Analysing 3 Horror Film Trailers

By Shannen Leader

Horror Trailer 1 – ‘The Blair Witch Project’

This is the opening extract with this piece of text giving to the audience the dilemma we will be prepared to

face. Its not eye catching but it gives to us importance.

Following Todorovs theory where everything is normal it is just showing the main characters interviewing

random people and everything is fine, and in place.

It then tells us that the whole film will be taken from a hand – cam so we in fact will be able to tell it will be intense and as if we are there with

them throughout the movie.

At this moment she is still happy and excited as they have just started The Blair Witch Project –

Todorovs Theory.

Now that it is night the mood changes instantly and puts us all on edge she is screaming so we sense her

panic. This shows the Freytag Pyramid.

It then shows the day time and hanging from a tree it looks like a person it shows us that something

strange is going on and the camera shakes more it shows us they are worried.

They are now running and screaming I feel that we are in the action due to the camera techniques.

We can see she is crying and that blood is dripping from her nose she looks terrified.

It then ends with a black screen with mist and all you can hear is screaming which leaves you wondering what actually happens. Throughout was a very dark trailer.

Horror Trailer 2 – ‘The Mist’ - Horror Thriller

It starts with a normal happy family who have just witnessed a storm.

The damage is shown and the trailer is not as dark as the previous.

They have used captions to release snippets of information to us and in the background we can

see mist which goes with the title.

There is a high angle of the people looking out of the shop wondering where this mist has

come from. This shot makes it look like someone is watching over them and that they are not in as much power due to looking down on them

This makes it look like this woman is suspicious as the mist is covering her face she looks as she has an idea

that something is going on.

This is the same shot looking over them but they have some mini earthquake which gives us the

idea of what is really going on? It is still has a dull colour to the trailer.

We notice that the things causing all of this and killing people is in fact creatures ranging from sizes.

We can see that these are huge monsters and it makes us want to watch the film to see what

mischief they humans have to put up with and if they will survive!

Then it ends with a numerous amount of blood scenes and gore this trailer put you on edge but

excites you at the same time leaving you with wanting more.

Rom-com trailer – ‘Burlesque’ – Drama, Musical, Romance

First opening shot is giving us an insight of the main character and what she looks like.

The text given is full of life, sparkle. Compared to previous trailers it has a bit of colour and is not

dramatic. Like the others it is a serious issue this is a happy topic.

These are the dancers that Christina Aguilera idols and would love to be on that stage. With this genre film it is very colourful and the music

is joyful which makes us want to dance.

There is always the love interest you can tell that these two characters will have a

connection throughout the film.Christina is wearing a green dress which again shows

more colour compared to the dull clothing in the previous trailer.

With these type of films there is always the jealous, nasty type of girl but we can still see

she is very glamorous.

Again the colours are vibrant and in your face after watching this trailer it makes you smile and

want to watch more

There is the on going romance that goes on between these to which you hope stay together in the end,

because with normal films there is always an argument and hoping if they get back together.

Throughout the film is the title of the movie so that it is repetition and it stays in our minds.