Last Horror Research- trailers

 I already have research done for the overall horror genre, but now I'm going to research the specific aspects of a horror trailer that makes it good, or makes it a horror trailer. 

I'm using a source called make a web video for research. 

https://www.makewebvideo.com/en/make/horror-movie-trailer-video

According to them:

"Horror movie trailers are short and punchy, keeping your audience on the edge of their seats with intriguing visuals, creepy music, and strategic edits. The horror genre typically relies on jump scares, tense music, and terrifying images to excite viewers about the films. This makes them perfect for creating a solid connection with your audience. Therefore, using them for marketing your movie is a wise decision.

I'm going to look at some basic horror movie trailers from a YouTube search "horror trailers" and see what similarities I will find. 

Starting with a trailer for a film called "Imaginary," 2024.   

 

"IMAGINARY" Trailer (YouTube)

The main thing I've seen is that it starts out like any normal trailer, and you can't really tell it is a horror trailer until about 1/3 or 1/4 of the way through, when eerie or unsettling music plays. The horror genre takes more time to develop the plot compared to comedy, so the horror trailer will most likely be longer than the comedy to develop the story more. 

Moving on to another trailer called "Baghead," 2024.

"BAGHEAD" Trailer (YouTube) 

This trailer moves a bit faster than the trailer for Imaginary, but what I can takeaway from this trailer specifically is the tone and mood that all the elements of the film create. It does show more of an overview of the basic plot elements of the film yet it doesn't give anything away of how the film is going to end. 

For the sound in horror trailers and how it relates to the trailers I also found the following: 

Horror films rely heavily on sound design to create a tense and terrifying atmosphere. Tension, anticipation, and fear are enhanced, which adds to the total emotional effect.

Creating Tension:
Silence: A momentary pause in sound can have the same impact as loud music or other loud noises. Suspense can be increased by silence as it can build suspense and make viewers more perceptive to even the slightest noises.
Low-frequency Sounds: Tension and uneasiness can be induced by low-frequency tones or deep, rumbling noises. These noises frequently elicit a visceral reaction in the listener since they are felt more than heard.

Jump Fears:
When a jump scare occurs, a stinger is an abrupt, loud sound. It gives the spectator a start and heightens the frightful scene on film. One component adding to the shock factor is the sound's unexpectedness.

Dissonant Tones: When listening to music that is unpleasant or discordant, one may feel uneasy and anticipate something frightful. 

From both of these, I will draw the conclusion that the trailer must set the scene and introduce the central theme or storyline of the entire film. As for focusing on the sound design, I need to focus on the actual emotion it can play in trailers.  Compared to a comedy trailer, a horror trailer is far more detailed and requires more time to establish.