The document discusses common codes and conventions used in horror movie trailers. Trailers typically open with a relaxed scene that builds tension and rises in suspense throughout. They often show the title of the film and credits at the end, with suspenseful music building towards a climactic moment that is interrupted by the title. Dramatic angles and dialogue in the form of questions are commonly featured. Overall, horror trailers maintain a dark theme through the use of dark lighting and shadows to create an unsettling mood.

1. Horror Trailers – Codes and
Conventions
Jake Worgan

2. Trailer
-Usually opens with relaxed scene and tension rises throughout
-Alternatively, opens with suspenseful moment, then goes to slow and builds up.
-The title of the film and the credits are almost always shown at the end of the
trailer.
-The music slowly builds and is suspenseful towards a key moment.
-Lots of diegetic noises used.
-There is rarely a genuine jump scare in a trailer
-Usually climatic moment is interrupted by title
-Dramatic angles often used.
-Dialogue is often questions. “What do you want?” etc.
-An overall dark theme to the trailer.

3. Film covers
All dark, spooky text. Blood. Sharp blade.

4. Lighting
• Dark light is prominent throughout every film trailer I watched.
• Darkness is commonly associated with horror. The idea of the dark
and not knowing what is in the dark is commonly used in horror and
therefore it is rare to see a brightly lit set for horror.
• Light is presumed to symbolise happiness, for example a hot summer
day is bright where as a wet cold night is dark.