Almost always, the male character is portrayed as the killer/the dominant/powerful figure. This as been typical for the past few decades. Most horror films have always placed women as the weaker sex, they are the victims who are usually brutally murdered and the first few to die by the murderer / deranged stalker, etc., who is a male.
During this time, the film industry itself has portrayed these woman in a number of ways with a frail, weak and fragile persona. However the iconography of women in horror films in modern day films as changed rather dramatically in the sense that these women are now able to defend themselves and 'fight back'; protecting themselves with weapons and literally psychically fighting the villain. This would never have occurred in a film such as 'Nosferatu'. An example of this change is 'Resident Evil' - Alice fights her way through the swarms of zombies protecting herself with a gun. As well as standing in a threatening manner, looking 'sexy', on the horror films poster. This creates huge awareness of her authority and dominance to the audience.
Carol J. Clover, a popular and prominent feminist film theorist and critic actually wrote a book entitled “Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film” in 1992. Clover coined the term “final girl” in her book. She explained that a “final girl” character is the last surviving female in the horror film who manages to kill the murderer on her own or at least manages to escape successfully and hence, lives to tell the story. Since the start of 1974 and thereafter, there have been many horror films that contain “final girl” characters and Clover (1992) added that since 1974, the survivors in horror films were mostly females.
However on the other hand, a lot of films - old and recent - have the attractive female running (tripping and falling all over the place) around, failing to escape her killer. For example in the original Scream; the killer pysco plays mind games with Casey, fooling her only to frighten her more. This leaves the audience waiting for suspense or in other words, something terribly awful to happen.
Some films show the deathly scene involving the act of sexual activity; such as Halloween, seconds before Michaels sisters death. As well as the scene of which the couple have just finished making love, Michael eliminates the man, leaving the women defenceless and alone with Michael.
Usually in horror films with similar context, the woman is court up in a 'cat and mouse situation' with the villain. Of course, the chase will eventually end with the killer achieving his ruthless murder. However during this climax, the situation will switch where the victim takes her chance to injure the killer thinking she has won the deathly battle, only to be fooled and finally defeated to her death. In other situations her escape may be blocked or trapped leaving simply no hope for herself.
Thursday 18 October 2012
Wednesday 17 October 2012
Narrative and The Crazies
Propp
The Villian – U.S Army - They are the cause of the virus. They crashed a military aircraft containing a dangerous chemical in to the town’s water.
The Hero – David – David rescures his wife and whatever he can of the community. He uses his knowledge and effort to the best of his ability. David and his wife is the last to survive in the film.
The Donor – Deputy Russell Clank can be qualified as both The Donor and the Helper. He is seen as the ‘Donor’ because each time David’s life is at risk, Deputy Clank saves David’s life. If it wasn’t for Clank, David would have not survived throughout the film.
The Princess – Judy qualifies as the princess because she is married to David. David is trying to save her and their new life and unborn baby. She is also classed as the princess because the army capture her and keep her in hospital as they believe she is infected.
The Farther – Judy also takes the form of a farther role as she tries her hardest to protect Becca from being killed.
The Dispatcher – Rory – Rory is the first person in the town to become infected by the deadly virus. As he is shot aswell, this starts a shock and panic in the town.
The False Hero – The Mayor is seen as the false hero as he is on the who refuses to turn off the contaminated water for the town. His action allowed the rest of the town to become infected and his decision became the unfatel event for the entire town resulting in thousands of deaths.
Monday 15 October 2012
Narrative and Halloween
As a class we watched and studied horrors most iconic film, 'Halloween' Afterwards we discussed the different theorists, relating each theory to the film 'Halloween'
These famous theorists included Vladimir Propp, Tzvetan Todorov, Levi Strauss & Bordwell and Thompson.
Propp
PROPP is that every story has a similar set of characters, that fit into a certain group of character functions.
1. The Villain - Michael; as the pyhcopatchic murderer. We see him at the very beginning of the film, at a young age, murdering his innocent sister.
2. The Hero - Laurie, Sheriff Leigh Brackett & Dr. Sam Loomis; In my opinion the strongest hero is Dr. Sam Loomis. Dr. Loomis is determined to chance upon Michael and it is Dr. Sam Loomis who shoots Michael at the very end.
3. The Donor - Dr. Sam Loomis
4. The Helper - Sheriff Leigh Brackett
5. The Princess - Laurie; Laura is suggested to be the princess. Laurie is Michael's main victim in the film and is stalked and followed throughout the film. Towards the end of the film Laurie also act as a hero - defending herself and young children she is at the time, taking care of. However it is Dr. Sam Loomis who Laurie relies on after she struggles to fight Michael.
6. The Dispatcher - Annie Brackett, Sheriff
7. The False Hero - Annie Brackett
Tzvetan Todorov
'Halloween' follows the narrative structure of Todorov's 'Equilibrium' theory.
At the beginning of 'Halloween' Michael Myers is shown murdering his innocent, young sister; immeditaly causing disequilibruium. However his is used only to justify the story to the audience in order that the rest of the plot unravels later. Soon after we are told that the time of the film has now changed to '15 years later'. From here the audience can settle down into the film, and that something has happened between this time scale. We are then shown the normal live of the young, smart and innocent girl babysitter, Laure. Laurie is shown with her rebellious friends that smoke majirana and sleep with boys. This is apart of the Equilibrium.
As the plot proceeds, Michael is introduced to Laurie as a series of events become more and more tense and complicated as he develops his intentions of murdering the young girl. This is now Disequilibrium. At the very end of the film, after being shot various times by Laurie, Michael is finally shot by Dr. Loomis to then Michael than takes his chance to escape.
In General;
Equilibrium - The home of Michael Myer. The stereotypical suburbia setting. And the normality of halloween night - trick or treaters dressed up to fright.
Disruption - The murder of Michaels sister. This quick beginning disruption of the equilibrium enables 'Halloween' to appear more scary in this short time as the audience watching, are expecting this establishment of normality. But because of the disruption young Michael has just caused, the audience are now horrified and out of their comfort zone of what they can relate too.
Disequilibrium - Laurie, inorder to survive, has to defend and protect herself and others from Michael.
New Equilibrium - Dr. Loomis ending up saving Laurie by shooting Michael. Nevertheless, Michael is still not dead. As a result, Michael is still alive and maybe even more crazy and dangerous meanwhile, Laurie's friends are all dead.
Overall, these stages are difficult to comprehend due to the time gap from 1963 to 1678 and the need to have a new equilibrium settled. 'Halloweens' ending is far from a classic new equilibrium of which the resolution is supposed to be better than the beginning.
Claude Levi-Strauss
Rather than looking at the order of events of which happen, Strauss concentrates of the sets of opposite values. Binary oppositions can reveal a structure of a particular media text - for example, GOOD and EVIL. Or even a series of binary oppositions which may be created by the narrative.
In horrors, such as 'Halloween', binary oppositions can be obvious. This perhaps explains why sometimes 'The False Hero' doesn't necessary fit into 'Halloween' because the no character is good nor bad.
In 'Halloween'
Good - Laurie / Evil - Michael Myers
Past - 1963 / Present - 1978
Rural - Smiths Grove / Urban - Haddonfield
Innocent - Laurie / Guilt - Michael Myers
Sane - Dr. Loomis / Insane - Michael Myers
Man - Laurie / Monster - Michael Myers
Innocent Youth - Tommy / Non Innocent Youth - Michael Myers
Bordwell and Thompson
This is a 'chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time and space'
At the start of the film, Michael is shown spying (of which he have the view from his aspect) on his sister and partner as they express their love for one another and continue on upstairs. We do not know if this angers Michael - causing him to pick up the knife - or wether Michael had planned on killing his sister and was waiting for the right time; we do not know. These series of changes occur because of Michaels sister and lover causing Michaels desision to murder - effecting the outcome of her death.
After we are shown Myers murdering his sister, Myers is put into mental insistution. He is in their for the following 15 years of which we, the viewer, are not shown; or told. We only presume this because we are shown a man escape after the car scene.
These famous theorists included Vladimir Propp, Tzvetan Todorov, Levi Strauss & Bordwell and Thompson.
Propp
PROPP is that every story has a similar set of characters, that fit into a certain group of character functions.
1. The Villain - Michael; as the pyhcopatchic murderer. We see him at the very beginning of the film, at a young age, murdering his innocent sister.
2. The Hero - Laurie, Sheriff Leigh Brackett & Dr. Sam Loomis; In my opinion the strongest hero is Dr. Sam Loomis. Dr. Loomis is determined to chance upon Michael and it is Dr. Sam Loomis who shoots Michael at the very end.
3. The Donor - Dr. Sam Loomis
4. The Helper - Sheriff Leigh Brackett
5. The Princess - Laurie; Laura is suggested to be the princess. Laurie is Michael's main victim in the film and is stalked and followed throughout the film. Towards the end of the film Laurie also act as a hero - defending herself and young children she is at the time, taking care of. However it is Dr. Sam Loomis who Laurie relies on after she struggles to fight Michael.
6. The Dispatcher - Annie Brackett, Sheriff
7. The False Hero - Annie Brackett
Tzvetan Todorov
'Halloween' follows the narrative structure of Todorov's 'Equilibrium' theory.
At the beginning of 'Halloween' Michael Myers is shown murdering his innocent, young sister; immeditaly causing disequilibruium. However his is used only to justify the story to the audience in order that the rest of the plot unravels later. Soon after we are told that the time of the film has now changed to '15 years later'. From here the audience can settle down into the film, and that something has happened between this time scale. We are then shown the normal live of the young, smart and innocent girl babysitter, Laure. Laurie is shown with her rebellious friends that smoke majirana and sleep with boys. This is apart of the Equilibrium.
As the plot proceeds, Michael is introduced to Laurie as a series of events become more and more tense and complicated as he develops his intentions of murdering the young girl. This is now Disequilibrium. At the very end of the film, after being shot various times by Laurie, Michael is finally shot by Dr. Loomis to then Michael than takes his chance to escape.
In General;
Equilibrium - The home of Michael Myer. The stereotypical suburbia setting. And the normality of halloween night - trick or treaters dressed up to fright.
Disruption - The murder of Michaels sister. This quick beginning disruption of the equilibrium enables 'Halloween' to appear more scary in this short time as the audience watching, are expecting this establishment of normality. But because of the disruption young Michael has just caused, the audience are now horrified and out of their comfort zone of what they can relate too.
Disequilibrium - Laurie, inorder to survive, has to defend and protect herself and others from Michael.
New Equilibrium - Dr. Loomis ending up saving Laurie by shooting Michael. Nevertheless, Michael is still not dead. As a result, Michael is still alive and maybe even more crazy and dangerous meanwhile, Laurie's friends are all dead.
Overall, these stages are difficult to comprehend due to the time gap from 1963 to 1678 and the need to have a new equilibrium settled. 'Halloweens' ending is far from a classic new equilibrium of which the resolution is supposed to be better than the beginning.
Claude Levi-Strauss
Rather than looking at the order of events of which happen, Strauss concentrates of the sets of opposite values. Binary oppositions can reveal a structure of a particular media text - for example, GOOD and EVIL. Or even a series of binary oppositions which may be created by the narrative.
In horrors, such as 'Halloween', binary oppositions can be obvious. This perhaps explains why sometimes 'The False Hero' doesn't necessary fit into 'Halloween' because the no character is good nor bad.
In 'Halloween'
Good - Laurie / Evil - Michael Myers
Past - 1963 / Present - 1978
Rural - Smiths Grove / Urban - Haddonfield
Innocent - Laurie / Guilt - Michael Myers
Sane - Dr. Loomis / Insane - Michael Myers
Man - Laurie / Monster - Michael Myers
Innocent Youth - Tommy / Non Innocent Youth - Michael Myers
Bordwell and Thompson
This is a 'chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time and space'
At the start of the film, Michael is shown spying (of which he have the view from his aspect) on his sister and partner as they express their love for one another and continue on upstairs. We do not know if this angers Michael - causing him to pick up the knife - or wether Michael had planned on killing his sister and was waiting for the right time; we do not know. These series of changes occur because of Michaels sister and lover causing Michaels desision to murder - effecting the outcome of her death.
After we are shown Myers murdering his sister, Myers is put into mental insistution. He is in their for the following 15 years of which we, the viewer, are not shown; or told. We only presume this because we are shown a man escape after the car scene.
Trailer analyses: The Shining, Hostel & Hide and Seek
Analysis - The Shining
This is the trailer of the 1980's, 'The Shining'
'The Shining is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. Former teacher and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance (Nicholson) interviews for a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel in an effort to rebuild his life after his volatile temper lost him a teaching position. The hotel manager, Mr. Ullman, warns Jack that he and his family will be snowbound through most of the winter and of the potential for cabin fever. He further reinforces his point by recounting a season when the caretaker, Charles Grady, went crazy and brutally killed his wife, his two girls (ages eight and ten), and finally himself. Given his own desperation and the opportunity to pursue his true passion, writing, Jack acknowledges the warning, but accepts the job.'
- http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-shining/trailer#e994VscOP5BvZvLh.99 '
This trailer, like most horror trailers of this era, begins from the beginning of the movie and essculates in order of the film; almost like a mini, short movie. It begins with a voice over explaining the history of the hotel while visually showing the hotel itself. During this introduction there is also a dramatic musical piece played, creating suspension. While telling the history, Jack is shown leading to the exact same unfortunate fate. However it then flashes back to Jack ironically quoting "You can rest assure Mr.Roman, that's not going to happen with me"; while devilshly smirking. Furthermore, a birds eye view is shown over the hotel and onto a scene of the family in their car, driving to the their part-time home hotel. Theatrical music is played again continuing on throughout the remaining trailer. A series of events reveal Jacks condition worsening - increasing the tension and terror as scenes become uncomfortable and frightening. The last thirty seconds of the trailer consist of clips merged together in a very fast pace of Jack attempting to kill his wife and son; Ending with the bloody red, creepy title 'The Shining'.
Analysis - The Hostel
This trailer of the more recent film 'Hostel' is much different to 'The Shining' trailer. This trailer is far more mysterious and unexplained whereas 'The Shining' trailer, we basically see a short version of the film.
'Hostel' is a conventional film where we see the features we expect; death, blood, climax/dramatic scenes and good and bad characters. The trailer begins with a creepy setting under dim light, with close up shots - setting a grim, dismal and scary scene. Orange text is then used to stand out from the dark, black background with captions that relate to the setting - enabling the audience with a sense of plot. This text is used to grab the viewers attention, making them want to carry on reading. Already, they are curious.
Immediately after the first caption, there is a long shot of a man that appears to be wearing a uniform and mask, holding a hose. This already indicates that something sinister and creepy is about to evolve involving the characters. After the second caption 'where all your darkest' there is a topless man sitting with a cloth taken off his head revealing his head which is faced vaguely away from the camera; suggesting he may be avoiding or hiding something. The third caption 'sickest fantasies' reveals gives away a lot about the plot - indicating it will be a 'sick' grusume horror film involving human suffering. Shots of tools and following captions continue unveiling the events to take place. These tools are to be used against the victims - like all other horror films, this trailer links into this convention. The following scenes show a number of different victims, some attempting to escape and some that look as though they are apart/responsible of the sick and twisted events. Meaning that this could mean that the PROPP theory is included within the plot as like many other films.
Anaylis - Hide and Seak
I genuinely think this trailer is very creepy and having not seen the film, I'm defiantly interesting in watching it soon! Therefore, I can say I believe this trailer successfully archives its intentions of attracting a potential audience. I can see that the film has used well known, recognisable actors; suggesting that the film is of high budget and good quality.
The Trailer makes use of some classic horror conventions such as using a young child to create 'imaginary friends'; making their childhood innocence somewhat sinister. Like how many other movies
have developed, the trailer archives a creepy innocence.
The setting of the trailer is shown to be based in the characters family home. However in the trailer we learn this is fact the family's new home. This is incredibly common for a plot similar to 'Hide and Seek'.
The trailer uses restricted narrative as not too much information is revealed, and each following clip is a surprise to the character and viewer.
This setting is suitable for the film as it means the characters are in their comfort zone where they can feel safe and secure; however as it's a change of home they may not feel so protected; especially the young girl.
Throughout the duration of the trailer, editing such as captions, are used to it's advantage to build the suspension. The main character, the young girl, is key to the amount of anxiety to the trailer. Her 'cute' and 'innocent' nature contradicts the conventions of the genre however at the same time; contributes to the creepiness and 'unknown' factors.
Towards the end of the trailer, the editing of clips becomes rapidly fast increasing the feeling of tension.
By this point the trailer is intense and alarming. By the very end, the trailer includes a creepy voice over that involves some vital information spoke by the little girl. This whispering escalates and climaxes just in time for the release date.
Analysis - The Hostel
This trailer of the more recent film 'Hostel' is much different to 'The Shining' trailer. This trailer is far more mysterious and unexplained whereas 'The Shining' trailer, we basically see a short version of the film.
'Hostel' is a conventional film where we see the features we expect; death, blood, climax/dramatic scenes and good and bad characters. The trailer begins with a creepy setting under dim light, with close up shots - setting a grim, dismal and scary scene. Orange text is then used to stand out from the dark, black background with captions that relate to the setting - enabling the audience with a sense of plot. This text is used to grab the viewers attention, making them want to carry on reading. Already, they are curious.
Immediately after the first caption, there is a long shot of a man that appears to be wearing a uniform and mask, holding a hose. This already indicates that something sinister and creepy is about to evolve involving the characters. After the second caption 'where all your darkest' there is a topless man sitting with a cloth taken off his head revealing his head which is faced vaguely away from the camera; suggesting he may be avoiding or hiding something. The third caption 'sickest fantasies' reveals gives away a lot about the plot - indicating it will be a 'sick' grusume horror film involving human suffering. Shots of tools and following captions continue unveiling the events to take place. These tools are to be used against the victims - like all other horror films, this trailer links into this convention. The following scenes show a number of different victims, some attempting to escape and some that look as though they are apart/responsible of the sick and twisted events. Meaning that this could mean that the PROPP theory is included within the plot as like many other films.
Anaylis - Hide and Seak
I genuinely think this trailer is very creepy and having not seen the film, I'm defiantly interesting in watching it soon! Therefore, I can say I believe this trailer successfully archives its intentions of attracting a potential audience. I can see that the film has used well known, recognisable actors; suggesting that the film is of high budget and good quality.
The Trailer makes use of some classic horror conventions such as using a young child to create 'imaginary friends'; making their childhood innocence somewhat sinister. Like how many other movies
have developed, the trailer archives a creepy innocence.
The setting of the trailer is shown to be based in the characters family home. However in the trailer we learn this is fact the family's new home. This is incredibly common for a plot similar to 'Hide and Seek'.
The trailer uses restricted narrative as not too much information is revealed, and each following clip is a surprise to the character and viewer.
This setting is suitable for the film as it means the characters are in their comfort zone where they can feel safe and secure; however as it's a change of home they may not feel so protected; especially the young girl.
Throughout the duration of the trailer, editing such as captions, are used to it's advantage to build the suspension. The main character, the young girl, is key to the amount of anxiety to the trailer. Her 'cute' and 'innocent' nature contradicts the conventions of the genre however at the same time; contributes to the creepiness and 'unknown' factors.
Towards the end of the trailer, the editing of clips becomes rapidly fast increasing the feeling of tension.
By this point the trailer is intense and alarming. By the very end, the trailer includes a creepy voice over that involves some vital information spoke by the little girl. This whispering escalates and climaxes just in time for the release date.
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