Analysing Horror Trailers 2 - 'Happy Death Day'

                

The trailer for 'Happy Death Day' contains the following conventions typical of the horror genre:

• Typical horror locations (college campus, hospital, abandoned places)
• Character type ('first victim' presented as promiscuous, 'monster' and 'final girl')
• Low-key lighting (playing on audience fears), backlighting, underlighting
• Jump scares
• Typical costume/props (masks, makeshift weapons such as a hammer, bloody knife)
• High angle shots of victim
• Low angle shots of 'monster' character type
• Scenes of violence
• Production companies associated with making horror films (Universal, Blumhouse)
• Vulnerability - loose framing, panicked body language, handheld camera work
• Fades (typical of genre)
• Non diegetic sinister music/impact sounds to jump scare/shock audience
• Whip pans to reflect female character's fear
• POV shots to position with victim, birds-eye-view (shows she’s being manipulated)
• Title cards reference other horror films('The Purge', 'Get Out' and 'The Visit')
• Typical font used in the horror genre (scratched, distorted)
• Released in October (Halloween-time, 'Friday 13th')
• Title of film (makes reference to violence, 'Death')
• Tagline references genre (direct references the audience with an imperative, uses the word 'death')