By: Chris Lacks
 | Crafting a teaser is one of the most underappreciated arts in the horror industry. Some are as basic as scary music and a title card. Others have something special. These are my favorites. |
Everyone loves to have popcorn and a drink with them at the movies but to me the best thing about going to the theater is the coming attractions. Now a day most previews either show way too much or spoils the film, such as the case for the found footage film Quarantine as the final shot of the film is presented in the trailer. Some trailers shows all the good moment’s in the film to the point where you feel you don’t even need to see it. Unlike today's audience where they can get the newest trailer in the palms of their hands the second it gets released you had to wait and see the newest movie to find out what films would be coming soon. Back then some films decided to go the extra mile for fans and create trailers filmed and made specifically for the trailer release only, a trend that desperately needs to come back. So as a fan of these creative and often funny works of art I am counting down my top 10 favorite horror movie teaser trailers.
10. Godzilla (1998) Going to a museum as a kid was a special and fun opportunity for some but the kids in this trailer had whole new experience. As a tour guide is giving a kids group information on a T-rex Bone sculpture the building begins shaking and bones falling apart. Then were lead to see a giant foot crush into the building with the sound of Godzilla’s Roar echoing through the museum. This reveals that Godzilla is coming soon to theaters.
10. Godzilla (1998) Going to a museum as a kid was a special and fun opportunity for some but the kids in this trailer had whole new experience. As a tour guide is giving a kids group information on a T-rex Bone sculpture the building begins shaking and bones falling apart. Then were lead to see a giant foot crush into the building with the sound of Godzilla’s Roar echoing through the museum. This reveals that Godzilla is coming soon to theaters.
9. The Omen (2006) The sixth day of the six month of the 6 year, He will Return. This was the gimmick they used for the film as it was released in theaters on 6/6/06 and I for one have to say that I was pumped to go see this movie on that date. If the date didn’t get people excited enough then the awesomeness of this teaser would as the creepiness of a child’s playground is used in this teaser a kid sits swinging in a squeaky swing. Dark colors are used as backgrounds and the kids coat is bright red. He sits there looking staring ahead the entire time until the camera moves closer to the kid, then suddenly he turns and looks towards the audience with a menacing smirk on his face.
8. The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007) This sequel to the remake wanted people to know that inbred red necks were not a laughing matter. This teaser played a creepy pitched song over 2 inbred rednecks pulling bodies across the dessert soil, one of them still being alive as we learn that the point of view comes from one of the bodies as it begins being dragged away.
7. The Shining (1980) Audiences didn’t know what they were in store for when the teaser trailer for this Stanley Kubrick film appeared on screen. The classic dream like scene from the film of blood rushing from the elevator and covering the halls was used to scare the audience and that if they see that film they would be witnessing a RedRum! RedRum! RedRum!
6. Alien (1986) If you were scared of space and the idea of extraterrestrial life then this teaser trailer would have scared you voiceless cause in space no one can hear you scream. This teaser trailer takes you on a ride through space and across the surface of a planet where we see one lone egg on the verge of hatching, with no one ready for whats in inside.
5. Halloween 3: Season of the Witch (1982) The only thing scarier than the Witch mask used in Halloween 3 is the teaser trailer for the film. Using only that same mask, the camera pushes closer to the mask to reveal a spider crawling out of its mouth, and then the masks eyes would open wide and stare at you with the title Halloween 3 overlaid on the screen.
4. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock enjoyed taking his viewers on an experience they would never forget, and when it comes to trailers he felt the same way. This Teaser showed absolutely nothing from the film but instead has the Director himself giving you a tour of the Bates motel and house stating to the viewer that a crime has been committed and if you wanted to see that grizzly crime then you had to come see the film in theaters.
3. Child’s Play 2 (1990) The innocence of a child’s toy, nothing can be bad with that right? Well, if you’re watching the teaser trailer for Child’s Play 2 then yes its bad cause this teaser trailer is set to crush your childhood memories. This teaser shows the Child's toy Jack in a Box winding itself down and just before the toy opens up, Chucky stomps down and crushes the toy with his foot and shouting to the viewer letting them know that Chucky was soon returning
2. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) The beautiful sight of New York City, The lovely sounds of classical music, the joy of being sliced by a machete. The teaser Trailer for Friday the 13th part 8 wanted no one to know it was a Friday the 13th film and surprise everyone when Jason turns around holding a machete. This reveal is set against the wonderful backdrop of New York City and is an awesome site to see.
1. Letherface The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990) There is nothing wrong with a calm beautiful lake right? WRONG! Assuming nothing is wrong is your first mistake in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. The teaser trailer for Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 is set with a calming feel of a lake, with wind slightly blowing and birds chirping and a man calmly watching on. Then slowly out of the lake you see a running chainsaw emerging and slung into the air, with a menacing narrator talking about legends. The Man at the lake catches the chainsaw in Excalibur style sequence and turns towards the viewer’s with said chainsaw. Now if that wasn’t cool enough the trailer itself was attached theatrical showings of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. It is also said that Kane Hodder portrayed Leatherface during this teaser as he served as the stunt coordinator on the film.
I know that there are a lot more cool teaser trailers that’s not on this list but these are just my personal favorite ones that I have always liked and the ones always comes to mind when talking about teaser trailers. So check out the trailers above and enjoy some great nostalgia.
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