This document analyzes the trailer for the horror film "Captured" and how it follows genre conventions of the horror genre. The trailer uses conventions such as suspenseful editing, scary music, jump scares, characterization of the killer as a tall male seeking revenge, and shots from low angles to make the killer appear powerful. It also compares shots of the killer in the trailer to those in the film "The Hills Have Eyes 2" to show how they use similar lighting and framing. Overall, the document argues that the trailer successfully uses many established conventions of horror film trailers and films to appeal to the target horror genre audience.

1. Evaluation Part 1:

2. My trailer follows the genre conventions of a horror trailer, meaning the that
‘Captured’ will appeal to the correct target audience. This links with Thomas
Schatz’s importance of generic conventions theory set out in his book
‘Hollywood Genres’ (1981). My trailer fits the genre due to the conventions
included such as the pain and editing. It’s conventional in horror films to
included collision cutting to connote suspense and create a scary
atmosphere, my trailer includes slow editing at the start then picking up
again with the chase scenes. Also the cinematography is conventional
throughout the trailer as close ups have been used to how the emotion of
the character in the film (in this case fear). Another horror convention
included in ‘Captured’ is the characters, young teenage victims, the most
conventional character however, is the killer, his tall large stature is
conventional and shooting him from a low angle is conventional to represent
his power and strength. Also, his back story of his daughter’s death and
wanting to get revenge is conventional for a motive to do what he is doing.
Psychological horrors conventionally contain jump scares in the film, we also
included this in the trailer, by slowing the editing and music, then quickly
adding loud music and a quick cut creates a jump scare when the killer stabs
towards the camera, which is typical of horror trailers.

3. These two stills below are from my trailer ‘Captured’ (left) and The Hills Have Eyes
2 2007(right) with shots are of the killer the shots are conventional to each other
with slightly of centre frame and the only aspects in the foreground making them
the main focal point of the images from the scene. The lighting from my still
cannot be seen well however, the lighting is similar to the hills have eyes both
contain a dark shadow over on half his face, this connotes his mind set and anger.
The image on the right the character is bending over, however in the scene the
shot is slightly from below him showing his power and strength. The conventional
killer is male in horror films and shot from lower expressionist angles like the
killer in my film. It creates a connotation of power of you and adds more fear to
the character and his strength. Conventionally the killer’s face is either distorted
and disfigured or wears a mask to cover his face. My film follows this convention
as when the character is mourning over his daughter you can see his face only
when he is angry and killing wears the mask conventional to the genre.

4. My trailer is a conventional trailer in many aspects, mainly the pacing
and editing of my trailer, my trailer starts with back story of what is
happening, a convention for a trailer. The use of collision cutting is
typical for a horror trailer, starting slow to build suspense before the
editing quicken to create panic and fear, slowing again to dull the
atmosphere before finally picking up again to create a jump scare. This
is a typical editing technique used in horror films and trailers. The
music in my trailer fits with the editing starting slow before quickening
and getting louder to draw the audience in and immerse. We used a
variety of shots such as tracking shots, close ups, expressionist angles,
over the shoulder and handheld shots. All of these shots are
conventional, close ups are conventional to represent the emotion of
the person on camera. We used handheld shots as this keeps the
audience immersed in the film rather than using still shots all the time,
while a point of view shot makes the audience feel part of the scene.

5. Form my research and horror films that I watched I was influenced by the films that
stood out and ones that I enjoyed. For example I liked the film: ‘Let Me In’, directed
by Matt Reeves. This film stood out to me due to the detailed back story and life of
the characters. I feel that the more you know about the characters more of an
emotional attachment towards them can be built, this makes the story more
meaningful and powerful to the audience. So when creating my trailer I wanted to
add a back story to killer and his motive in why he is doing what he does. By adding
in my trailer him mourning over his dead child makes the audience pity him and
somewhat justify what he is doing.

6. I would also say my trailer ‘Captured’ is also a slasher/action horror linking with the
film The Hills Have Eyes directed by Wes Craven. The fast pacing and gore adds a
strong horror aspect add engrosses the audience, I liked the effect this created on
me and the audience when watching it. I wanted to add action scenes with fast
pace editing, I did this be creating a long chase scene consisting of many different
techniques when looking at cinematography such as POV shots, handheld tracking
shots and long shots. I also liked the character, as in The Hills Have Eyes, as he is an
iconic killer. I liked this character as you feel sorry for him and want him to good,
due to what he has been through you pity him and what him to do good. I wanted
to include that with my characters even though they are not the best or nicest
character you still wish that they do good and stand by them.
This links with Andrew Sarris ‘Auteur Theory’ saying that the best way to approach
a film would be looking at the director or ‘auter’ and doing an in-depth analysis of
their cinematic style.