Trailer Breakdown: How Horror Trailers Create Suspense
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3. Trailer broken down!
We’re told the name of the movie at the end of the
trailer.
With the name being at the end of the trailer we feel the want
to continue watching the whole video just to find out the name
of the film.
Being at the end it’s the most memorable thing.
Keeps it a secret and doesn’t really give away much.
4. Why will we be told who is starring in the film?
How will this information be given to us?
We’re not told who is starring in the film.
I believe this is because the actors and actresses used aren’t
well known. However, we do get told that it’s made by the
producers of Paranormal Activity, a film a lot of us can
familiarise with.
5. What type of events or action from the film will
we see?
The trailer is fast paced and full of sudden changes
in atmosphere.
This tells us that the movie is going to keep us alert and
interested. By sudden changes in atmosphere it creates an
effect that will make most of the audience jump. We believe
if the trailer can make us jump, the movie most certainly
will. This is a strong persuasive technique used in good
trailers to encourage the viewers to go and see the movie.
6. What clues will the music give us as to what type
of film the trailer is advertising?
The music in this trailer is eerie and artificial.
This tells us that the movie contains events that aren’t
deemed as ‘natural’. The music combined with the visuals
make it easy to tell it’s advertising a horror movie.
The music accompanies the trailer’s clips perfectly. When
there’s suspense building the music is quieter and eerie.
When the events happen the music is cut to a loud outburst
of sound. This shocks us in time with the horrific imagery in
front of us.
7. How will the general speed and editing pace of what we
see compare to watching a clip from a film? Why is this?
Will the editing pace alter through the trailer, or stay the
same?
The film trailer pace is a lot quicker.
In a horror trailer the producers tend to use the most exciting
fast pace clips from the film. This is to entice the viewer. This
would differ from the film because the series of events in the
film wouldn’t be happening as sudden or quick. It’s not
necessarily a bad thing.
The editing pace of a trailer is sharper and more precise. This
is because the trailer is the most important part in selling the
movie to it’s potential watchers.
8. What information will we be given in the very last
frame of the trailer?
The last frame of the trailer is the most memorable
frame.
In the last few frames of the trailer we see ‘coming soon’ and a
couple of websites related to the movie. This encourages people to
visit their other forms of media relating to the film. It’s advertising
two of their products in one. Being the last frame, it tends to be
what we remember most.
9. Why do you think we don’t usually see the classification
for a film as part of the trailer? In what instances would
you see the classification of a film at the beginning of the
cinema trailer?
Sometimes it’s not shown because it hasn’t been decided upon.
However, other times it’s not shown so it leaves the audience
wondering. Another case is because if a horror is listed as a 12A, a
lot of viewers will pass judgement on it and overlook it as being
bad.
In some instances such as PGs and Us, the certification is shown at
the beginning to reassure parents that the following content is
suitable and designed for their children.
10. What is the logo that is shown? And why?
Summit entertainment is shown at the beginning of the
trailer. This company is known to have been involved
with some of the most popular movies.