The Birds Trailer

The Birds was a film by Alfred Hitchcock made in the 1960's, I have chosen this the film scared me for years after watching it by Hitchcock's use of making something you never think about become apparant, in this case making you think of birds in a way that scares you.

I liked this trailer as it isnt like generic horror films. The way Hitchcock has taken a simple everyday thing and put fear into it, the introduction at the start being so simple (just him talking) also, I feel adds to the suspense unlike most horror trailer where they simply use the supernatural or gore.

This trailer doesn't seem to at first stick to the normal conventions of a trailer, but by looking at other horror trailers from the time, like '13 ghosts' for example you can see that it does however stick to the conventions of the time. Instead of just showing footage from the film, they often have an introduction by the director or actor, and then show some footage of the film.

This particular trailer has the film's director speaking, and he almost takes the place of a voice over which is seen in most trailers today. There however are some aspects of the trailer that don't seem to follow conventions, for instance; it never says that it is a horror film and the only real clue to it being a horror film is that fact that it's director is Alfred Hitchcock, it also doesn't boast any production values, again the only indicator of this is it has a name director.

Another aspect of this trailer that doesn't seem to conform to the set standards is the music used. When Hitchcock is talking the music in the background seems to be more jolly and light, more of what you would relate to a romance or comedy film.

The trailer does however ask questions and not answer them like most trailers have, though not through the medium of a voice over, the name of the film is also said continuosly throughout.

It seems that this trailer does partly stick to the key conventions used in trailers, but where it doesn't use them I think it is almost a way that can build up mystery and confusion which also, without using the key conventions compels an audience to watch the film.