The document discusses conventions used in trailers for horror films. It analyzes trailers for The Forest, Carrie, and Blair Witch. For The Forest, it notes how providing facts about the setting and using a search term builds intrigue. For Carrie, it examines how the trailer uses theories like the male gaze and binary opposition to create tension. Regarding Blair Witch, it discusses the quick shot changes, transitions, and camera work that build an unsettling atmosphere. Finally, it analyzes conventions in the trailer for Ouija, such as highlighting key scenes without revealing plots and using music, angles, and interspersed credits to build tension and leave the audience anticipating more.

1. Trailer Conventions

2. The Forest
- Had characters say facts about the forest – it made it
seem more real.
- Using the search bar to show ‘suicide forest true story’
entices the audience and makes them want to research the
forest. It was a good marketing technique.
- The more you know about the forest the more it will
make you want to watch the film.
- The use of whispering the protagonist’s name ‘Sarah’ – it
was repetitive so it made it creepy. It makes you question
what is happening and who is saying it, and why they are
saying it.
- The use of silence is effective as it creates tension – the
contrast of then having a loud noise when a jump scare is
used.
- The phone call conversation over a piano played in a
minor key – makes it creepier and is a horror convention.

3. Carrie
- Todorov’s Equilibrium Theory: ‘In every
neighbourhood there is one family which is secret’–
Equilibrium
- She is an outcast in her school, and her home life is very
bad.
-Barthe’s Enigma Code: Where has her power come
from and why? Why is she being bullied? Who is the real
villain – society, her mother, or Carrie herself?
-Voyeurism/Mulvey’s Male Gaze: Films a wide shot of
all the girls in the shower/locker room in the trailer.
-When the couple are kissing Carrie is watching – desire.
- Levi-Strauss’ Binary Opposition: The chaos and the
calm – shots switch quickly between the prom scene and
Carrie preparing for prom calmly. Good vs evil, and
innocent Carrie vs Malicious Carrie.
- Barbara Creed’s Monstrous Feminine: Carrie is the
killer, her mother treats her badly, and the bullies are girls.

4. Blair Witch
-Frequency of shot change: Changes quite quickly,
especially toward the end of the trailer. Long takes are
hand held, build tension with lots of shot changes.
-Transitions between shots: Black screen fade that is very
quick to seperate shots which creates tension. Feels like a
camera turning on anf off which makes it seem realistic.
-Order/amount of shots: There are roughly 65 shots in the
trailer. Cuts between before and after. Shots start off less
chaotic to match the equilibrium of the film – then begin
to get chaotic when it is disrupted.
-Camera treatment and shot angles: Hand held shots,
canted angles show the chaos of everything that has
happened. There are also lots of low angles of the woods
to show its power it has over the teenagers.

5. Ouija (2)
- They highlight the best bits of the film – doesn’t show
too much but makes it look good.
- We are not shown the story in narrative order – again it
doesn’t give anything away.
- The title does not appear until the end – leaves the
audience in anticipation.
- They showcase the stars of the film – this keeps the
audience interested.
- Voice-overs are used to tell the story and give credit
information – builds tension.
- Some visual images stay on screen for just enough time
for our mind to realise what we are seeing – confuses you
and makes you question it – enigma code.
- Conversations between characters usually consist of one
line each – doesn’t give any plot.
- Music plays an important role in creating atmosphere –
creates eerie atmosphere.
- Unusual angles are used – shows creepy nature of film.
- Action is interspersed with credits on screen – gives you
time to think.
- Trailer builds climax when it ends – lots of tension.