Blood, Gore
What characters are introduced?	The remaining survivors that were meant to be on the roller coaster, the roller coaster operator.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	The paranormal occurrences, The gore, Blood, also if you like films that you don't know what is going to happen this film is perfect. Also the film is very psychological, people might not go on roller coasters again for a while.

Ghost ship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7xNXTpQA5Q

Film title	Ghost ship
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The main characters go to explore this abandoned ship which had a lot of paranormal occurrences.
What types of shots are being used?	Tracking shot, Mid shots, close ups, long shots, Birds eye view, high shot, low shot, panning shot,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Jump scare, Running, Screams, Film Title, Paranormal occurrences, Blood, scary music.
What characters are introduced?	The ghosts, people on this ship before it became abandoned, The search team.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	I think the fact that the ship is abandoned, people will want to know why, and what happened, and if it was the ghosts fault, and people will want to find out if the rescuers make it out safely.

The Blair Witch Project.

Film title	The Blair Witch Project
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	They draw the audience into the story very well because the trailer shows text on the screen which says "In October 1994 three student film makers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville Maryland while shooting a documentary." It then shows pictures of old equipment being investigated. This will make the audience believe it is a true story which will make them very intrigued.
What types of shots are being used?	The main camera shot is Shaky Cam. (Making it look like it has been recorded with a handy cam only, to add realism) and Extreme close ups.
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Police, Running, Paranormal Activity, Screams, Film Title.
What characters are introduced?	Mike and Josh,
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	People will get intrigued by the realism of it, and want to go and see it to wonder what happened.

The Exorcist.

Film title	The Exorcist.
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The trailer draws them in because people will want to know how the girl got possessed and what will happen to her and will the priests be able to help her in the end. It include some very disturbing footage which will make people who love horror films want to go see it.
What types of shots are being used?	Close ups, long shots, panning shots, mid shots, establishing shot and tracking shots,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Running, Paranormal Activity, Screams, Film Title, Dark rooms, Blood, weapons, Evil Laugh, Death
What characters are introduced?	Mother, Possessed girl, Two priests.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film	People want to know how the girl became possessed and the film goes to extreme paranormal, so people who love horror and paranormal things they will like the film.

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qABrGJUA_hY

Film title	Wrong Turn 2: Dead End
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The trailer draws the audience in because the scenes they used for the trailer are very good, They want to know people are in the woods and what are they looking for.
What types of shots are being used?	close ups, panning shots, low shots, mid shots, tracking shots, long shots,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Running, Blood, Gore, Weapons, Screams, Film Title villain
What characters are introduced?	The team in the woods, the camera crew in the woods and the victim, and the villain.
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film?	The villains in the woods don't look normal so people will want to know why they look like that. They also want to know why the team in the woods are in there if there has been many deaths and disappearances.

Halloween (2007)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kww5KSqzV9U

Film title	Halloween
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	They draw the audience in by making all the deaths look very gruesome and showing The main character Mike Myers grow up as a kid and even killing then.
What types of shots are being used?	close ups, extreme close ups, mid shots, establishing shot, tracking shot, panning shot,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Running, Blood, Gore, Weapons, Screams, Film Title, villain, dark rooms, scary music.
What characters are introduced?	Victims and the main villain
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film?	The main character draws the audience in by making the deaths of the victims look very gruesome. If you like slasher horror films, the trailers bring the gruesome all out.

Nosferatu

Film title	Nosferatu
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The trailer draws the audience in by making it clear that the film is a vampire film and the mysteriousness will draw the audience in.
What types of shots are being used?	Mid shots, long shots, close ups, high shot, low shot,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Scary music, dark rooms, shadows, villain and victim
What characters are introduced?	The vampire and victim
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film?	It is the film vampire film ever to be created. People will want to be amazing. The music makes it seem very dramatic and frightening too which will make people want to go and see it.

 Saw 1

Film title	Saw 1.
How does the trailer draw the audience in to the story (what is the ‘hook’?)	The trailer makes the film look like a game. So it is a psychological and slasher horror, which most people should enjoy.
What types of shots are being used?	Long shot, Close ups, mid shots, panning shots, tracking shots,
What horror and trailer conventions are used?	Victim, Running, Blood, Gore, Weapons, Screams, Film Title, dark room,
What characters are introduced?	Jigsaw (Villian)
Do we identify with anyone? (and why?)	No.
What makes us want to go and watch the film?	People want to know how the people started the game and why. They want to know why people are being killed.