Horror Trailers – Codes and Conventions

Jake Worgan

Trailer-Usually opens with relaxed scene and tension rises throughout-Alternatively, opens with suspenseful moment, then goes to slow and builds up.-The title of the film and the credits are almost always shown at the end of the trailer. -The music slowly builds and is suspenseful towards a key moment.-Lots of diegetic noises used.-There is rarely a genuine jump scare in a trailer-Usually climatic moment is interrupted by title-Dramatic angles often used.-Dialogue is often questions. “What do you want?” etc.-An overall dark theme to the trailer.

Film covers

All dark, spooky text. Blood. Sharp blade.

Lighting• Dark light is prominent throughout every film trailer I watched.• Darkness is commonly associated with horror. The idea of the dark

and not knowing what is in the dark is commonly used in horror and therefore it is rare to see a brightly lit set for horror.• Light is presumed to symbolise happiness, for example a hot summer

day is bright where as a wet cold night is dark.