Analysis of horror films

Analysis of Texas chainsaw massacre trailer

Beginning:
o Longer clips of footage
o Calmer music
o Less action
o Graphics
o A small clip of the problems to come.
o Starts off normal-equilibriums
Middle:
o Quick cuts-shots get shorter
o Non-diegetic sound- heart beats suggesting anxiousness and something bad is about to happen.
o Sounds get louder gradually
o Clips are made as pieces of photography symbolised by sounds of a camera
End:
o More graphics
o Edited scenes e.g. fades
o Quick cuts
o Very short, snappy scenes
o Louder more intense non-diegetic music
o More action sequences
o Title of film at the end followed by a short scary clip of the film.

Analysis of Sorority Row trailer

Beginning:
o More diegetic sound e.g. laughter, screaming and dialogue
o Equilibrium- in sequence
o Quick cuts
o Graphics explaining events
o Calmer action sequence
Middle:
o Intense action sequence e.g. more screaming
o More lighting to show intense action
o More use of non-diegetic sound
o Clips are longer to explain more of the action sequence
o Language used in graphics are negative

End:
o Very quick cuts-rushes the action sequence
o Dramatic non-diegetic sound
o Diegetic sounds is amplified
o Title of film at the end followed by a short scary clip of the film.

Analysing Horror Film Posters

• A large title which attracts the eye, bold colours which stand out from the background, intriguing picture which would attract viewers to the film.


• Persuasive language which might persuade the viewers to go and see the film.


• Using the main character's name for promotion, and the certification will either to ensure that the right type of people are watching the film.


• Using either the rule of thirds or the triangle of interest as a format for work.

Rule of thirds
The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Cropping photo’s are a way to use this rule as the main subjects are located around one of the intersection points rather than in the centre of the image:

Conventions of Horror Film Posters

Special/Spooky fonts for title sequences
Rule of thirds, in the sense of the colour scheme
Colours used in images and fonts complement each other
Bold title/name of film
Scary main image, usually covering the whole poster, and text placed on top of initial image
Credits placed at the bottom on the poster
Includes a tagline
Negative film titles which suggest horror/thriller.

Film Trailer’s

Film Trailer’s
Trailers or previews are film advertisements for feature films that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema, on whose screen they are shown. ( Wikipedia)

Parts of a Film Trailer:
• Plot summary
• Voice over
• Music
• Cast, crew, and studio information
• Technical elements

Researching Film Trailers
Clips from you tube:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kww5KSqzV9U
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_UxLEqd074
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdY3_vLc2k
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHslouUNi00&feature=channel
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNjpWjdRX54
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rcoc46onlE

Analysing horror film trailers conventions:
• An attractive young woman screaming
• Exterior view of an old mansion during a thunder storm
• Lots of screaming
• Maniacal laughter
• Blood dripping
• Knifes & axes
• Darkness
• Hard audio sounds & echos
• 2 – 2.5 Minutes long
• Typical colours used are red and black signifying danger and death
• Lots of close ups used to show more detail making the action more intense
• Diegtic sounds, such as screaming
• Non – diegtic sounds such as heartbeat sound that is enhanced
• The narrative structure of the horror film is always based around death, torture and murder