Horror threw up some stunning trailers this year, and it was extremely difficult to choose just ten, but after careful consideration, I am sure you’ll agree that the following ten trailers did exactly what they were supposed to do: scare us senseless for two minutes.
Horror trailers are a work of art all by themselves, with a careful build up of tension before going all out to finish on a key moment to leave a lasting impression, usually followed by the words “I want to see this NOW!” Check out ten of the best next, enjoy, but please do have nightmares!
10- (Rec) 3: Genesis
Director: Paco Plaza
After the first two stunning films in Paco Plaza and Jaume Balaguero’s horror franchise, (Rec), the third film came with high expectations. A lot of those expectations were enhanced by a number of trailers, the best if which I believe was the red-band trailer. Filled with plenty of violence and mayhem on poor Clara (Leticia Dolera) and Koldo’s wedding day, the trailer ended on an awesome high as the ultra sexy Clara picks up a chainsaw and goes to work. Violent, thrilling and full of blood, this is exactly what we expected.
9- The Pact
Director: Nicholas McCarthy
Those words “Mommy, who’s that behind you?” sent shivers down the spine’s of horror fans and unsuspecting cinema goers earlier this year. The trailer for Nicholas McCarthy’s first feature length film, The Pact (based on his own short film) came out of nowhere and terrified those who saw it. Suddenly everyone wanted to see this new tale of utter terror, and the frightening trailer played a huge part in getting this film noticed. Festival goers already knew of McCarthy’s skill, but this was his first mainstream, big release and the film did not disappoint. The trailer is a terrific collection of frightening scenes from the film, expertly put together with a dark and hideous score that compliments the scares perfectly.
8- Chernobyl Diaries
Director: Bradley Parker
Chernobyl Diaries was a surprise hit this year, and deservedly so. Here we saw a trailer that really did use all the best bits of the film (almost) and deliver them in a terrifically put together short version of the film. The trailer builds like the film does, but only here the build up lasts about a minute, with the full on terror soon arriving, and continuing throughout the rest of the trailer. Giving everything away, this was a rare occasion where showing too much actually worked. The film itself was a terrific horror, and thankfully the trailer left out a few key details, allowing the film to deliver one or two shocks you certainly did not see coming.
7- Cassadaga
Director: Anthony DiBlasi
The trailer for Anthony DiBlasi’s new horror, Cassadaga, was like a short film in itself. Running at three minutes long the awesome trailer appeared to be made up of three parts. The first part was the story and character stuff, the second half the supernatural element to the film, and then finally came the torture and violence, and the whole thing ended with a bang as the gorgeous lead actress is lying on the floor, and our killer is moaning in the background. Eventually that moan gets louder, we jump out of our skins and we want to see the film, like yesterday!
6- Sinister
Director: Scott Derrickson
“Sinister is going to fuck up a lot of people”, the quote is quite possibly the best timed quote used in a trailer all year! The silent, red-band trailer for Scott Derrickson’s ultra creepy Sinister was a work of art, and a perfect example of just what we could expect to have seen in the film. It didn’t need dialogue or storytelling, this had already come with the previous trailers. The red-band trailer simply got to the heart of what made Sinister such a powerful horror film: unsettling visuals, an atmosphere of pure dread and a soundtrack able to induce nightmares and frantic panic all by itself. The perfect trailer for one of horrors highlights of 2012.
5- Apartment 143
Director: Carles Torrens
The trailer for Carles Torrens’ exceptional found footage horror, Apartment 143, perfectly captured the chaos and sheer terror the film delivered. The trailer itself is very much like how the film played out, a brief build up followed by full on terror which does not let up until the very final moments. Apartment 143 was the film to show just how found footage ghost films should be done, and the trailer was the perfect example of just how to market these films. I am still saddened that this film did not make it to UK cinemas, and considering how much of a disappointment Paranormal Activity 4 was, I strongly believe that this would have done terrific business based on the stunning trailer alone. Check out the trailer next, but please try and remember to breathe!
4- The Innkeepers
Director: Ti West
The trailer for Ti West’s superb horror, The Innkeepers, cleverly did away with the comedy aspect of the film and went straight for the scare factor. Ignoring the first half of the films wonderful characterization and perfect scripting, the trailer instead focused on the horrors that lied in wait for those who had the pleasure of experiencing this masterpiece. The second half of this film was all out terror, and it is all captured here in a wonderful and quite brilliant trailer which shows off the films authentic setting, brilliant characters and pure, vicious terror delivered by a director at the very top of his game.
3- The Cabin in the Woods
Director: Drew Goddard
Intentionally cliche, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods delivered a trailer which got everyone buzzing with excitement, yet gave away nothing of how the film would quite literally turn horror on its head. The trailer looked like every other horror trailer known to man, and rightfully so, for this was Goddard and Whedon’s homage to horror, before the bastards put their own spin on it. If the trailer looked cliche and predictable, that is because it was supposed to. A terrific build up of your usual suspense with more than a little intrigue meant that The Cabin in the Woods would become one of the biggest and most talked about horror flicks of the year.
2- The Devil Inside
Director: William Brent Bell
Love it or hate it, there is no denying that the trailer for The Devil Inside worked. Horror fans the world over could not wait to see the film, and in the almighty build up of clips, trailers and TV spots, for a moment The Devil Inside was looking like becoming the horror phenomenon of the year. Then people saw it, and word got out that apparently is wasn’t very good. I still stand by what I said earlier this year, and had the film been released day and date all over the world, it would have made a lot more money. Sadly the US reviews were just too strong, and even though the film was actually a success (in its opening few days), sadly people decided not to see it after negative word of mouth. However, the trailer was a terrific piece of advertising brilliance, and had people hooked. Delivering shock after shock, the trailer was a truly inspired work of brilliance that gave horror fans that rush of adrenalin we so crave when watching a new trailer. Full of religious scares and found footage brilliance, the trailer for most was the best thing about this film. Me, I still think the film is excellent, but I am tired of arguing that point.
1- The Woman in Black
Director: James Watkins
The best horror of the year also delivered, in my opinion, the best horror trailer of the year. It takes a mere thirty seconds before the scares begin, and once they do they do not let up. The Woman in Black was a masterful, powerful tale of a haunted house delivered in the best and most authentic way by director James Watkins and his exceptional cast. The trailer really does do the film justice, and those that saw this trailer at the cinema were left mentally scarred and shaking with fright, and the eventual film had exactly the same effect. The best ghost horror in years, and the perfect trailer to promote it. Many horror trailers are likely to give you a few sleepless nights, but the Woman in Black trailer will leave you shaking for a long long time. Watch it below, but don’t come crying to me when you go getting the spooks!
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