Conventions of form and genre

Conventions of form

• In a trailer you would expect to see a build up to what is going to happen in the film, which in horror, would create an atmosphere and tension around the film. It would create anticipation around the movie and the main storyline in the film. It would make the audience feel the anticipation toward what is going to happen, through trying to make the audience scared, by making them jump.

Conventions of genre

• Use of dark colours – such as blacks and reds. The red colours connote violence and blood, which is linked to the horror genre. The black colours connote mystery, also linked to the horror genre as it creates an atmosphere.

• Mise-en-scene – the costume would be darker colours or whites. The lighting would be low key, which would connote mystery and create anticipation for what would happen next. The props would be weapons, which connote fear and violence linked to the horror genre.

• Sound – the non-diegetic music would create anticipation and tension within the trailer.

• Editing – there would be the use of jump cuts and action match to create anticipation and tension. The use of jump cuts would show the character moving fast, which could be linked to the fear in the horror genre.

• Camerawork – establishing shots showing the setting (usually an old house, or forest). Close ups to show the facial expression.