Trailers: you either love them or you hate them. Nowadays they get a bad wrap for showing too much of the story, or showing things that don’t happen in the movie at all. With the power of editing, they can mislead you to think a movie is one way when it’s the total opposite. But every so often, we get a fantastic trailer that gives us hope. It’s like a LaCroix: horror with a hint of what’s to come. Below is a list (in no particular order) those trailers, the top minimalistic trailers in horror cinema. So you be the judge and decide if you’d see these movies or not.
*Note: some films have more than one trailer, which may or may not be as minimal as these shown.
The Shining (1980)
We all know it. We love it. The infamous blood elevator from The Shining is the center of the spotlight in this trailer. Not only does it mysteriously pull you in, it’s creepy! Literally nothing happens except for a bunch of blood flowing out of this elevator with music that gets more and more insane-sounding. It’s can’t be more minimal than this!
The Witch (2015)
The Witch (aka The VVitch) is one of my favorite movies, and the reason I was even interested was because I saw this trailer. We are shown scenes that are supposedly brought on by a witch living in the woods, but the movie poses a different scenario. Or does it? Beautifully shot (obviously, because it’s scenes from the movie) and leaves me wanting more!
The Ring (2002)
The Ring‘s trailer is essentially a highlight reel of scary moments without giving any of the story away. If you’ve read the books or seen the Japanese original, you’d probably know. But if you haven’t, this is likely a mashup of terror that’ll be sure to have you thinking of this movie for days on end.
Split (2017)
It’s crazy because the first 20 seconds or so, we think we’re getting a totally different movie than we actually are. Multiple personalities by the extremely talented James McAvoy and determined prowess from horror favorite Anya Taylor-Joy take the cake and somehow give us a whole movie in like 2-3 sets. Split proves you can do a lot of damage in very little time with talented actors and crew.
In the Tall Grass (2019)
Plants are alive, but when they move as if they were alive-alive, it’s very unnerving. This trailer is as beautiful as a blue summer day (also in the trailer), but there’s just something about horror that takes place in the daytime. This trailer gives you just enough to pull you into the tall grass itself.
men(2022)
I have yet to see Men, but this trailer makes me want to go rent it immediately. Long shots through tunnels, mysterious manly figures chasing poo Jessie Buckley around while she’s losing her goddamn mind, a haunting soundtrack. I want to know what’s going on but I’m scared to see.
Skinamarink (2022)
Y’all truly do not understand the amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins opening this video to get the link from YouTube. Five seconds i and the first “In this house” and I am not OK. Since the trailer’s release in December 2022, I have been both itching to see Skinamarink and also terrified to. The movie is otherworldly and nostalgic in the most terrifying way, but the trailer is somehow worse (in a good way). All it is is blurry nighttime hallways and a distorted, repeating voiceover. Watch at your own risk!
What’s your favorite minimalistic trailer? Let us know in the comments!
