The document analyzes four horror film trailers that follow slasher film conventions. It discusses elements from the trailers for Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and A Cabin in the Woods. Key conventions discussed include establishing shots of isolated locations, voiceovers that set the scene, montages that showcase action and build suspense, and institutional information about production companies. These elements help attract audiences and set expectations for the films while hiding larger plot details.

1. Film Trailer Overview
These four film trailers have successfully promoted films in the horror genre, specifically in the slasher
sub genre. Each of them follow conventions within the slasher sub genre therefore by looking at them a
bit closer I will be able to adapt my findings to my own trailer.
The first trailer I looked at was Friday the 13th, merely because this is the inspiration behind my own
trailer. The trailer itself begins with three different informational shots before going into the actual trailer.
These three shots consist of; letting the audience know the movie has been approved by the motion
picture association of America. The “New Line Cinema” logo, letting the audience know that this
particular movie was producing the film. New Line Cinema are a unit within Warner Bros it is therefore
interesting to the audience as this is a well established film production company and are renowned for
making classic films, giving them high hopes for the trailer that follows. Lastly “paramount”, allowing
the audience to understand who produced and distributed the film, similarly to New Line Cinema,
Paramount are also very successful, drawing the audience in further. I will therefore use this in my own

2. trailer so that the audience can be aware that it has come from a well-known, successful and professional
institution.
The trailer then begins and the audience are presented with an establishing shot of the lake with a
voiceover parallel to this. An establishing shot is often used to set the scene, this would then make it
apparent to the audience that this could potentially be where the film is going to take place. This would
make sense as it is conventional for a slasher to take place in an isolated location, far away so the
protagonists are unable to receive any help or have any sort of get away. The voice over further anchors
the establishing shot, giving the lake a meaning. In this case, we discover that the lady speaking lost her
son at this lake who died of drowning, and today is his birthday. This is suspicious to the audience, who
could come to the conclusion that this son of hers is not dead, instead he lives to haunt the lake and
slaughter anyone he comes across.
The general narrative of the film is that a group of teenagers are visiting one of their relatives lake house,
by themselves without adult supervision. They are all drinking, partying, having fun. Being reckless
teenagers. However, the antagonist doesn’t see it from that perspective, instead believes the teenagers to
be transgressors and should therefore be punished for their rule breaking and rebelliousness. A fast
montage is presented in order to show the audience just how much fun the young teens are having. This is
then interrupted when one of the girls falls off whilst wakesurfing. When she looks up, from a point of
view shot we see what she sees; a long shot of jason standing by the lake, knife in hand. This ishi the first
time the audience are introduced to Jason and will not feel fear for the victims.
Straps are used in order to inform the audience the the film is produced by Michael Bay, as well-known,
successful produced renowned for his amazing work within horror films. Giving the audience the idea
that this is going to be his latest masterpiece. Furthermore, another strap is used saying that the director of
the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre” also took part in the making of the film, further indicating the horror
knowledge behind the making of this film, insinuating just how scary it is going to be, drawing audiences
in further.
Another montage is used, however, this time it is faster. Indicating that the action has picked up and Jason
is out to get the protagonists and they do not have much time left. A variety of different shot types are
used such as low angle shots, portraying the victims weakness in comparison to Jason’s dominance. Each
clip in the montage is followed by a number, in chronological order from one to thirteen. This works as a
countdown of deaths Jason has committed and evidently, it ends of thirteen, mimicking the title of the
film.
The film ends with further institutional information, allowing the audience who else worked on the film
before finishing with a release date. By putting this last, it will therefore be the last thing the audience see
therefore the last thing they remember. I am going to apply this to my trailer as I believe it is the most
effective way of presenting it. Moreover, I believe that Friday the 13th stuck to many slasher conventions
such as; a male antagonist in a typical costume (baggy), whose identity is covered by a mask. A group of
teenage transgressors who the antagonist seeks to go after and kill, a ‘dumb blonde’ who dies first, lastly,
brunette final girl that manages to escape the antagonist.

3. The second trailer I looked at was A Nightmare on Elm Street. Similarly to Friday the 13th, it also opens
with a green screen with a white font suggesting that the trailer as be approved by the motion picture
association of America. The progressing into the New Line Cinema logo before going into the actual
trailer. The trailer itself begins with an establishing shot. The location of the establishing shot seems to be
an abandoned warehouse, which is followed by more deserted buildings suggesting it may be an
abandoned industrial estate. Isolated locations are conventional within horror films and therefore suggests
the genre of the movie straight away. It is not quite nighttime, but the sky is dark and gloomy, as if the
industrial estate portraying the idea that bad things are going to potentially happen here. The audience are
then presented with a man running away from a few cars, this is presented by a low angle shot, suggesting
that the man himself is not as weak as the audience may think. This is confirmed when one of the men in
the car call out the name “krueger”, allowing the audience to understand that he himself is the famous
villain of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and will therefore not sympathise with him at all. A
further reinforcement that he is Freddy Krueger is once his has locked himself in an abandoned building,
he removes his jacket and the audience are exposed to a key factor of his identity, his red/blue striped
jumper. Although this is not a general convention of horror, it is a convention of the franchise and is
something that the audience would expect to see.
The audience are presented with the first strap of the trailer, informing them that the film is produced by
‘Michael Bay’. Straps are very common in trailers, and give the audience small snippets of information
that is deemed important. As Michael Bay has such a professional profile regarding horror films, the
audience will find this inticing and will be further encourage to watch the film in order to see his new
piece of horror work. A montage follows this, which is another convention. It allows the audience to have
an insight of some of the action that is going to take place within the film. The first part of the montage is
three young girls skipping. Often in horror films, innocent things are portrayed in a light which makes
them seem scary, for example dolls and swing sets. Young children are commonly seen as evil in horror
films, from this clip of the young girls acting so innocently, it is evident to the audience that this will not
be the case for much longer. Throughout this montage, a voice over is used. “I’m having these dreams.
And there's this man. And he’s hurt.” This voice over leads onto a long shot of Freddy, insinuating to the
audience that this is the man in her dreams that she is speaking about. It also reveals the power of Freddy
and how he can get into his victim's head and manipulate their thoughts. From this another non-diegetic
voiceover is used, this time it is a nursery rhyme. This is conventionally within slashers as innocent
objects are often presented in an evil light, making them even more sick and twisted. The nursery rhyme
itself goes “One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, better lock your door. Five, six, grab your
crucifix. Seven, eight, better stay up late. Nine, ten, never sleep again” however, it is not continual. After
each phrase of the nursery rhyme, it is cut out for the victims within the film to speak, or scream.
Additionally to this, a montage is played throughout. This allows the audience to have a further insight to
the film without too much being revealed. This will reel them in making them want to go and watch the
film.
Further straplines are used to remind the audience of the film name which is then followed by the tagline
“don’t fall asleep”, creating a symbiosis between the promotional package as well as anchoring the trailer
itself – as the deaths take place in the protagonist's dreams. This is then followed by a strap of the
audience to get them excited and keep the date in their mind to then act upon it and go to watch the film
after it’s been released.The film ends with further institutional information. By putting this last it will

4. therefore be the last thing the audience see. I am going to embed this into my own trailer as I believe it is
important for the audience to be aware of those in the film and who has worked on it, further attracting
them. Moreover, I believe that ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ has stuck to many slasher conventions such
as; a male antagonist who goes and kills a group of teenage protagonists which is shown through horror
iconography, eg weapons such as knives.
The third trailer I looked at was ‘A Cabin in the Woods’, again it features a green informational shot
stating the film has been approved by the motion picture association of America. Unlike the other film
trailers I have looked at, ‘A Cabin in the Woods’ does not begin with an establishing shot. Instead it starts
with the teenagers loading the truck, ready to head away. The audience are then introduced to the first
sight of an isolated and abandoned location, a petrol garage. Whereby the man running in is giving the
teenagers directions but informs them that he can “get you there, but getting you back that’s your
concern”. Leaving the audience confused and concerned for the future of the teenagers and if they will in
fact make it home from their trip.
From here the general narrative consists of the protagonists arriving at the cabin. After this strap lines are
frequently used. The strap lines begin with “you think you know the story…” “you think you know the
place...” “think again”. The use of these strap lines present the idea all is not as it seems and the
protagonists are in danger. The montage is not as fast as in ‘Friday the 13th
’ and ‘A Nightmare on Elm
Street’. Additionally, more snippets are used from the film are shown, as is more conversation to give the
audience a further insight to the narrative. Furthermore, more iconography is presented reinforcing the
idea that it is within the sub-genre of the slasher genre, such as the heavy use of blood.
Sci-fi elements are implemented, challenging the conventions of slashers, putting 'A Cabin in the Woods'
into hybrid category than merely just a slasher. I believe it fits in this category more because there seems
to be some sort of higher force trapping the teenagers, isolating them and leaving them with no escape
plan. This is further influenced by the referral back to a computer room, whereby a range of different
cameras are tracking the protagonists every move. Due to the sci-fi elements, the trailer is then made
more memorable and refreshing, drawing in the audience and making them want to go and watch the film.
More strap lines are used “this April” “discover” “the secret” “behind the cabin”. By adding these in l it
will further persuade the audience to want to watch the film to make the discovery. Interestly, all these
strap lines are positioned in different cuts, leaving the audience on edge want to see what the next one is
going to say. The context of the strap lines themselves will leave the audience hanging, only leaving them
with one choice, to go and watch the film. This is not something that is consistent across all slasher
trailers. When conducting my own trailer, I might play around with this idea to see if I can make my own
trailer more enticing.
It is only in the final few seconds of the trailer whereby we are presented with masks, something the
slasher sub-genre is renowned for, as well as it being a main convention. The masks themselves are
simplistic but yet still effective. Reminding me back to Mike Myers, who also has a simplistic mask.
From this recognition, it has led me to decided that less is more regarding masks, so when selecting my
own I am going to take this into consideration, as it has already been tried and tested and proven
positively.

5. The trailer ends with a non-diegetic sound of a scream followed by more institutional information, as we
have seen in the previous two trailer endings. This particular trailers was unlike the previous two, as it
seemed to challenge more conventions. It is evident that by doing this, it further enhances originality and
makes the film less predictable.
The last trailer I analysed was Halloween (1978). Because this trailer is significantly older than the three
prior, right from the beginning significant differences are made aware of. The first being the approval by
the motion picture association of America – in this trailer it is presented on a red background, where in
the previous three it has been presented on a green background. Straight away his is followed by a pan
movement towards a house. However, the camera movement is shaky which usually suggests
unprofessional ism, however, in this case I believe it is because the film is fairly old they had a lack of
resources unlike modern horrors. A voice over is used to set the scene and give the audience the meaning
behind the house they are presented with. The voice over says “On Halloween night, in a small America
town, 15 years ago” before cutting to inside the house, from Michael’s point of view, from the perspective
of behind a mask, we can see him as a small child stabbing someone with a knife. This then cut to the
reveal he had been locked away because “what was living behind that boys eyes was purely evil”. None
the less, the man that is being spoken to is certain he will make a return. This leaves the audience fearful
of this potential return and leaves them wondering, if he was to return what he would do.
Three girls are then shown, it is evident that these are going to be three of the protagonists within the film;
the camera is following them, suggesting that it is from Michael’s perspective. A very slow montage is
shown, of someone breaking a hand through the door, Michael emerging from a cupboard and grabbing a
victim, creeping up on another and pushing them down the stairs. However, this drop does not affect the
victims fall surprisingly. Something the audience of this time period was not used to, especially in female
characters. This was when the “final girl” was born.
Throughout the trailer a basic “dun dun” non-diegetic sound was being made. This was used to create
suspense for the audience. From watching this, it has reminded me just how important sound is in a film,
and how it can make an audience feel. Therefore, I intend to use appropriate scare music in order to bring
out the fear in my audience.
Strap lines were present to an extent, however, they weren’t strap lines, they were reinforcement to the
name of the film “Halloween”. This strap line is present again at the end, with the voice over “Halloween,
the night he came home”. Overall, by analysing a slasher from the past, I was able to see how far
conventions and technology have developed in the production of trailers. By doing this, can also see how
time has made trailers more effective so they have more of an impact on audiences, to ensure they go to
watch the films.
Comparing all four trailers together, I have come to the decision that I am going to follow the main
conventions of an antagonist with a mask, going after a group of teenagers, in an isolated location as
oppose to a residential location like ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘Halloween’. This is merely
because the ‘Friday the 13th
’ trailer had more of an impact on me. Something I learned from ‘A Cabin in
the Woods’ was that by challenging conventions, the overall impact of the trailer is that it will become

6. more memorable and differ from the convention slasher audiences are used to. Therefore making it more
attractive and refreshing, which is something I am going to brainstorm and try to implement into my work
to make it more original.