As part of my research for my A2 Media Coursework, I analysed a range of existing horror trailers.

1. HORROR TRAILER ANALYSIS

2. PSYCHO-MISE-EN-SCENE
-The action begins straight away, with the one of the first visuals being a figure holding a knife and an established victim. This
makes the audience tense from the very beginning.
-The low-key lighting used matches the typical conventions of the slasher genre and makes parts of the scene invisible, causing
confusion and anxiety for the audience.
-The lack of lighting makes the figure’s face invisible, this makes them mysterious and unnerving.
-A torn shower curtain is used to convey violence.
-One of the settings is an empty motel which reinforces the sense of vulnerability. When the characters drive up to the motel, it is
raining which makes the location appear more frightening.
-The protagonist’s face is bright white against the shadows around her, this highlights her vulnerability.
-One scene is set in an empty woods which makes the audience feel uncomfortable.
-The rooms of the hotel are filled with old, personal objects which gives the impression that there is something strange about the
hotel.
-A close-up shows the protagonist to be alarmed when someone approaches her, this conveys stress and panic, which passes
over to the audience.
- Body language shows the protagonist to be hiding and cowering which indicates that something is coming after them.

3. PSYCHO- CINEMATOGRAPHY
-The trailer begins with close-ups of various body parts which confuses the audience. This is followed by a high-angle mid-shot of a silhouette
holding a knife, this indicates that they are the antagonist and makes the audience fear that there is going to be an attack.
-A point of view shot is used from the victim`s eyes, looking up at the killer at a high angle, this makes the audience feel the terror of the victim
and emphasises the power of the killer.
-A close-up of an eye creates a tone of intensity and indicates that someone is watching, this increases the fear that the audience has towards
the antagonist.
-An establishing shot of a run-down, gothic manor house fits in with the typical horror conventions and sets an eerie atmosphere.
-The camera moves forward on a dolly to imitate the idea that someone is walking over to the protagonist, this reinforces the idea that the
antagonist is constantly aware of the victim`s whereabouts.
-A close-up of a man leaning into the woman`s car gets across the intensity of his actions and the lack of space between the two characters.
-The antagonist is shown dragging a body but only their legs are shown which maintains the character`s anonymity and creates a sense of
mystery.

4. PSYCHO-SOUND
-The trailer begins with multiple screeching sounds which puts the viewer on edge straight away.
-High-pitched, non-diegetic music is played in time with the cuts between shots of a person being attacked
which increases the significance of the action and makes the scene more unsettling and tense for the
viewer.
-Dialogue of a narrator explaining the events is used to make the trailer more chilling and implies that
characters are going to come into danger but that it is inevitable.
-The use of string instruments in the background of some scenes creates subtle tension.
- The use of asynchronous music creates a sense of panic and confusion when the man says “she’s just a
bit mad sometimes”, this is also said in a sinister voice which works with the music to increase the
audience’s sense of alarm.
-The line of dialogue “Doesn’t this place look like it`s hiding from the world?” leads to the audience
becoming weary of what the motel is hiding.
-The narrator says “We are all in our private traps” in a grave tone, this is layered over close-ups of the
characters which indicates that they all have some kind of harm coming to them, this makes the audience
nervous.
-The music increases in pace as the action begins which creates a sense of chaos.

5. -During the scene where the character is getting attacked in the shower, fast-paced, short
duration cuts are used to create a sense of panic and make the audience feel the stress of
the victim.
-Fades are used as transitions between each scene to suggest a connection between
characters and the sense that clues are being given about who the murderer may be.
-Match cuts are used during the shower scene to show various body parts one after the
other, this is meant to create a seamless effect and reinforce the idea that all of the
images are connected, allowing the audience to put together a bigger picture and realise
that the victim has been attacked.
-Jump cuts are used to create a sense of speed to the action.
-Fades are used before and after scenes showing objects important to the storyline, this
emphasises their importance and means that they may be memorable to the viewer.
-The text of “Produced by Alfred Hitchcock” lingers on screen due to the connotations of
his name being linked to successful films.
-After the title there is a fade to black which signifies a cliff-hanger and implies a deadly
ending.
-After the cut to black a sudden glimpse of a man smiling is shown which makes the
audience intrigued as to whether he is the killer.
PSYCHO- EDITING

6. CARRIE-MISE-EN-SCENE
-Teen characters and a school setting are used to target an audience of teens and young
adults.
-The setting of a suburban area matches the conventions of the horror genre as it is
relatable to a large majority of viewers. It is also unsettling for the audience to see a
domestic setting become unsafe.
-Props of knifes are shown throughout which connote bloody violence.
-Stock characters such as the outcast and the jock are used which again targets the
young audience.
-Religious props such as a crucifix add a disturbing setting to the house.
-The mother is shown making her own clothes which suggests that she is traditional and
perhaps dislikes contemporary behaviours and lifestyles.
-Carrie gets locked in a small, dark cupboard which makes the audience emphasise with
her.
-The stereotypical decorated tables and lights at prom allow the target audience to
identify with the setting.
-The lighting changes from high-key to low-key indicating that the tone of the trailer is
getting more serious.

7. CARRIE- CINEMATOGRAPHY
-An establishing shot shows a suburban area, this makes the audience question what
is going to go wrong as everything appears seemingly normal.
-A tracking shot is used, following a woman walking slowly upstairs holding a knife,
the slow camera movement, created using a dolly, makes the audience tense. It also
makes them anxious about whether she is protecting herself or is about to attack
someone, this creates suspense.
-The camera pans up to the house from a low angle, this makes the audience feel
intimidated by whatever is inside the house.
-The camera slowly turns and then focuses on the cross on the wall which hints at the
backstory.
-The camera zooms onto a shaking lock which increases the sense of panic that the
audience feels for the person who is locked away.
-Close-ups of the protagonist are used to show their embarrassment and fear in order
to make the audience empathise with them.
-A long shot highlights that Carrie is the outsider by showing the distance between her
and her classmates.

8. CARRIE-SOUND
- Non-diegetic music of a woman singing an slow, religious song over the image of the house makes the audience feel
unsettled and sense that something is not right about the idealistic setting.
-Sound effects of screaming are used to convey violence and fear.
-Dialogue at the beginning is used to worry the audience, the protagonist says “I need to show I’m normal before it’s too
late”. This makes the audience want to find out what is wrong with the girl and adds a sense of mystery to the trailer.
-The whispering of the mother is low in volume, making her appear more sinister and unstable.
-The music increases in pitch as the action gets more intense, this reinforces the tension of the scene.
-Sound is used to emphasise the contrast between scenes, it quickly changes from the diegetic sound of screaming when
Carrie attacks, to peaceful music during the scene where she is picking her prom dress.

9. CARRIE- EDITING
- Slow black fades between the first cuts set an uncomfortable feel to the trailer.
- The shot of the prom flashes on and off screen, emphasising the confusion and
chaos of what is happening this also suggests supernatural powers.
-Text explaining the narrative and backstory creates a flow between scenes.
-A sudden fade to black is used after the image of Jesus, this highlights the
importance to religion in the storyline.
-The editing matches the pace that the mother is banging her head on the wall,
this creates a rhythm and creates a build-up by increasing the pace gradually.
-The scenes cut when the music reaches its loudest point, this shocks the
viewer and makes them unsettled.
-The scene flickers as though the light is cutting out, this creates a sense of
chaos and makes the audience panic.
-The screen goes to black during the mother’s speech, this gives the impression
that she is the one in power as it forces the audience to listen to what she is
saying.

10. HALLOWEEN-MISE-EN-SCENE
-Police are shown carrying a body bag, the fact that the killer hasn’t
been introduced yet increases the fear and anticipation to know more.
-Typical props of the genre, including knifes connote brutal violence.
-Stock characters are used, a psychopathic male chasing a
vulnerable female is a common convention of the slasher genre.
-The fact that the killer is running very quickly and slashing objects
aimlessly indicates that he is manic and uncontrollable.
-A sub-urban house is the first setting shown, this is a common
convention of the horror genre as it increases the fear that the
audience will have due to the domestic setting that the majority of
viewers will be able to relate to.
-The camera looking through the eyes of a mask clearly indicates that
what the viewers are seeing is from the eyes of the killer. The prop of
a mask is effective at making the antagonist more sinister due to the
way that their identity is hidden and little is known about them or their
motives, this also makes their actions more shocking as the viewer
doesn’t know what to expect.

11. HALLOWEEN-CINEMATOGRAPHY
-A low-angle shot looking down at the victims gives the impression that they are
weak and helpless.
-A wide shot shows that the floor and walls have been covered in blood,
emphasising the violence.
-A long duration tracking-shot follows the killer slowly walking down the stairs,
this makes the viewer stressed as they are waiting for the inevitable violence to
happen.
-Close-ups are used without to highlight the character’s distress which passes
over to the audience, this technique sets a feeling of claustrophobia due to the
limited space in the shot, this makes the victim seem trapped and gives the
impression that the killer is close.
-A long shot is used to show the fact that the victim is completely alone when
calling for help, this highlights their vulnerability and makes the viewer more
worried for them
-A shot from behind a tree looking at the victim running away gives the
impression that the killer is always watching and has the power in the situation,
this makes them seem more threatening.

12. HALLOWEEN-SOUND
-An authoritive but sinister sounding narration is used to read out the introduction as the text
appears on the screen, this immerses the viewer and ensures that there is still an unsettling
atmosphere during the informative parts of the trailer.
-A non-diegetic high-pitched screech from a violin plays at the same point that the house is first
shown, this implies that it is a dangerous location and puts the viewer on edge.
-The narrator emphasises the fact that the murder happened “in a small American town” to
reinforce the idea that the events could occur where the viewers live and this makes the storyline
more unnerving for the viewers as it makes the events more believable.
-Non-diegetic low-pitched, drawn-out music is used during scenes through the killer’s eyes this
increase the anticipation to find out where they are going and this helps build-up to the scene
where the killer gets revealed.
-The use of dialogue said by the investigator explains that “what was behind the boys eyes was
evil”, the actor says it very seriously and puts emphasis on the word “evil” which increases the
fear surrounding the antagonist.
-Rhythmic sound effects increase in pace as the killer gets closer to the victim, this builds up
tension and creates a climax when the killer catches up to them.

13. HALLOWEEN-EDITING
-Fast-paced cuts showing a weapon and the killer increases the audience’s
panic and dread of what will happen.
-The fast editing as the girl is escaping from the killer increases the feeling of
terror.
-An Image of a pumpkin is layered over a black screen, this is the icon of the
film and is the first image that appears, emphasising the brand identity.
-A fast-paced jump cut is used after a calm screen of the exterior of the house to
an intense point-of view shot from the eyes of the killer through a mask, this
forces the viewer into the action suddenly, making their tension rapidly increase.
-Shot duration cuts are used when the killer suddenly runs at the victim, this
makes the events more fast-paced and enforces the sense of chaos and danger
due to the way that the viewer is unable to clearly see what is happening.

14. SUMMARY OF CONVENTIONS
Mise-En-Scene:
- Props are used to indicate violence. E.g. Knives.
- Sub-urban settings are commonly used.
- Low-key lighting.
Cinematography:
- Low angle shots looking down at the victims.
- Tracking shots to create suspense.
- Close-ups to show victim’s fear.
Sound:
- High pitched non-diegetic music.
- Music increases in pitch and volume as action picks up.
- Asynchronous music to create a sense of chaos.
Editing:
- Cuts increase in pace as violence increases.
- Slow black fades to create suspense.
- Jump cuts are used to increase the pace.