Plot Synopsis - Shane & James

The trailer begins with heavy breathing, the shot the fades in to show someone first person navigating around a dark area looking around, you can also hear the sound of leaves being crushed on the floor. The next scene is him walking around the streets. At this point there is a voice over of a police radio which is alerting that a killer had escaped from a mental asylum which gives a description of his clothing. In this shot of him walking around the camera is pointed down to show that he’s wearing the bottoms and shoes described. This lets the audience know that this person is the killer and not a victim. Simon then frantically rings James to tell him that DW has escaped and is on the loose as he’s told this you can see the reaction of James from the outside of his house and DW looking in. DW then walks away smugly talking to him repeating ‘He’s mine’ ‘I’ll show him’ ‘I’ll show them all’ he then finds a car which he steals, he also finds jumper in which he takes to wear to help disguise himself. There is then a longshot of him in the car setting off with his hood up. It then cuts to a dark garden with Simon walking down a garden and then opening the gate at the back of the garden, he’s then dazzled by a bright light from a car aiming at Simon, its silent, Simon attempts to tell the person in the car to turn the lights off but there is no response. It starts to get tense as Simon begins to angrily walk over, he gets to the car the window is down, the tension goes down as he turns off the lights, he is then suddenly grabbed from behind shoved in the boot and knocked unconscious. The scene cuts to a POV shot from DW into dark woods. We then hear the car door shut and then a POV shot from  Simon who is the boot of the car we see DW is wielding a knife. DW gives a wicked smile at Simon and says “Looks like the tables have turned”. DW drags Simon from the car and we see him struggling and get up and run but DW pulls out a gun and shoots his leg. Simon falls to the ground we then see from a low angle shot that DW is approaching. DW lifts up the gun towards Simon’s face and then the screen cuts black.

Horror Movie Characteristics - Shane Marshall

A horror movie will typically be set in an abandoned or isolated area with nobody around making the victims or targets vulnerable to the antagonist. They’re also mainly set at night time this is because the night time is known to be more frightening than daytime as there’s more serious crimes committed at night than daytime.

Another characteristic in a horror movie is that it normally contains a good looking woman who’s normally blonde and very vulnerable and becomes a victim to the antagonist. In a horror film you can expect dark music which builds up tension and suspense for the viewer, you can also expect lots of close ups to show you the expressions on the face of the characters.

In the end of the horror film the main character usually has a final battle off with the antagonist which the main character will normally win with the antagonist being revealed and caught.

Analysing a Trailer - Shane Marshall

FEATURE	The Conjuring	Annabelle
Genre	Horror	Horror
Narrative	Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville. "The Conjuring" tells the true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga), world renowned paranormal investigators, who were called to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most horrifying case of their lives.	A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists.
Unique Selling Point	The unique selling point in this film is that It's based on a true story. As it's about demons and things such as that which are controversial It arises the question on whether it's real or not. Throughout the trailer it also says which popular films the director had also directed this can raise the appeal as the films mentioned are renowned as good horror films.	Like the conjuring it also claims to be based on a true story. Another unique selling point is the fact it says 'Before The Conjuring was Annabelle. Meaning if you enjoyed The conjuring you'll like this film or even if you've seen it, you must see this one too.
Target audience	The Conjuring is a 15 certificate therefore would be aimed at nobody under the age of 15 meaning it's aimed at teenagers or young adults and older; realistically people between the ages of 15-35 are most likely to watch movies of this genre.	Also like the conjuring Annabelle is rated 15 certificate therefore like the conjuring it's aimed at teenagers older than 15 and no older than 35. However It's also aimed at people that have watched the conjuring.
Music	In the trailer they use stereotypical tense horror music, as well as a jolly song to make light of the situation before a climatic scare.	Like the conjuring again they use jolly music throughout to make light of the situation and make it less tense however whenever it's not it uses typical horror movie music to create an atmosphere.
Shot types/camera angles	There are a lot of close ups of characters faces in the trailer to show a lot of discomfort and to show how scared they are throughout the film. Giving you the impression that it'll leave you as scared.	Throughout this trailer there Is also a lot of close ups however there is a lot of long shots establishing the scene and showing
Pace	The pace of the trailer is slow in the fact it's showing scenes from the film and not clips from the film for example the trailer is just over 2 minutes and Includes one scene which is around 1 minute long on the other hand some of the editing techniques used, make it look snappy. This is done by the slide transitions used to change angles during the scenes.	The pace of the trailer starts off really tense and quick, almost a bit full on. However it then slows down but not after too long the tension begins to build up again into a climactic scene where things happen at once. It then stays at a tense pace till the end where throughout it shows scary clips. During the film they also use popcorn being heated and popping, this is conventional and used in other horror films such as Scream, Its used raise the tension until it reaches a climax and something happens.
Dialogue	There is a lot of dialogue throughout to explain the back story to the 'real life story'. It is mostly the lead character talking and explaining who they are.	There is dialogue throughout to explain the plot. It again Is mostly the main characters who speak in the trailer.
Voiceover	None	None
Special effects	At the beginning of the trailer there are special effects used to make it look like an old film on a film reel.	White flashes when being attacked to show that their life Is flashing before their eyes and they're in real danger
Credits and intertitles	Text to remind you that it's based on a true story, also to make out they're big paranormal activities. Also to tell you what other films the director directed.	Text saying before the conjuring, there was Annabelle. Meaning that if you've seen the conjuring you must see Annabelle. It also says discover the secret, this is basically letting you know there’s a deeper meaning that what you've already seen in the conjuring therefore you need to find out the secret behind Annabelle or you won't fully understand the films

Genre Research - Shane Marshall

During a horror film the makers will try to follow the codes and conventions of the genre to make it successful, These are almost the rules which most horror films have as well. The target audience for horror films is mainly 15+ as there’s lots of gore and violence in horror films

Some of these codes and conventions are that there will be blood, weapons such as knives and good looking woman that has blonde hair. The makers of the film will also include lots of close ups so you're always seeing the emotion on the characters face. You can also expect sounds such as screams and loud face paced music when something is happening. Horror films are mostly set in mysterious places such as woods or an abandoned house which makes the protagonist and other characters isolated and vulnerable where there is also a mysterious killer or villain watching.

There are different types of horror movies these are sub-genres like Slasher, Splatter, horror-comedy, vampire, zombie and thriller.  One of the most famous slasher films is scream. Examples of the other subgenres films being:

Splatter—Saw        Horror-Comedy— Scary Movie

Vampire—Dracula   Zombie— Dawn of the Dead

Thriller—Paranormal Activity