Within a horror trailer props have the ability to give a certain theme, perception and even emotion to a shot. We used a variety of props in our horror trailer to convey a range of themes and emotions to our audience.
Knife:
We decided to use different knifes in our trailer as a weapon used by the plastic surgeon. A knife is seen as an extension of the body in horror which means it makes a killing more personal, making it even more gruesome and emotive to the audience. A knife also symbolises danger which represents how the victims in the trailer are in serious trailer. The knife we want to use is also a kitchen knife as opposed to a scalpel or surgical tool used by a professional plastic surgeon, this symbolises who the surgeon in our trailer is definitely not qualified and poses a real threat to the victims. |
Scissors:
Much like a knife, scissors are seen as an extension of the human body, meaning when the surgeon is defacing the victims it is viewed as much more personal. The scissors we are going to use are also not surgical scissors, but instead dirty kitchen scissors, this shows once again how the surgeon is not professional and is not bothered about hygiene. The kitchen scissors also reflect the idea that scissors are used to cut material or even food, showing how the victims are being treated inhumane. |
Surgical mask:
The surgeon is going to wear a mask throughout the end of the trailer where she is 'operating' on her patients. The surgical mask covers the surgeons face which gives a sense of the unknown as the audience doesn't know what the surgeon really looks like. The surgical mask is also covered in blood which again shows the idea that the surgeon has no regard to hygiene. The blood also shows the horror and slasher theme of the trailer. |
Shovel:
We want to use shovel in our trailer to show the surgeon in the woods digging a hole to bury her victims. We want to use a shovel as it is stereotypically used in horror films when the killer is burying their victim meaning it conforms to horror themes. A shovel is also a very unprofessional way to dispose of a body which sticks with the theme of our plastic surgeon being very unprofessional as she is clearly not qualified. |
Hessian Bag:
We want to use a hessian bag to place over the victims head both to suffocate them and also to waterboard them in the trailer. A bag over the victims head is often used in horror for number of reasons, one being so the victim has no idea where they are, making it even more scary for them and therefore the audience is in fear for them. By showing a suffocation it also has the same effect on the audience, they will feel like they are struggling to breathe also when in fact it is just a psychological effect. |
Mobile phone:
We are going to use a mobile phone in our horror trailer for when the victim is calling to arrange a plastic surgery consult. This contradicts horror conventions as a mobile phone would normally be used to call for help when in this case it is being used to get the victims into a great deal of danger. This will contrast to the rest of the trailer when dangerous props will be used. |