A trailer for a horror movie should meet a few goals: establish the setting and main character, suggest the tone and genre of the movie, and make audiences excited to watch the story unfold. Since the best horror films have some big surprises, a trailer shouldn't give everything away, as these plot points, reveals and twists are the most thrilling parts of the movies.
Reddit fans have noticed that some trailers for scary movies end up making the film look much different than it actually is. In some cases, the trailers confuse audiences so the movie is a more fun experience, but other times, it seems like the trailer could offer a few more details.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Rent on AppleTV
Sleepy Hollow is a great Tim Burton movie, but some might say that the trailer doesn't offer up enough information about what it will really be like. The film follows Ichabod Crane from the Washington Irving classic short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow had a "more serious tone than the actual movie" and the movie is "less scary and more silly than I was expecting."
Before I Wake (2016)
Stream on Netflix
Before I Wake has a "scary possessed child" and the movie is a "heartbreaking tear jerker about loss and broken families."
The movie's main character, Cody Morgan, is terrified to go to sleep because The Canker Man comes to him in nightmares. It turns out that his mom ed away from an illness and The Canker Man is his mom because he is slowly forgetting about her. The movie is as creepy as it is moving.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Stream on Paramount+
Halloween movie, they thought that Laurie Strode "must have a huge important role to play in this installment" but was shocked when she dies around 15 minutes into the film.
It's definitely tough to watch Michael Myers kill Laurie at all, let alone so soon into this movie, and it makes sense that fans of the horror franchise would be confused and upset by this decision.
Scream (1996)
Stream on Starz
Scream "misled the audience with their early marketing to make you think the blonde was the lead."
It's true that the Scream trailer suggests that Casey Becker is the main character as it shows her answering the phone in her kitchen and walking around the house, realizing that the killer is on the other line. It's a huge shock when Casey doesn't make it past the opening credits and is one of the first people to die, along with her boyfriend Steve.
The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Rent on AppleTV
The Cabin in the Woods makes it seem like "a generic spooky cabin movie" when fans know that the movie is so much more interesting, unexpected, and artistic than that.
In this case, it's a good thing that the trailer for The Cabin in the Woods suggests a straightforward film about a group of friends who go to a cabin for a trip, as it's good to watch this film without reading any spoilers.
Us (2019)
Stream on Fubo
Us "intentionally made it out to be a home invasion horror" and that's definitely not what the story ends up being.
While the movie does open with a family going on vacation, the movie is full of meaning and significance, and learning about the doppelgangers and other world is fascinating. The trailer couldn't spoil this for audiences as it's best left as a big surprise.
Better Watch Out (2017)
Stream on AMC+
Better Watch Out is one of the most creative and surprising horror movies, and all fans of the genre should know about it is that Ashley is babysitting Luke around Christmas.
Home Alone. The movie is definitely very different from the trailer, which is smart and necessary since anything else would give away important plot points.
You're Next (2011)
Stream on DirecTV, Rent on AppleTV
You're Next could be considered an underrated horror movie, with fans loving the story of Erin and her boyfriend celebrating a family reunion that becomes a life or death experience with masked killers ruining the fun, peaceful time.
Redditor JBShucktzer noted that "The trailer was way darker and less comedic" than You're Next but this works out because the movie "does humor well."
Hereditary (2018)
Stream on Fubo
Hereditary is "purposefully misleading" with "focused attention on the sister."
After watching the trailer and then the movie, fans realize that Charlie Graham won't be in the entire movie, as Charlie's car death scene is incredibly gruesome, disturbing, and unforgettable. The trailer does show that this is a scary movie about a family, but there's no way that fans could guess what would happen.
Malignant (2021)
Stream on HBO Max
Malignant is "a camp horror-comedy, not the generic movie the trailer makes it out to be."
Malignant is one of those horror movies where the less someone knows about it before watching, the better, as the story of Madison is an intense one that shouldn't have any spoilers. It would be tough to make a trailer for this film that accurately depicted the tone, but it's true that it's wildly different from the trailer.
