The document discusses common techniques used in horror film trailers to build suspense and tension. It notes that trailers typically establish normal settings and characters before hints of violence or threats disrupt their lives. Trailers imply violence through sounds and facial expressions rather than showing graphic depictions. They also leave antagonists ambiguous and protagonists vulnerable through settings like darkness, isolation, or revealing clothing. These elements help audiences relate to and feel fear for protagonists.

1. Mise-en-scene of horror film
trailers

2. Context
During the trailers there is commonly a news
report, newspaper articles or voice over that
establishes background information relevant
to the plot, and helps to contextualise the
action in the trailer. It often gives the trailer a
background story and quick information that
gives more of an understanding to the plot.
The sound clip plays a broadcast at the start
of the trailer which is portrayed as a change
of the norm it notifies the watcher that
danger is approaching and that something
different is happening.
The news papers in the ‘Mirrors’ trailer give
evidence to the watcher that something
horrific is going on, the cold hearted
simplicity of how the news paper describes
the brutality of the horror has a large impact
on the watcher.
The purge Anarchy trailer
Mirrors Trailer

3. Normality/introduction of characters
The Characters are conventionally
introduced at the start of the trailer
when the setting and mood of the
characters is ordinary. Throughout the
first few scenes the viewer is made to
believe that the lives of the characters
are mundane and therefore relatable to
their own. The normality is used
effectively when contrasted with a
change of events which normally leads to
the main horror and antagonist in the
plot.

4. Normal setting
The trailers start with an establishing shot of a
normal setting, one that any one in the
audience could have been to or live in. This
helps develop the normality of the characters
and make the audience believe that it could
happen to them.
The Purge starts with an establishing shot of a
busy city and shows a motorway surrounded
by cars which is surprising for the viewer
because we are used to the vulnerability and
locations that are closed off from civilisation
but this contrast early on is effective because
it makes the characters and setting relatable.
The Mirrors trailer shows a well lit, perfect
family home. Again, this is to bring normality
into the film and establish that the characters
are entirely ordinary. The large number of cars
adds to how unlikely it would be for a horrific
event to occur.

5. Vulnerability
Vulnerability is used in every horror film. It is
usually portrayed by location. Horror films are
usually shot in abandoned places, old historical
buildings or other places far away from
civilisation. Also people, usually female, are seen
naked or in little protective clothing. It is used
because it makes the audience anticipate fear and
build suspense. Whilst suspense is building the
watchers will be paranoid and will feel like the
protagonist because they will share the same
feelings. Once this likeness is establish anything
that happens to the protagonist is felt even more
by the viewer because they can relate to them.

6. Implied violence
Trailers never show the actual impact of violence, they
only show before and after. It does this in order to be
advertised at all times and also to add anticipation and
keep some mystery which leaves the audience wanting
more and hoping to see the rest when going to see the
film. If the trailer showed
the violence then there
would be nothing left to
see when going to see the
film. Viewers that enjoy
the violence will be
rewarded when paying to
see the film. By hinting at
violence the film can use
sound and facial
expressions to portray
fear which is often more
effective than showing the
violence.

7. Night/Dark setting
The trailers start with day time lighting to
show that the characters are in control
and it is a normal day. As it turns to night
problems start to occur and there is a
change form a normal day to day basis.
All horror films and trailers have a large
percentage of their scenes in a night or
dark setting often with a very small light
source to make the scene visible on
camera. The low lighting makes the
protagonist more vulnerable, it connotes
evil and it limits the viewers sight to put
them in the same position as the
protagonist.

8. Enigmatic Antagonist
It is a convention that the
antagonist is never seen. If they
are seen it is for very short periods
of time in small lighting and they
often wear makes to conceal their
identity. This gives a sense of
mystery and leaves the audience
with questions about the
antagonist. For example they
wonder what the motive is, who
they are, where they came from
and what their background was.
The introduction to the trailer
spends a lot of time on the
protagonists so that the audience
have time to care for them but
very little on the antagonist to
raise these questions and this
mystery

9. Action Sequences/Loss of Control
Very commonly horror films involve action
scenes, the scenes are used to build
suspense and give the impression to the
audience that the protagonist has no control
over what's going on to the audience feel
anything can happen as this is the point
where the protagonist is at his/her most
vulnerable.

10. Action Sequences/Loss of Control
Very commonly horror films involve action
scenes, the scenes are used to build
suspense and give the impression to the
audience that the protagonist has no control
over what's going on to the audience feel
anything can happen as this is the point
where the protagonist is at his/her most
vulnerable.