The trailer uses many conventional horror film techniques to set expectations and build suspense. It begins with the iconic Scream mask to indicate an established villain is returning. Shots of a high school and isolated house establish typical slasher film locations. A quote written on a wall and shots of attractive teenage girls being questioned by police reinforce predictable victim tropes. The trailer closes with the Scream 4 title and release date to tie it clearly to the existing franchise.
Analysis of similar texts in the thriller genrebobonthedrums
This is used for my As Media research so I can have a greater understanding of common conventions within thriller movies and how I can apply them to my own production
Here is a trailer analysis on the film Prisoners. This is part of my A2 Media Studies coursework and the main project is to film a trailer in small groups. We have chosen to do a kidnapping thriller
2. It is conventional in nearly all film trailers for this to
be the first shot you see.
3. This simple shot informs us that whatever is going
to happen in this film has happened before.
4. The iconic Scream mask which the audience would have already seen in all
Scream Movies. This plays a huge part in the film. We automatically assume
that this person is the villain. A Medium Close Up is used so we can see the
person properly – the lighting surrounding them is quite dark so that we are
able to concentrate on the mask and nothing else. hat
5. Our first location shot is of a High School – the audience automatically
assume that this is where the killers’ victims will be. Teenagers are always
the main target in Slasher/Horror films. The lighting used is very natural to
make everything seem normal and peaceful, but the audience know that
this will change very soon.
6. This shot tells us that the Police are informed and involved with
whatever is happening. Will they be able to capture this killer?
7. Another shot that emphasises the fact that someone or something
has come back from the past and is going to repeat the same events.
8. Our second location shot of the trailer. We are shown a large isolated house
in the middle of no where. This is a prime example of a conventional scene
where murders could happen within Slasher films. The fact that the house is
covered in shadows from the trees, and that very little lights are on in the
house makes it even scarier.
9. People that watch horror films will instinctively know that this quote has
been used in all Scream films and a lot of other Horror films, therefore this
is a very conventional shot. The fact that it is written on the wall is also a
very common thing shown in Horror films. It is a Close Up shot is it
concentrates on the writing only.
10. This shot reiterates my earlier point of teenagers being the
predictable victims. Here we can see three very pretty girls who look
as if they are being questioned by the police. We assume that the
three girls will be killed quite shortly into the film.
11. The final shots in the trailer are the title page and the release date. The fact
that they have repeated the number ‘4’ within the title and the date makes
it very consistent.