Burton's Genre Theory analyzes elements of horror movies like protagonists, stock characters, plot, icons, setting, and themes. The author provides examples analyzing these elements from trailers for The Ring 2, Freddy vs. Jason, Curfew, The Ring 2, and Apollo 18. The analysis found many similarities showing Burton's Theory effectively captures common elements of the horror genre. Understanding this theory will help the author create an effective horror movie trailer that incorporates standard genre elements.

1. Burton’s Genre TheoryI will analyse plot summaries of horror movies and their trailers with the goal of looking for similarities in the elements of protagonists, stock characters, plot, icons, setting and theme to prove whether his theory is true or notProtagonistsStock CharactersPlot/ Stock situationsIconsSettingThemes

2. Example of the work we did Plot Summary of ‘The Ring 2’Six months after encountering Samara and her killer video tape, Rachel Keller and her son Aidenleave the city to live in a small rural town where they think they'll be safe. Soon after they arrive, however, Rachel hears about a college student who died nearby in circumstances similar to Samara's past victims. Now it appears that Aiden's life is in danger from Samara once more, and Rachel must investigate the little girl's past if she wants to save her son

3. Freddy vs. JasonProtagonists: Focuses mainly on the villains within the scene and centres around both of them as we are already aware of their identity, fact the focus is on the villains emphasises idea of evil.Stock Characters: All related to each other and seen to be a group of young adults under threat from a evil force. Representation of naivety of young adults is a representation of the positive and negative aspects of societyPlot/ Stock situations: Include mainly violence in the form of mental torment and brutal murder mostly due to situations that have occurred in the pastIcons: The mask of Jason is significant as it is used in previous Jason film so straight away give implications to genre of the film as most horrors do when the villains identity is hidden which also links to a theme of the fear of the unknownSetting: deserted fields and dark boilers room which acts as a symbol for danger itself as the feeling of darkness and loneliness is commonly associated with dangerThemes: Subversion of good vs. Evil, instead presented with evil vs. evil seen by Freddy and Jason’s need for power over the other which could also link to the temptation to gain power in society itself.

4. CurfewProtagonists: Two brothers sent to prison to die escape and seek revenge on the man who sentenced them. Highlighting themes of the consequences for our actions, whether right of wrong, frittering of society and lack of hope.Stock Characters: members of family and are all closely related again shown in a positive and negative light. The fact the whole community are suffering consequences of this highlights how our actions can effect others.Plot/ Stock situations: Consists of violence, torture, pervasion, sexual abuse/ obsession and revenge implying that these victims have brought this punishment upon themselvesIcons: Image of a gun straight away implies of danger. Fact it is so easily attained hints at the escalation of crime and sin within societySetting: Family house where family are kept captive highlights themes of danger within home, frittering of society and lack of hope as they are not even safe in the comfort of their own homes perhaps implying that we are never truly safe from dangerThemes:main theme can be seen as revenge vs. Justice, whether these two men have been wronged and so are doing justice by their actions or are just blood hungry and seeking revenge

5. The Ring 2Protagonists: A women drawn in by temptation and curiosity to watch the tape she’s warned not to which plays on stereo-typical image of woman being weak and also highlights themes of integrity vs. Temptations which links to the idea of Pandora's box as she has opened the box by watching the tape and released hell on earthStock Characters: All close to protagonist and are also in danger having watching the tape due to the chain reaction started by the protagonist which implies of society’s temptation of danger and conflicts, unable to avoid themPlot/ Stock situations: focuses heavily on the psychological torment of victims who instead of being under threat from a villain, are under threat and tormented by the idea of inevitable death in seven days, implying of societies lack of respect for life, something that is suppose to be sacred but only really cherished when faced with the threat of deathIcons: The colour black acts as the icon here connoting themes of doom, pain and impending deathSetting: Various locations used, even everyday locations like homes, school and parks highlighting that society is never completely safe from danger. Wherever we are, danger will always be there with usThemes:Themes of integrity vs. Temptation seen by characters temptation to watch the tape when warned not to, also of the consequences of temptation which links to the fear of death or lack of fear of death amongst society

6. Apollo 18Protagonists: Both male protagonists are under threat from a unknown force implying themes of the fear of the unknown in societyStock Characters: Presence of no stock characters apart from a unknown threat highlights isolation of the two protagonists in this unknown surrounding Plot/ Stock situations: A real focus on the mental torment of the mind, as both protagonists are desperate to survive from a unknown element. This could also in some ways be seen as torture, the torture of the mindIcons: Use of a space craft and space suits immediately highlight the sci-fi element of the filmSetting: Outer space on the moon (unknown environment) although this implies of a sci-fi element to the film, use of a dark setting that deserted further emphasises this fear of the unknown commonly associated with horrorsThemes:Two main themes are fear of the unknown as they are in a unknown environment being threatened by a unknown force, but can also be seen as truth vs. Deceit as trailer implies of finding out the ‘truth’ behind a story/ cover up in the same way films like Paranormal activity and The Blair Witch Project do

7. Does his theory work?From my analysis of Burton’s Genre Theory it is clear to me that it evidently does work. I’ve come to this conclusion mainly because their were many similarities between the trailers I looked at within the elements I analysed. They all seemed to have a link to contemporary fears of society, e.g. The feat of the unknown, consequences of our actions and the temptation of power. Many of the stock situations of the films proved to be the same as well with many of the situations surrounding around violence, such as murder and particularly mental torment. Also the stock characters in the film generally reflected on real life people within society highlighting the positive and negative aspects within society. The setting as well also representing a sense of danger and mystery and all of the trailers I looked at, with many of the Icons as well being items used for violence. These similarities highlight the effectiveness of Burton’s Genre Theory proving that it works.

8. How this will help me in my workThis will be beneficial in helping me with my plan for my own film as it has furthered my general knowledge of film trailers and made me see what I have to do to create a effective trailer in the genre of ‘horror’ and what elements in terms of protagonists, stock characters, plots, icons, themes and settings I must include. For example in my trailer I may want to use a mask to hide my killers face in order to create that theme of the fear of the unknown used in horrors, or use a axe as a icon as it appears as a brutal weapon which links to the gore seen in horror films. Overall, Burton’s Genre Theory will help my horror trailer to seem more authentic and easily recognisable as a horror trailer