2. Camera
Low angle shot - from using a low angle shot throughout my trailer, this will be
able to indicate to the audience just how dominant, strong and powerful the
antagonist is. Low angle shots will be a constant reminded of this and will also
add to the sympathy and fear they feel for the victims. I could also use this on
my film poster, which is common and is shown in existing media products,
such as the film poster for Friday the 13th.
High angle shot - from the use of a high angle shot, it allows the audience to see
how vulnerable the victim is, creating empathy as well as fear. Throughout my
trailer, if I use high angle shots, it will continue to remind the audience just
how dominant the killer is, portraying them in a undefeatable manner,
therefore keeping the audience on their toes wanting to come and watch the
film.
Close ups - from the use of a close up the audience is exposed to more detail.
Within a slasher this is conventional, although the identity of the killer is
usually hidden behind a mask, we are able to see a short few second glimpse of
the mask on the odd occasion, which will lead to the audience having flash
backs of the mask creating a long lasting horrific imagery effect. Therefore, I
believe this will be beneficial to add within my trailer. Additionally, close ups
are often used on front covers on magazines, this could be beneficial for me to
look into. However, I would want the image on the front cover of the magazine
3. The use of a low angle shot is
used in order to make the
antagonist more scary, dominant
and masculine, making the
audience fear him even more.
This close up is taken from A Nightmare on Elm
Street of the villain, Freddy Krueger. The close up is
used to give the audience an insight to the face of the
killer - despite him being masked. It allows for them
to remember the face in the back of their mind as a
lasting effect.
This high angle shot is taken from the 2005
interpretation of the ‘House of Wax’. This shot
enables to victim to look weak, vulnerable and
helpless. Leading for the audience to think that
they are going to die in a matter of time. By using
this in my own trailer, I will be able to build up
anticipation as to whether the character will
survive or not.
4. Pans are almost always used at the beginning of a trailer in order to
show a location, it sets the scene and can cause an uneasy
feeling for the audience as they are usually abandoned locations.
In ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ different cuts are used in order to
show the audience around a large abandoned area, this will
make the audience anxious, as they await for something to pop
out at them.
Establishing shots may also be used at the beginning of a trailer,
just showing one particular location, rather than the area of a
location like in a pan shot. This adds extra emphasis on this
location allowing the audience to gather thoughts and jump to
the conclusion that bad things will happen at this location.
Other standard shots that will are conventional within horror films
are; medium close ups, which allows the audience to see more
depth and detail of where the characters are, as well as being
close enough to show emotion still. Long shots will do the same,
however, emotion will not be as evident, the focus will be on the
character/costume or the location. Extreme long shots will
mainly be used in order to show a location and are most
common in establishing shots.
Cuts taken from the beginning of the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’
(2010) trailer, showing an abandoned location. They are also
establishing shots.
5. Point of view shot of Paris Hilton in the ‘House of Wax’
(2005). This is portrayed from the killers view giving us
an insight as to seeing things from his perspective.
Additionally, as it is a close up we can see the fear on
her face.
Medium close up taken from scream. This enables us
to see some of the costume, as well as the fact that she
is on the phone. However., the audience still get a
clear insight to the characters emotions and facial
expression.
This is a long shot taken from the 2013
interpretation of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
From this shot we can see partial parts of the
location - it looks like he is on a rooftop. The
costume - jeans and a t-shirt. The idea he is
wearing a mask, as well as the fact he is starting
up a chainsaw.
This is an extreme long shot from ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. This
shot allows the audience to have an understanding of a location. In
this case it looks to be in some sort of factor. This combined with
the dark lighting creates a scary silhouette of Freddy, intending to
scare the audience. I think this shot combined with lighting would
be very effective in my trailer as part of a montage.
6. Conclusion...
Overall, I have come to the conclusion that using a variety of different shot angles and shot types would keep my
audience entertained, focused and drawn to my trailer leaving them very little time to get bored. Additionally, I
believe that these shot types are very popular in films in general, but also in horror films as they work together in
order to build up extra tension, suspense and fear for the audience.
