Graphics
The graphics are normally always seen at the beginning of both a teaser trailer and a theatrical trailer. They introduce what companies have created the movie by showing their signature introduction clips. Normally companies such as Lions Gate, MGM, Twisted Pictures and Legendary Pictures create horror movies which is why company names such as those mentioned are featured at the beginning of the trailer instead of companies like Disney or Pixar who are associated with kids movies. Some examples of these graphics are below:
Title Sequence
The title of the film in a horror teaser trailer is normally shown right at the end of the trailer so that the viewer watches the whole trailer and becomes interested in the film. Below is an example of transformers title sequence:
Release Date
This too is always shown at the end of a teaser trailer so the viewer watches the whole trailer before finding out the information they want to know. Normally in teaser trailers they normally say "Coming Soon" or "In Theaters Summer 2011" etc.
Voice Over/ Text
Teaser trailers either have a voice over which narrates over the trailer or they can have clips of writing which practically does the same thing but can have a different effect to the trailer. A voice over can help create suspense and drama where as text wont go over the top of eerie music and take away its dramatic effect.
Setting
The setting creates the mood of the horror. In a trailer the setting can either be in the day or night but preferably in the night for a horror trailer. There often in dark, creepy places. In order to help emphasis the fear the audience feels towards the trailer.
Some examples of where horrors can be set include: old mines, derelict houses, fields, a house in a normal neighbourhood, forest, sorority houses, university grounds, schools, old farm houses, butchers, lakes and the country side.
Narrative Devices
Horror is based upon conflict and dilemmas that the main characters endure. Traditionally in a horror the hero/heroine will defeat the evil one at the end. From the possible characters two are always involved in the trailer, the hero/heroine and the evil one.
Iconography
Iconography can be symbolic symbols/props which recur through the horror and their connotations help the viewer tell who is good and who is evil. These symbols/props include: the haunted house, symbols of death, the disfigured face/mask the screaming victim, the murder weapon (knife, meat cleaver, chainsaw, etc.), woods, cellars, blood and body parts.
Themes
Social themes in the horror genre are consistently similar. There is almost always this cause of conflict between the two character types. Fundamental themes can consist of repression, revenge, desires, tension, fear and anxieties. Some general themes in the horror genre consist of : slasher (Halloween 1978), vampire (Daybreakers 2009), zombie (Dawn of the Dead 1978), demonic possession (The Exorcist 1973), alien mind control (Aliens 1986), evil children (The Children 2008), cannibism (Silence of the Lambs 1991), werewolves (An American Werewolf in London 1981), animals attacking humans (Jaws 1975), psychological horror (The Shining 1980) etc.
Characters:
There are always two main characters we expect to see in a horror and they consist of:
The evil one-This character can be a a monster, a murderer, zombies, animals, a convict or even fate/death.
The main character- Can sometimes be a set of characters who are hunted down or haunted. In some horrors the main character or one of the main characters makes it to the end of the film and defeats the evil one.
Sometimes other characters are present in horrors and they can consist of:
The dumb character- This character is always the first one to die in order to entertain the audience.
The clever character- This character figures out the clues and how to escape the evil character.
The rescuer- Normally the one who helps out the main character(s) but can sometimes die after helping.
Costumes and Makeup
Costume and Makeup are used in almost every horror trailer depending on the content of the horror. They help construct the representation or the character as well as giving clues to the viewer through the use of colour and what it symbolizes.
Music
Music is vital to any horror trailer as well as film. Without the music the impact on the viewer is not the same. Most audiences will recognize the audio sequence in a horror which consists of a long eerie musical build-up of strings or horns as the victim, for example, approaches a closed door. The music helps create suspense, fear and tension to the audience and whenever the audience hears the build-up, they know that something is about to happen. There are different musical cues that most viewers can recognize during a film or trailer, such as, a long deep tone which would indicate tension or a rapid and bright sequence played by a set of strings which may indicate stress or panic. One of the most famous musical build-ups would be the Jaws theme tune which was played throughout the film whenever the shark was near and about to attack. (The video below is of the Jaws theme tune)
Sound
Sound is just as important as the music in a horror. When both the sound and music have combined they help make the audience jump and become they become scared (which is what all horror lovers want a horror to do). After the musical build-up (like the example in music above) a violent orchestral hit is played as the victim opens the door to encounter whatever is hidden behind it, for example.
References
from the interenet:http://www.slideshare.net/sophieyates/generic-conventions-of-a-teaser-trailer
http://www.slideshare.net/AdvancedPortfolio/horror-2977641
http://www.slideshare.net/shsgmedia/summing-up-horror
http://www.slideshare.net/Mediawork100/codes-and-conventions-of-a-horror-1372916
from a book:
AS&A2 Study Guide, Media Studies.
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