The document discusses conventions of horror film trailers, including how lighting is often dark and eerie to create an unsettling atmosphere for viewers. Settings are typically isolated locations that increase tension. Common colors used are red, black and white which symbolize blood, darkness, and ghosts. The editing starts with long shots and slow cuts but speeds up during scary moments. Music gets faster and more intense during climactic parts of the trailer. On-screen text and a final "sting" at the end are meant to match the film's atmosphere.

1. Conventions Of Horror Film
Trailers

2. Lighting
Lighting is very important in Horror trailers as the light in the
scene is very often representative of the atmosphere. If the
scene is well-lit or has ambient lighting then all is considered
to be well, hence why in a horror film trailer the lighting is
often very dark and eerie as it adds to the overall horror
experience; enhancing the audience’s unease. The lighting
links with Todorov’s theory of equilibrium. When there is
equilibrium the scene is well lit and when the equilibrium is
disrupted then the scene becomes dark as it adds to the
audiences fear.

3. Examples of Lighting:
Both of these images were taken from the 2013 horror ‘The Conjuring’. As you can see
the image on the right is poorly lit, with no other source of light than a match flame and
you can tell from her facial gestures that she is scared and panicked, representing an
uneasy atmosphere. Whereas, the picture on the left shows a well lit room with four
adults talking; this represents a calmer atmosphere.

4. Setting
In a horror trailer, generally, the setting can be anywhere; in
the woods, in the home, or in the middle of nowhere, yet
they all have one thing in common, they are all isolated and
cut off from people. This is done as it creates tension and
suspense for the audience as they can guess that something
bad will happen.

5. Examples of Setting:
Woman In Black
Friday the 13th
The Amityville Horror
Evil Dead

6. Colours
Predominant colours used in a horror movie trailer are red,
black and white as all have obvious connotations with the
horror genre.
Red – Represents blood, danger and the devil.
Black – Represents darkness, suspense and mystery.
White – Can suggest coldness (personality of the villain) and
is representative of ghosts and spirits.

7. Editing And Camera
• Conventionally, at the beginning of a horror film trailer
long/wide shots are used to establish location and
represent the character as isolated/vulnerable. Cuts are
slow and steady at this point of the trailer.
• At points of disequilibrium, the pace of cuts and variety of
shot types increase and close-ups become more frequent
to show the character’s terror.
• A generic edit in a horror movie trailer is a dead black out
in which the entire screen goes black. This type of edit
adds anticipation and suspense and often represents the
end of something thrilling.

8. Music And Sound
• Generally, at the point of equilibrium, we hear eerie slow
sounds which convey an uneasy mood and adds tension as
the onlooker expects something sudden to happen.
• At points of disequilibrium, the tempo and franticness of
the music increases, which coincides with the narrative at
that point.
• Common sounds in horror trailers are – Wind, creaky
doors, screams, howls and unnerving laughter.

9. On-Screen Text
In a horror film trailer, the movies ‘on-screen text’ such as;
the director, the films release date, stars in the film, and the
tag-line are very often shown to be representative of the
film’s narrative and atmosphere.
For example: ‘The Conjuring’s’ on screen
text gives the trailer an eerie and ghostly
atmosphere.

10. The Sting
The “Sting” is the final sequence of shots at the end of the
trailer. It is usually shown after the title of the film is shown
and is often followed by the release date. A good example of
this is the red-band trailer of Evil Dead (2013) The sting can
be seen from 2:00 to 2:18 on this trailer. (Can be seen below
this PowerPoint).