Below is a list of trailers by which we believe has influenced us the most to create our particular trailer:
Supernatural Trailers:
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Sinister (2012)
Slasher Trailers:
- Halloween (1978)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Supernatural Trailers:
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Sinister (2012)
Slasher Trailers:
- Halloween (1978)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Supernatural Trailers:
The Conjuring 2 Trailer
"In 1977, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren come out of a self-imposed sabbatical to travel to Enfield, a borough in north London. There, they meet Peggy Hodgson, an overwhelmed single mother of four who tells the couple that something evil is in her home. Ed and Lorraine believe her story when the youngest daughter starts to show signs of demonic possession. As the Warrens try to help the besieged girl, they become the next targets of the malicious spirit."
The first installment of "The Conjuring" was a big hit at the box office, it grossed $137.4 million in North America and $180.6 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $318 million, with a starting budget of $20 million. It was then announced in June, 2013 that New Line Cinema was developing a sequel.
'The Conjuring 2' also became a huge financial success. It has grossed $102.5 million in North America and $217.6 million in other countries for a worldwide total gross of $320.1 million. James Wan has stated there is potential for a third installment, "There could be many more [Conjuring] movies because the Warrens have so many stories."
The sequence in this trailer is very effective due to the use of different shots and the backing track. Quite a few of the vital shots from the film have been used to create this trailer to draw the audience in and create the atmosphere for the movie, whilst also not giving too much away when it comes to the plot. There is a mixture of longer shots and shorter shots to create different levels of tension in different parts of the trailer, starting with a longer shot to set the scene and ending with a sequence of very short ones to create the amount of detail a trailer needs to be interesting. The backing track in this trailer is a huge part of creating the atmosphere, in some places timing the shots to the track makes it overall, very effective at grabbing the audience's attention. There is also, towards the end of the trailer, use of a television in the background with a choir singing. The use of contrapuntal sound in this part creates a twisted and creepy atmosphere, creating a whole new level of creepy.
We have decided that this is a good example of a supernatural trailer to take some inspiration from because it has a lot of different elements in it, some you would expect from a supernatural and some you would not. We would like to take inspiration from the shots more than the plot because we would like to have some creative reign with what is happening in the trailer, however, taking inspiration from the shots will help us when trying to make an effective trailer.
The first installment of "The Conjuring" was a big hit at the box office, it grossed $137.4 million in North America and $180.6 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $318 million, with a starting budget of $20 million. It was then announced in June, 2013 that New Line Cinema was developing a sequel.
'The Conjuring 2' also became a huge financial success. It has grossed $102.5 million in North America and $217.6 million in other countries for a worldwide total gross of $320.1 million. James Wan has stated there is potential for a third installment, "There could be many more [Conjuring] movies because the Warrens have so many stories."
The sequence in this trailer is very effective due to the use of different shots and the backing track. Quite a few of the vital shots from the film have been used to create this trailer to draw the audience in and create the atmosphere for the movie, whilst also not giving too much away when it comes to the plot. There is a mixture of longer shots and shorter shots to create different levels of tension in different parts of the trailer, starting with a longer shot to set the scene and ending with a sequence of very short ones to create the amount of detail a trailer needs to be interesting. The backing track in this trailer is a huge part of creating the atmosphere, in some places timing the shots to the track makes it overall, very effective at grabbing the audience's attention. There is also, towards the end of the trailer, use of a television in the background with a choir singing. The use of contrapuntal sound in this part creates a twisted and creepy atmosphere, creating a whole new level of creepy.
We have decided that this is a good example of a supernatural trailer to take some inspiration from because it has a lot of different elements in it, some you would expect from a supernatural and some you would not. We would like to take inspiration from the shots more than the plot because we would like to have some creative reign with what is happening in the trailer, however, taking inspiration from the shots will help us when trying to make an effective trailer.
Sinister Trailer
"True-crime writer Ellison Oswald is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal." - and it kills his entire family (spoilers).
This movie was released in the UK on 5th October 2012, it grossed over $77million against a budget of $3million.The second instalment of 'sinister' grossed $52.9million against a budget of $10million. It had multiple reviews stating it was deeply frightening, and E! even named it the best horror film of 2012.
The trailer overall, is quite effective although it does give away quite a lot of the plot. It starts off with a flashback to news report about a murder of a local family. This adds to the effect of the trailer because it gives the story some background, if it were to give any more information, it may give the whole story away. However, only having one sentence from the report, gives enough away for the trailer itself. There is some introduction to the family and the father specifically, who is the main character. Then it shows him opening a box in the attic, and everything goes downhill from there. There is a shot of him looking through the tapes and then he starts watching them, As he is watching them it shows them on screen as well as his reactions. Flicking between the two different shots is a good way to show the scene because it means that the audience doesn't miss anything. However, I think it would have added to the mystery of the situation if maybe we would've just seen his reactions as showing him and the tapes gives too much away just for the trailer. There are plenty of shots showing the research that Oswald finds throughout the film mixed in with the shots of his family and his home life, revealing some of the horrible things that happen to his family throughout the duration of the film. Mixing the different shots together is a good technique in any trailer because it throws the audience off as to which order everything happens in and adds to the mystery of the plot. Towards the end of the trailer we can hear the film reel at its end and the flickering of the shots that follow are cut to the beat of the reel. This adds to the atmosphere that the shots create because it establishes a link between the beginning of the film and the end and makes everything seem more menacing. Also putting all of these fast shots at the end creates a climax in the trailer and will make the audience want to go and see it. I think overall, this is a good trailer as the shots and the soundtrack are edited together nicely and it creates its own tense atmosphere with the story. I also think that from this trailer we find out a lot about the whole film and I think it gives too much away. It would've added to the atmosphere if there was a bit more mystery when it comes to the full plot of the film as from watching this trailer you find out quite a lot of details from the storyline.
We have decided this is a good trailer to take inspiration from, solely because of the editing and the soundtrack, and we think that the supernatural element throughout this trailer is just enough to make the audience want to see the film. The supernatural element in this trailer is just enough not to give away the full storyline and we think this is a good example of how to layout our trailer.
This movie was released in the UK on 5th October 2012, it grossed over $77million against a budget of $3million.The second instalment of 'sinister' grossed $52.9million against a budget of $10million. It had multiple reviews stating it was deeply frightening, and E! even named it the best horror film of 2012.
The trailer overall, is quite effective although it does give away quite a lot of the plot. It starts off with a flashback to news report about a murder of a local family. This adds to the effect of the trailer because it gives the story some background, if it were to give any more information, it may give the whole story away. However, only having one sentence from the report, gives enough away for the trailer itself. There is some introduction to the family and the father specifically, who is the main character. Then it shows him opening a box in the attic, and everything goes downhill from there. There is a shot of him looking through the tapes and then he starts watching them, As he is watching them it shows them on screen as well as his reactions. Flicking between the two different shots is a good way to show the scene because it means that the audience doesn't miss anything. However, I think it would have added to the mystery of the situation if maybe we would've just seen his reactions as showing him and the tapes gives too much away just for the trailer. There are plenty of shots showing the research that Oswald finds throughout the film mixed in with the shots of his family and his home life, revealing some of the horrible things that happen to his family throughout the duration of the film. Mixing the different shots together is a good technique in any trailer because it throws the audience off as to which order everything happens in and adds to the mystery of the plot. Towards the end of the trailer we can hear the film reel at its end and the flickering of the shots that follow are cut to the beat of the reel. This adds to the atmosphere that the shots create because it establishes a link between the beginning of the film and the end and makes everything seem more menacing. Also putting all of these fast shots at the end creates a climax in the trailer and will make the audience want to go and see it. I think overall, this is a good trailer as the shots and the soundtrack are edited together nicely and it creates its own tense atmosphere with the story. I also think that from this trailer we find out a lot about the whole film and I think it gives too much away. It would've added to the atmosphere if there was a bit more mystery when it comes to the full plot of the film as from watching this trailer you find out quite a lot of details from the storyline.
We have decided this is a good trailer to take inspiration from, solely because of the editing and the soundtrack, and we think that the supernatural element throughout this trailer is just enough to make the audience want to see the film. The supernatural element in this trailer is just enough not to give away the full storyline and we think this is a good example of how to layout our trailer.
Slasher Trailers:
Halloween Trailer
"On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims."
This movie premiered on the 15th October 1978 and over the years has grossed $70million at the box office against a budget of $325,000. This is equivalent to roughly $267 million as of 2016, becoming one of the most profitable independent films. Halloween has influenced many films over the years and originated many different horror cliches we seem in movies today. It doesn't contain much horror or gore unlike many of its imitators. There were seven sequels to Halloween, the first, Halloween 2, was released 3 years after its predecessor in 1981 but didn't do nearly as well as the first in the franchise, grossing $25.5 million against a budget of $2.5million.
Compared to the level of technology we have today, this film isn't that great. However, it was one of the most loved films of its time and is still loved today. It inspired quite a lot of the standard slasher movie tropes we see in movies today. The shots in this trailer would've been very effective at drawing in its audience due to the different angles and the ways they were filmed. My favourite being right at the beginning being filmed through the eyes of the mask that the child is wearing, this being a very creative way to film a shot as you don't quite know what is happening until the mask is taken off and then everything is revealed. Quite a lot of the shots are filmed from the perspective of the characters making it quite easier to put the audience into their shoes and make the whole situation more intense overall.
We as a group, would like to create a trailer that creates the type of reaction that this did during its time, and will take some inspiration from the creative shots used throughout this trailer.
This movie premiered on the 15th October 1978 and over the years has grossed $70million at the box office against a budget of $325,000. This is equivalent to roughly $267 million as of 2016, becoming one of the most profitable independent films. Halloween has influenced many films over the years and originated many different horror cliches we seem in movies today. It doesn't contain much horror or gore unlike many of its imitators. There were seven sequels to Halloween, the first, Halloween 2, was released 3 years after its predecessor in 1981 but didn't do nearly as well as the first in the franchise, grossing $25.5 million against a budget of $2.5million.
Compared to the level of technology we have today, this film isn't that great. However, it was one of the most loved films of its time and is still loved today. It inspired quite a lot of the standard slasher movie tropes we see in movies today. The shots in this trailer would've been very effective at drawing in its audience due to the different angles and the ways they were filmed. My favourite being right at the beginning being filmed through the eyes of the mask that the child is wearing, this being a very creative way to film a shot as you don't quite know what is happening until the mask is taken off and then everything is revealed. Quite a lot of the shots are filmed from the perspective of the characters making it quite easier to put the audience into their shoes and make the whole situation more intense overall.
We as a group, would like to create a trailer that creates the type of reaction that this did during its time, and will take some inspiration from the creative shots used throughout this trailer.
Nightmare on Elm Street Trailer
"In Wes Craven's classic slasher film, several Midwestern teenagers fall prey to Freddy Krueger, a disfigured midnight mangler who preys on the teenagers in their dreams -- which, in turn, kills them in reality. After investigating the phenomenon, Nancy begins to suspect that a dark secret kept by her and her friends' parents may be the key to unraveling the mystery, but can Nancy and her boyfriend Glen solve the puzzle before it's too late?"
The movie premiered in the United States with a limited theatrical release on November 9, 1984. Grossing $1,271,000 during its opening weekend, the film was considered an instant commercial success. The film eventually earned a total of $25,504,513 at the American box office. The original 'Nightmare on Elm Street' is considered to be one of the best and most iconic horror films of all time. Being a slasher with a degree of Supernatural influence due to the nature of the antagonist, it is considered one of the greats. The trailer, to a certain extent, is good for its time. In comparison to the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street, the original must have been amazing because the remake flopped tremendously when related and the audience response was very critical and negative overall. That is why, personally, I am glad that the original 'Nightmare on Elm Street' has not been too badly affected by the remake.
The trailer itself is not that good compared to the technologies and special effects we have now. However, for its time, this trailer would have been quite effective at drawing in the audience, showing off some of the special effects and the different shots. As I have already mentioned, the trailer contains levitation and other special effects, which are good and somewhat realistic for its time. The use of props and characters are unique and well distributed throughout the trailer, allowing the horror to gradually sink into the audience's minds, and they can put themselves into the characters shoes, as if they were there. This trailer was also the birth of a new generation of horror fans as well as the actual construct on what true horror films are really about; as this clearly raised the standard of horror in general in the eyes of the audience.
As a production company, we would hope to create a trailer that has the same effect this trailer did during its time. The way the murderer manifests himself, in a mysterious and interesting way, is how we want our antagonist to come across in our trailer.
The movie premiered in the United States with a limited theatrical release on November 9, 1984. Grossing $1,271,000 during its opening weekend, the film was considered an instant commercial success. The film eventually earned a total of $25,504,513 at the American box office. The original 'Nightmare on Elm Street' is considered to be one of the best and most iconic horror films of all time. Being a slasher with a degree of Supernatural influence due to the nature of the antagonist, it is considered one of the greats. The trailer, to a certain extent, is good for its time. In comparison to the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street, the original must have been amazing because the remake flopped tremendously when related and the audience response was very critical and negative overall. That is why, personally, I am glad that the original 'Nightmare on Elm Street' has not been too badly affected by the remake.
The trailer itself is not that good compared to the technologies and special effects we have now. However, for its time, this trailer would have been quite effective at drawing in the audience, showing off some of the special effects and the different shots. As I have already mentioned, the trailer contains levitation and other special effects, which are good and somewhat realistic for its time. The use of props and characters are unique and well distributed throughout the trailer, allowing the horror to gradually sink into the audience's minds, and they can put themselves into the characters shoes, as if they were there. This trailer was also the birth of a new generation of horror fans as well as the actual construct on what true horror films are really about; as this clearly raised the standard of horror in general in the eyes of the audience.
As a production company, we would hope to create a trailer that has the same effect this trailer did during its time. The way the murderer manifests himself, in a mysterious and interesting way, is how we want our antagonist to come across in our trailer.
- SB