This document discusses conventions used in film trailers for supernatural horror movies. It provides examples from the trailers for several films, including Ouija, Oculus, and Sinister. Key conventions discussed include using ellipses to build tension and reveal scary parts, invisible transitions that mirror supernatural elements, and establishing ordinary characters who then encounter supernatural threats. Common trailer events like doors creaking or characters seeing ghosts in mirrors are mentioned. The document also addresses title designs, release date information, and narrative structures in supernatural horror trailers.

1. Assignment 6: Conventions of
Film Trailers
Gelsomina De Lucia
Patrycia Butrym
Leticia Silva
Tayla Humphris

2. Ellipses (Deadline)
• Ellipses is used in supernatural thriller trailer so that the audience can get to
the important part of the trailer which is usually the scary parts.
• In this case it lets the audience have an insight into how the character got into
the location where the film is shot.

3. Transitions (Deadline)
• Transitions are usually invisible which links to the supernatural element of
the storyline.
• They are unnoticeable just like the supernatural force in the storyline.
• Also, they are clear because they allow the audience to focus on the main
purpose of the trailer to understand the plot and feel introduced to the
characters.

4. Ouija
Characters –
The main characters appear to be ‘normal’ people, who live their everyday lives. Conventional females
are harmless, caring and loving beings and their fear is what attracts the demon.
Best Friend Dies at the begginning
Her best friend contacts her through an Ouija Board
Plotline –
A common type of plotline used is that something happens to a person that forces a spirit/ curse to come to them (
Friend gets involved with a Ouija board to talk to the spirit of her dead best friend ), this also takes place in the
supernatural horror “Drag Me to Hell”.
Narrative –
The beginning shows ordinary people with ordinary events. Then something happens to a person when they are alone
and its silence to increase the tension (demon attack). This is how it builds up and pace increases when more scenes
appear and things start to happen. This explains the plot in a medium pace but still keeps it restricted. Then when the
pace and tension hits its largest point it suddendly stops for the title to appear.

5. Ouija
Events –
• The creaking of a door and the curtain blowing in the wind by the open window are common occurrences, as
they symbolise the entry of the unknown. These tend to take place in the earlier stages of the narrative in a trailer
, as their presence indicates a ghost or spirit being close.
• There is always the scene that involves the character looking into the bathroom mirror, to see that beside her
own reflection is the reflection of the ‘ghost’.
• Finding out the spirits past: this involves a character exploring their house and finding clues that further inform
them of the life the spirit once had, why they are being haunted and what they can do to solve it?

6. Oculus
Titles, subtitles and credits
They have to add the production and distribution
companies in the trailer. It is inserted where it will not
take away to much attention from the trailer.
A challenged convention that oculus does is that they add
the companies on the same screen instead of them
having individual timing.
They add subtitles such as ‘what
is real’ and you see what it wants
you to see’ to build up
suspension and engage the
audience making them doubt the
norm.
The title is at the end and it
dissolves in establishing the
supernatural genre. It’s also
in silver to portray the
mirror that posses the
characters.

7. Narrative structure
• It’s non-linear as it is a trailer because its not put in order
• It is also non-linear because it flashes from the past and the
present to a point where even the character are confused.

8. They have the age certificate
This film was given the green
certificate which means that it
is appropriate for audiences
and that audiences under 18
can watch the movie.
Which also gives it appropriate
for universal audiences
meaning anyone around the
world is allowed to watch it.

9. Release dates
When they don’t know the date they
will say that the movie is coming out
soon.
Most of the time they have release dates of when the movie is out right at the
end so that the audience remember it as the last thing they saw. With this they
remember when the movie is out and will most likely go watch it.

10. Sinister
Tayla
The black background soon fades into an establishing shot of the house in
which 9 months prior to then there was a murder that had taken place. It
alludes that in such a short time after the murder a new family moving in is not
such a good choice as the house seems to have a lot history.
Also, the font used looks typed from a typewriter which suggests a document or
research into an investigation.
1. 2. 3.
1. This allows audiences to recognise what the producers of this movie have previously worked on and the success
they got from that.
2. ‘Once You See Him’- this suggests a revelation and that only a selective few are able to see him. There also seems
to be something that encourages something sinister to happen which the characters are not fully aware of.
3. The continuation of the previous credit there seems to be no hope and there is nothing to redeem your life which
creates tension and also enigmas whether they characters are able to conquer and survive. Audiences are at an
advantage as the characters are not yet aware that nothing can save them and therefore has them helpless.
This is the title of the film shown at the end of the trailer. This entices
audiences to remember the name of the film to go and watch it when it
releases.
The effect of the font and the background links with the tape used in the
film when the villain begins to be revealed.