Made By Other People.

Recently I’ve come to notice a funny trend in the editing of movie trailers. After the final big montage, either just before or right after the title card for the film, they feel the need to show one last clip. The trailer tail seems to be used in something like 90% of the trailers they’re putting out these days. Sometimes they will use almost a full scene and sometimes just a single line or shot, but the intention is always the same. It is as if to say, “Not convinced this is a movie you’ll like yet? Take a look at this!”

The trend seems most prevalent in ads for comedies but it is in no way limited to them. As you can see in the small selection of clips I put together from a handful of recent trailers, from horror to drama, the device transcends genre.

At first this didn’t really bother me but once I noticed it, it was difficult to un-notice. Now I can’t stand it. Do we really need one last hit to prove how funny/awesome/poignant/intense the movie is going to be? The device has come to have the complete opposite of its intended effect on me. Now, when I see a trailer cut like this, instead of being really excited about the upcoming film I can’t help but think how ridiculous the whole idea of “films” really is. Seeing these moments taken totally out of context with celebrities hamming it up for the camera doesn’t make movies exciting to me, they make them seem inane and trivial. It also makes me think, “Man, I should really get into editing movie trailers. What an easy job!”

Next time you’re in a movie theatre or on a youtube binge, try and see just how many trailers use the trailer tail. If you haven’t noticed it already I think you’ll be surprised.