This document analyzes conventions used in horror trailers and discusses several auteur directors. It examines how trailers showcase bits of the film without giving too much away, focusing on themes of good vs. evil, screaming, death, and disrupted normality. It discusses the auteur theory and how directors like Hitchcock, Burton, and Kubrick developed distinct styles and signatures. It concludes by analyzing inspirational horror trailers like The Last Exorcism, Orphan, and Paranormal Activity that effectively use techniques like spiritual locations, children's voices, and shaky "home video" camera work.

1. Analysis of Horror Trailers
Conventions of horror trailers;
Name of directors and film companies e.g Warner brothers,
Lions gate etc these are usually places at the beginning of the trailer. The film producer
titles are presented in a way that adheres to the genre of horror
which includes darkness gloom and accompanied sounds like the sound of
storms this connotes fear and death.
Showing the best bits of the film
to attract consumers but not giving too
much away;
- A battle of good V evil.
- High pitched screaming
- Death/Blood
- Dramatic camera angles
- Disruption of normality
- Isolated location’s
- Title of the film to help consumers identify the film through uses of synergy
e.g TV adverts and posters.

2. Horror Auteurs
The Auteur Theory
Suggests that a director can be commercial through film making in the same
way as a writer uses a pen or a artist uses a paintbrush. It allows the director
to use artistic expression through film.
Andre Bazin explained; “auteur theory was a way of choosing the persnal
factor in artistic creation as a standard reference, and then assuming that it
continues and even progresses from one film to the next”. The auteur theory
suggest that the best films will bear their makers signature which is like a
stamp of the directors personality.

3. Is one of the first names who comes to mind when talking about auteurs theory his most famous
work; Vertigo, Psycho, The birds and rear window. His story techniques are best known for their
intelligent plots, witty dialogue, mystery, murder and revolutionary thriller genre. Hitchcock’s
best know screen moments is the terrifying shower scene in Psycho. His skill of shots he uses
and how he combines them are more important than the genre, psycho featureless 70 shots in
less than 1 minute.
Alfred Hitchcock
One example of a director that considered an auteur, Tim Burton's films have a very distinct
style, and he often deals with similar themes in his work. In general, the lead character is
separated from the norm of society in some way, as a misfit. In the character of Edward Scissor
hands, this idea is taken to the very extreme. The main character cannot even touch another
person. Other examples of this character type include Batman, Beetle juice, and to a certain
extent, Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Burton's movies also have a
distinct style, generally a very Gothic feel. In addition, Burton is known for using stop-motion
animation in his films, the prime examples being The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse
Bride. He is also known for reusing actors and actresses, in particular Johnny Depp and Helena
Bonham Carter.
Tim Burton
Kubrick was known for his perfectionism, using extreme care with scene staging and
working extremely closely with his actors. His films were known for their amazing and
unique cinematography, attention to detail, realism and beautiful soundtracks.
Kubrick's films covered a variety of genres. These included horror, science fiction, war
and even black comedy. Kubrick was known for his extreme attention to detail. For
example, during filming of the movie “The Shining”, Kubrick wanted approximately 70
takes of the scene where Halloran gets killed by Jack Torrance.
Stanley Kubrick

4. Inspirational Horror Trailers
The Last Exorcism Part 11; Film Trailer
I have chosen the last exorcism as an inspirational film trailer to analyze. The shots I have
Chosen from watching through the trailer tell the stories narrative. The use of spiritual
Locations like a church suggest paranormal activity, above human control.
Establishing shots are used to show location and dramatic Irony which is when the
audience can see what is going on it the shot but the protagonist cannot. Dramatic sound
Effects are used in this trailer, including; gross neck cracking, heavy breathing, the sound of
smashing window and the conventional sound of a child's voice which is heard in most
horror films. Dark lighting is used through out the trailer to adhere to fear, danger and death.

5. Orphan; Film trailer
The orphan is another chosen film trailer I have found inspiring I found this trailer effective
and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The unraveling story was horrific and the
use of young children made the storyline more creepy. I would like to use children's
voices within our trailer as it is a typical and effective convention in most successful
Horror films. Within the trailer the use of researching online makes the storyline more
Mundane to real life and I would like to use this technique within our horror trailer.

6. Paranormal Activity 4; Film Trailer
This paranormal activity trailer has been filmed in the style of a home video, using this type
of cinematography makes the trailer seem real to life and also makes the audience
more on edge. The shaky handheld camera can make the audience feel disorientated
as if they are at the location that has been filmed. The use of looking things up
on the internet and a night vision camera has also been used in this trailer, it has successfully
been used to make the film feel more believable to the viewer.