In all trailers the first thing we see is the disclaimer, which is used to tell whom the trailer is appropriate for. The nightmare on Elm Street trailer is appropriate for all audiences. The disclaimer tells us if there is sexual content or violence. The producing company logo comes on afterwards “New Line Film Productions Inc” which is also a common film convention. The mood is being established before the trailer even shows a clip as the logo fades on and out of black.

 

 

 

The film fades into 3 establishing shots. These shots set the atmosphere of the scene. The atmosphere is cold, desolate and isolating which is conveyed through the dark, misty area with a blue camera tint. The camera is completely still and if it weren’t for the moving mist/ fog the film would look like pictures. The location is run down and abandoned with rubble scattered around. The only sound in the first establishing shot is the howling wind, which is diegetic sound. The over all affect is an eerie scene with a creepy atmosphere. In the second establishing shot we hear heavy, laboured breathing, which is also diegetic sound. This cues the audience in on the action of the coming scene and the danger the person may be in.

 

 

 

The next shot is a long shot of a person running away from cars. In this shot action breaks the isolated atmosphere. The blue mist conveys the person’s isolation with no one to help him get away. Non-diegetic music is introduced. The music uses drums as a musical device here and throughout the trailer to increase suspense and often-louder ones at a climax. The drums establish pacing in the trailer. A dramatic chord is sung in harmony creating suspence.

 

As the pursuers leave the cars we see they are wearing average and non-threatening clothes, this is an aspect of the mise en scene. The man leading is wearing a sweater and the woman behind him wears a dress. It seems they did not plan on going in advance and makes the viewer question their motives.

 

 

The pursuer shouts as the victim steps back into the house. This static mid-shot shows the man’s face obscured by the presumed safety of the abandoned building. The darkness he steps into could be foreshadowing his death. The door closing is diegetic sound enhanced.

 

The man is clearly distressed his body tense and his dialogue begging, “Please I didn’t do it”. His desperate pleas are the focus of the viewer as the camera is trained on the man’s mouth cutting off at the nose. 

 

 

The editing up to this point has been fast paced but from now to the end of the scene the clips are longer increasing the viewer’s tension.

 

 

 

 

Fire breaks out as the man lights the bomb which is orange in stark contrast to the blue grey settings. Slow-motion is used as the bomb breaks through the window creating a feeling of strong worry for the victim within. The slow-motion carries through to inside. A mid-shot is used as the man desperately rips off his jacket and screams. This draws out his death and increases the viewer’s horror and disgust at his death.

 

 

 

 

A woman who was involved in the killing is shown in a close up zooming in on her face. She doesn’t look glad that he is dying although she is involved. Instead she mirrors the audience’s emotions and validates them as she shows tears and guilt in her features lit by the flames. 

 

Finally at the dramatic climax of the scene an explosion wracks the window of the building and the screen goes to black. Diegetic sound is used for the explosion and drums beat loudly before stopping altogether. This musical device can create fear and signify to climax of a scene.

 

 

The first title is shown with the producer’s name. Notice the stylised blood splatters which connect strongly with horror as a genre. The font is bold and in capitals. The words zoom out slightly and the drum sounds as the screen turns again to black. 

 

A two second slow-motion old looking clip of children skipping rope cuts to black. This links to the later ghost characters of the children, whom are clearly dead and it is foreshadowing their return. Editing fades into the next shot. The fade in is a common convention of the film trailer.

 

The first clip of the scene introduces the female protagonist in a long shot in a room with snow falling indoors. This clues the audience into the premise of the movie, Freddy chasing people in their dreams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have found 4 separate instances of long shots of people in corridors or tunnels. This effect is over used in my opinion, but does serve to create the feeling of the person watching you or in some cases you following a person.

 

 

 

 

Candles are used as props which is another horror film convention.

 

 

 

 

Freddy’s claw scrapes against the pipes and the sound is enhanced as non-diegetic music plays. The sound in this shot is unsettling for the viewer. The claw is a signature item identifying the killer it is menacing and shown more often and in focus than Freddy ever is. Freddy is an obscure figure in this trailer as we never see his face and the camera focuses on his claw more often than not. This dehumanises him and ensures the audience can always tell when he is on screen.

 

A pan shot a quarter of the way through the scene reveals the Elm Street sign which shows where the scene is set. And establishing shots of the house follow to ensure the audience knows where the scene is set.

 

Twice a character is in a position where they could die when they suddenly awake. The second time in the same setting. This conveys the dire consequences of falling asleep.

 

 

 

 

As a girl cuts into her arm, presumably to stay awake the camera conveys her pain through a fast close-up and a flash created in editing. Showing the extreme lengths the characters are willing to go to to stay awake.

 

 

 

In one shot Freddie’s claw scrapes down a characters arm as the camera tilts the audience sees the clenched hand shaking in fear or resistance.

 

The music throughout this extract is eerie. The drums always build to a climax and set the pace of the trailer. If they accelerate for example the trailer is at a fast pace. The children singing is hollow and echoes. The singing links to the ghost children seen in the trailer as they sing the storyline “never fall asleep again”. The lyrics combined with the echo create a very sinister sound putting the audience on edge which makes them more venerable to be frightened.

 

 

Many quick successive shots are used at the height of the main climax with many images of violence or connected to staying awake. They flash by fast not giving time for one to sink in properly before the next is played overpowering the watchers senses. This serves to leave unanswered questions about the situation to entice the viewer and make them want to watch the movie.

 

 

 

The next title card reads the title “a nightmare on Elm Street” in the same font and colour as the first. A horizontal effect is used on the letters, blurring them at first. The blood splatter this time is much larger signifying more death. The text moves upwards on the screen imitating a clip just before the title, where a girl is pulled to the ceiling by an unknown force.

 

In the final cut we see Freddy’s face for the first time which leaves the viewers on edge and leaves no doubt he is the man from the first scene who was burnt.

 

The final titles say the tag line “don’t fall asleep” and the date. After which 2 titles flash with the key creators/actors and companies involved.