Storyline Conventions

Most horror trailers tend to have a similar storyline that is placed within the 2 minutes of the trailer.

Oculus:

This trailer is typical of the conventions of horror trailers.

• At first, the audience are introduced to the "bad entity" of the film - the one who is causing distress and frustration upon its victims. This introduction lasts about 20 seconds. 

• This is followed by basic information about how the bad entity came into this lady's life in the first place. Background information is necessary within a horror film as it gives the audience something to build an opinion upon.

• The next main idea presented is about what the bad entity is capable of. It allows the audience to see whether the victims are reacting in the right way to what they are going through. E.g. If this entity put your family in danger, would you react like they did?

• Finally, the trailer leaves the audience on a cliff hanger, ending the sequence right in the middle of tension, removing the risk that the audience could piece together the ending and ruining the film itself. The trailer is cut short to increase the tension and is followed by the title of the film.

Annabelle:

This trailer includes all of the same conventions; just in a different order. 

• Gives basic background information about how the doll came into the victims life, explains how, what, where, when, why, and who. This answers a lot of the audiences questions before the film even starts.

• The trailer then shows the audience what the bad entity is capable of. E.g. how it can infect people and those who are around the doll itself. This is followed by the title of the film.

• Finally there is a scene where all the audience can see is the doll. This adds to the scare factor as it is the last image that the audience see's therefore it is the last image to stick in their minds.