This trailer for the hybrid horror-comedy film "Fright Night" uses various filmmaking techniques to blend elements of both genres. It begins with more comedic scenes of the teenage protagonists in everyday settings. As the plot progresses and they learn of the mysterious new neighbor who may be a vampire, the trailer takes on darker, scarier conventions of the horror genre through changes in lighting, music, editing and mise-en-scene. It aims to appeal to fans of both genres by effectively combining comedy and horror elements into an interesting hybrid film.

1. FRIGHT NIGHT
‘FrightNight’isa hybridfilmthatcombinesthe twogenresof horrorand comedytogether,usinga
combinationof elementsof theirelements.The filmisaremake of Tom Holland’s1985 film.By
combiningthe twogenrestocreate a hybrid,the filmbecomes more appealabletoawiderrange of
audience asfansof the comedyandhorror will wanta filmthathas boththese twogenresinthat
workeffectivelytocreate ainterestingfilm.(Reachingouttothe demographicsof awideraudience,
thusgainingmore salesandleadingtoprofit).
The openingof the trailerdoesnotuse conventionsof the horrorgenre butmore so of the comedy
genre as we are introducedtothe protagonistina school setting,wherethe equilibriumatthispoint
isnot disrupted.Inaddition,the charactersappeartobe normal and onesthe audience canrelate
to. Howeverthe trailerdoesdisplayconventionsof atypical horror filmfromthe darkand gloomy
lightingusedtothe sinistermusicinthe background.The trailerusesamixture of dialogueandnon
diegeticmusicthroughout.
Cinematography
The openingof the trailerseesatwo shotof a male and female charactersharingaromantic
momentwhenthe male receivesacall fromhismother.At thispointthe narrative appearstobe
one that wouldbe of the comedygenre due to the youngteenage charactersusedandthe awkward
phone call he has withhismother.We cut to an establishingaerial shotof the city,whichdisplaysa
typical normal everydaysettingtothe audience.Twoshotsare usedthroughoutthe trailer,similar
to the previoustrailer,todisplaythe dialogue betweenthe characterswhichisvital inthistraileras
the dialogue allowsthe audience tounderstandwhatthe film’snarrativewillbe basedon.Similarto
the horror trailer,we tendtohear a conversationbetweentwocharacterfollowedbyaninsertcut
to whattheywere talkingabout,inthiscase the neighbourwhoacts as the film’svillain.The close
upsof the protagonist’sface presentthe fearhe hasas he learns more about hisnew neighbourwho
has beenbehavingstrangely.The introductionof the neighbour,inalow angle shotconnotesthe
powerhe has and enforcesthe feelingthatwe shouldbe frightenedof thischaracter.The audience
isfamiliarisedwiththe house of the neighbourthroughthe mastershotsandmediumclose ups.The
trackingshotsare usedto the audience aninsightintothe house andenforce the feelingof fearand

2. anxietyaboutwhatreallygoesoninthe house.The lightingbecomesdarkerandthe conventionsof
the horror genre are evidentasthe plotprogressesinthe trailer.Thiscontrastswiththe earlierfeel
of the filmthatrelatesmore tothe genre of comedy.
Editing
Beinga hybridfilmandcontainingelementsof the horrorgenre,we wouldexpectthatthe majority
of the editingwouldhave beendone withinthe postproductionprocess.The use of the colourblack
for the fade outsbetweenthe shotsadhereswiththe horrorgenre,usedsimilarlyinThe WomanIn
Black trailer.Asthe plotevolves,the transitionsbetweeneachshotsisof a much fasterpace which
has beendone inattempttocreate tensionandanxietyasthe audience watchesthe trailer.The
shotof the hand againstthe windowhasbeeneditedtolookdistortedandasif it we are seeingthe
handfrom a nightvisionlens,relatingtothe genre of horror.Editingisa essential partof makingthe
trailerlooklike ahorror hybrid, suchas makingthe villain’seyes’redandthe fire explosionscenes.
The final shotof the villaincrashingintothe backof car withthe victimsisanexample of ashot in
the trailerthat waseditedeffectivelytomake the audience jumpastheywatchthe trailerandin
creatinga dramatic finish.
Sound
We heara diegeticsoundof a mobile phone ringing atthe start of the trailer,where there is
dialogue betweenasonand mother.Dialogue istypical of bothhorrorand comedygenre,however
thistype fitsmore intothe comedygenre as the conversationbetweenthe twocharactersmay
make the audience laugh.The soundtransitionsfromthe dialogue tothe diegeticsoundof abell
ringing,asa soundbridge as we hear the bell before we see the settingof the classroom.Anupbeat
soundtrackhas alsobeenaddedinthe postproductionprocessduringthe firstfew scenesthat
conveythe genre of comedy.The volume of thissoundtrackvariesasittendsto decrease involume
whenwe getdialogue betweenthe conversationsof twocharacters.Atcertainpointsof the trailer
the musicstopswhichcreatesa dramaticpause and signifiesthe importance of thatcertainshot.In
addition,the stoppingof the musicisalsocommonof the comedygenre as itgivestime forthe
audience toreact tothe scene,perhapsmakingthemlaugh.Voiceoverisalsousedinthe traileras
we hear more aboutthe newmysteriousneighbourandwhathe couldbe up to,givingthe audience
an insight.Once the disruptionof the plotisevident(disequilibrium) the soundtrackchangestoa
more downbeatandserioustone,asthe protagonistfindsoutthathe’sneighbourcouldbe a
vampire.Screamingandblastsoundsare usedasthe shotstransitionata fast pace,addingtension
for the audience whoare watchingthe trailer.Towardsthe endof the trailer,asthe protagonist
looksto findasolution(solve the disruptionandgainvictory–Propp) the musictransformintoa
more calm butfightingtone ashe triestogain power.The trailerfinishesoff withdiegeticsoundof
dialogue andscreamingsoundeffect.
Mise en scene
A varietyof locationsare usedinthe trailerdue to the combinedgenresof comedyandhorror.The
settingof the cityand school relate more tothe genre of comedyas we’dexpectcomedyfilmstobe
setin these typesof locations.Whereasthe settingof the house wherethe victimsare keptlocked
away alongwiththe darknessof the nightscenesfitmore withinthe genre of horror.The use of the

3. propsalso relate tothe horror genre,suchas the weaponspurchasedbythe herofor protection.
Costume isalsokeyas the villainismade tolookpale andmysteriouswhichare stereotypically
featuresof a vampire aswell asthe fangsand red contact lenses.The overall mise enscene portrays
the
two
genres,inparticularhorrorfrom the dark andeerie atmosphere created.