A2 Media Studies

1. Horror Films – Trailer Analysis
and Common Conventions
A2 Media Studies

2. Trailer 1 – Psycho (1960)
https://youtu.be/NG3-GlvKPcg

3. • The setting is in an isolated hotel, which
immediately suggests danger as there is
nowhere to run.
• Also, pathetic fallacy with the rain and
thunderstorm could infer that bad things are
going to happen. It also suggests danger.
• The man’s facial expression, being the ‘evil’
smile suggests that the man is mentally
unstable and implies he is the killer. This is a
contradiction to the rest of the trailer, in
which the man appeared polite and helpful.
• Throughout the trailer, close up shots are
used to show the character’s emotions and
facial expressions. Most notably the close
up of the woman in the shower, where the
camera shows her screaming. This creates
tension without giving the plot away as you
cannot see the wide shot.
• The music in the trailer is atonal/minor which
has connotations with negative emotions
such as fear or sadness.
• The montage at the very start of the trailer is
loud and would shock the viewer. This
montage has also become iconic within the
slasher genre.
• The synth sounds along with an orchestra
accompaniment creates tension
• Throughout the trailer, crescendo and
diminuendo were used to increase and
release the suspense.
• The shots used in this trailer are more
limited because it was made in the 1960’s
and the technology was not as advanced.
• However, the trailer cuts between different
shots in the movie, this keeps the trailer
fast paced and interesting.
Cinematography Editing
Sound Mise en Scene

4. Trailer 2 – It (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh8FLnFQj3o

5. • “You’ll float too” – Georgie repeating this phrase
creates fear, particularly because he is a child.
• Music is atonal and minor. Crescendo up to very
loud volume towards the end of the trailer. The
music also sounds eerie and tense, with the violin
motif being repeated throughout the trailer. At
the beginning of the trailer, a light piano solo is
played up to the point that Pennywise appears for
the first time.
• Non-diegetic voiceovers of the children speaking,
giving the audience a small synopsis of the plot
(e.g. children going missing and ‘it’ being
responsible.
• Close up of characters facial expressions
(Georgie’s demonic smile/laugh in the
basement shows he is evil)
• Tracking shots of the children running and
following cars etc.
• Camera looking up at Pennywise, implying
that he is superior and holds the power in
that situation. This can make the character
appear more threatening.
• The children are wearing bright colours,
which could represent innocence. This is
especially the case with Georgie, who is
wearing a bright yellow raincoat.
• The settings used are dark and appear
dangerous like the abandoned house, the
sewer and the dark basement.
• Some of the attacks and tense scenes occur
in the day, however when Georgie
disappears, it is raining (pathetic fallacy)
• The idea of using clowns creates a false sense
of security, as they are typically associated
with entertaining children.
• Jump cuts between scenes with a black fade, this
keeps the tempo of the trailer fast paced. Keeping the
trailer fast paced can increase the tension for the
audience as they do not have a moment of calm.
• When shots of Pennywise are used, they are cut away
quickly to avoid spoiling the plot for the reader.
• Keeping Pennywise out of most shots also makes him
appear more threatening, as he is rarely seen. It also
makes the audience react more when he does appear.
Cinematography Editing
Sound Mise en Scene

6. Trailer 3 – Jigsaw (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcb68kAOvt4

7. • Setting is a dark/abandoned warehouse that
has been turned into a torture centre. It is
isolated and so the victims cannot escape.
• Explosions create tension and imply the
characters are in a dangerous situation.
• The characters are all wearing ‘normal’ plain
clothing, supporting the idea that these are
normal people who have been kidnapped
(could happen to anyone)
• Close up shots of the victims facial
expressions are used throughout. This
shows that they are suffering without
giving away what happens to them,
keeping the plot unknown to the audience.
• Wide/Long shots that are establishing the
setting.
• The music in this trailer contradicts the
stereotype of horror/slasher films, as it is
upbeat and sounds happy. This could be
done to create a false sense of security
• The non-diegetic voiceover is explaining how
the police believe it is a “copycat killer”,
which is informing the audience about the
plot without giving it all away.
• “because that’s not creepy” – comedic
dialogue to reduce the tension. This is more
common in modern horror films, making it
more appealing to a wider audience.
• Black fades in-between cuts of different
scenes.
• Quick cuts of different moments of the film
(different torture sequences/deaths)
• The characters deaths are not shown,
makes the audience unsure whether they
survive.
Cinematography Editing
Sound Mise en Scene

8. Conventions of Horror Trailers
Cinematography
• Close up shots of the character’s faces is a common theme in horror
trailers, this portrays the character’s facial expressions and emotions
clearly. The emotion often seen is fear or confusion.
• Long/wide shots establish setting. Setting is used in horror films to create
tension or a false sense of security.
• Tracking shots of characters, particularly the protagonists, running. This is
frequently in a dark, dangerous setting.
• High angle shots, which imply that the subject on screen is superior. This
shot is used particularly when the villain/killer is on screen.

9. Mise en Scene
Setting
• Dark abandoned buildings
• Woodlands
• Isolated areas
All of these locations create a sense of isolation, therefore there is nobody else nearby who
can help the characters when they are in danger. On the other hand, suburban
neighbourhoods are often used in horror films to create a false sense of security.
Pathetic fallacy is also commonly used in horror trailers. Bad weather like rain and storms
imply danger and sadness, which can create tension as the audience fear something bad is
about to happen.
Costume
• Characters typically wear casual clothing that is fashionable at the time. The
stereotypical characters may wear clothing that is relevant to their personality (e.g. the
‘popular pretty girl’ may be wearing a cheerleader uniform).
• The killer/villain typically wears dark, subtle clothing. However, in supernatural horrors
like Stephen King’s ‘IT’, the character wears bright, distinct clothing to purposefully
draw attention.

10. Mise en Scene (Continued…)
Action
• Attacks/violence seen in horror trailers tends to be short clips, this is mainly
done to not give the plot/deaths away before the audience see the film.
• For the same reason, violence shown in trailers is not very graphic.
• Jump scares are more common.
Sound
Music/Soundtrack
• In modern horror trailers, light-hearted music like nursery rhymes or upbeat
songs have been used. This can lure the audience into a false sense of security.
• More traditional horror music is atonal and minor. This makes the audience
feel on edge, as the music does not sound pleasant.

11. Sound (Continued…)
• Music across a trailer will build up to a climax (either through a crescendo and loud bangs or
noises to create a jumpscare). Typically, music at the beginning of a trailer will be quiet and
slow.
Dialogue
• Non-diegetic voiceovers are common in horror trailers. This helps explain the plot. The non-
diegetic sound can blend into diegetic conversations, going back to non-diegetic as the trailer
cuts to other clips.
• More modern horror trailers feature a small amount of comedic dialogue. This could make
the film appeal to a wider audience, who perhaps are not fans of graphic horror films.
• The voices of children are used to create tension, as evil children are a common trait of
horror films.
Editing
• Fade to black
• Short/quick cuts. These are used to make the trailer appear more fast paced, and therefore
more exciting.