Post-modernism - Attack The Block Timeline.

Final Girl - I Spit On Your Grave Timline.

Theory of Narrative - Teeth Timeline.

Character Types - Scream Timeline.

Binary opposites - Exorcist Timeline.

Halloween Trailer Analysis.

“How does Halloween, follow the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre?” The Halloween movie trailer follows the codes and conventions of a typical slasher horror movie, through the ways in which they use the paradigms; The establishing shot of an isolated white house, in the dark. The only lights that are visible are those coming from the bedroom and the porch. This follows the codes and conventions of a stereotypical slasher horror film, as it is set in an isolated house; also it is set in the dark, which makes this a typical structualist horror movie. The eerie non-diegetic sound also follows the code and conventions as it creates a mysterious, creepy atmosphere, also the diegetic sound of the owls suggests that it is set pretty late as the owls don’t “hoot” until it gets dark. This suggests that the house is also set near the woods, as that is their natural habitat is in trees. The camera cuts to a hand held camera/point of view shot from the inside of a mask, you can barely make out what is happening, but the fact that the hand is slashing across the screen suggests that she is being stabbed. This follows the code and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre as the weapon normally used for a slasher film is a knife, as it is more personal, therefore it is a paradigm and follows the codes and conventions of a stereotypical slasher horror movie. The camera then cuts to a point of view shot walking out of the front door into the dark. The walls inside the house are all white with white knitted curtains, this follows the codes and conventions as the character paradigms suggests that there’s a victim, and the victim represents innocence, purity and vulnerability, so by using the white walls and white curtains, it links to that idea. Camera cuts to a mild shot of a man removing Michael mask, we then find out that the murderer is only a little boy. The camera then cuts to a close up of the doctor’s face, the non-diegetic has cut out and the diegetic sound is of the doctor talking about Michael and his illness. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre, as the killer is a sick evil person, even though it is a child, it still fits in with the structualist theory. The camera then cuts to a close up of a nurse in the car, then to a man jumping on the car. The non-diegetic sound speeds up creating tension. The camera then cuts back to the nurse in the car, who is being grabbed by Michael. The fact that they have used a nurse as a victim is somewhat ironic, as a nurse would usually be the one helping those who are wounded and in need of help, but no one is going to help her in this situation. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher sub-genre as an innocent woman has been attacked, also linking in with the structualist theory, the scene being in the car, where you would feel safe, is actually the place where you shouldn’t go, as you are trapped. The camera cuts back to the doctor. The non-diegetic sound of him talking “he will be back” creates and builds tension. The camera cuts to 3 girls walking, wearing smart but casual clothes, 2 of the 3 girls are smoking, this suggests that the one that is not smoking is most likely to be the innocent one, and the other 2 are most probably the “promiscuous girls” linking in to the structualist theory. Whilst the girls are talking there is no non-diegetic sound, when the camera cuts to a tracking shot following them from behind, the non-diegetic sound crescendos which creates tension and suspense. The camera then cuts to a close- up of a two-shot of the girls and then a close up of the other characters showing their facial expressions, which is of shock and confusion. The camera then cuts to a dark room, door swings open a person covered in a white sheet representing some sort of ghost. The camera then cuts to a mid-shot of a girl in bed, I assume she is in the nude as she is covered by her cover; she is filing her nails which suggest that she has been waiting. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub –genre, as she is the promiscuous girl that will soon die, according to the structualist theory, also slasher films in general have a lot of sexual intercourse, so this links into that idea of sex. Camera cuts to a hand held camera smashing through a door, suggests that someone is desperate to get someone else, the non-diegetic sound crescendos creating tension. The camera then cuts to a close up of the woman gasping in shock, suggesting that something bad and unbelievable has occurred. The camera then cuts to a girl in the bed lying dead in the shape of a cross, with a lit pumpkin on the bed side table, and the bed post is in the shape of a gravestone with the name “Mike Myers” written on it. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre as the fact that they’ve linked religion with horror, as religion is also a big part with the whole structualist idea of the survivor being a virgin; “No drink, no drugs, no sex and you’ll survive”. The camera cuts to a guy with glasses alone in the dark kitchen with nothing but the fridge light shining. There is no non-diegetic sound as he shuts the door, a tracking shot is used for when he walks to the door, and he is then greeted by Michael who then strangles him. The non-diegetic sounds starts and immediately creates tension and a sense of fear. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher sub-genre as even though Mike is not using a prop paradigm (knife), he is still using his hands, which make it really personally and gruesome. The camera cuts to a mid-shot of a woman leaning against the wall in the dark. The way she has been positioned in this shot makes her seem really vulnerable and week as she is leaning against the wall for support, she is also stroking her arm for comfort which also suggests that she is really scared. As she walks towards the camera a white mask comes into focus and attacks her. Camera cuts to a hand held camera/point of view shot of the girl falling down the stairs. The camera then cuts to a point of view/low angle shot of the girl looking up at Mike, which makes her seem even more vulnerable and week. Also Mike is standing in the dark with a bit of light shining behind him, even though he is the villain, this shot makes him look powerful and almighty, almost god like. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre, as the villain is made to seem more powerful and stronger than the victim, who is made to seem weak and vulnerable. The camera cuts to an establishing shot of the house, this time there are no lights on at all which distinguishes that a change has occurred. The camera cuts to a tracking/handheld camera of the girl limping to a house with the porch light on, the fact ta she is limping shows that she is hurt and weak. The non-diegetic sound is very tense and staccato, which gives a very frightening atmosphere. The camera then cuts to a series of quick cut shots between the girl limping to door, and Mike walking slowly towards her. The fact that he is walking slowly towards her in comparison to how she is literally trying to run, is slightly patronising as he’s giving her the impression that he doesn’t even need to make an effort in killing her, and can get her easily. The camera cuts to inside the house, the house is dark and the only light is coming from the T.V as a little boy is watching T.V. This shot makes this boy really vulnerable as he is on his own watching T.V, and the by the looks of it this little boy looks about the same age as Mike, way when he started killing, do the fact that he’s just sitting there on his own watching T.V I the dark is kind of creepy. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre, as in scenes like these you would expect something bad to happen, even though it doesn’t show you what happens in the trailer, due to our culture and understanding we would assure this. The camera cut back to outside and the girl is screaming “HURRY!” Whilst banging on the door which suggests that she is desperate. The non-diegetic sound gets louder and more aggressive, as Mike gets closer and the girl gets more desperate. Camera cuts back to Mike walking towards the house from a point of view shot. The fact that he is in sight of the house is very frightening and the non-diegetic sound helps create that mood with the aggressive sounds. The camera cuts back to the girl getting more desperate, banging harder on the door, The trailer ends with the screen fading out to black followed by the fading out of the non-diegetic sound and the diegetic sound. This follows the codes and conventions of a slasher horror sub-genre.

How does “Shaun of The dead” Subvert Structuralist Notions of A Horror Film?

Shaun of the dead is a post modern film. It plays with generic conventions knowingly, and there’s a deliberate subversion of paradigms. In Shaun of the dead, they do this through the character types; the props they use; the location, and through the use of mise-en-scene, camera angles and sound.

The characters in Shaun of the dead are subverting and upholding stereotypes. For example, the zombies in this film just like in any other ‘zombie film’ move very slowly, they are emotionless and also they feed upon human flesh. They also slightly use “Propps” character types: You have the main character, his girlfriend, the geek that’s in love with the main characters girlfriend, the main characters dopey best friend, the hippy girl, the mum, and the villain(s). This set out of characters also reminds me of the character types in scream. Although they do this, they also challenge the notion of horror characters; this is shown when in an emergency, and Shaun and Ed mess about slowly choosing a weapon, whilst the zombie is slowly approaching them. Also after a big fight with the zombies, they just casually chill out in the living room and Ed is eating his Cornetto. This subverts the notion of a horror film character as, when you see a stereotypical horror film, in the event of an emergency, the characters would think fast instead of debating which Record by which artist should be thrown. They also play with the idea of having the same character types, for example when Shaun is leading the group behind the neighbourhood gardens, and they bump into another group of people, and the two groups are almost identical. This also shows that the group of people could be anyone. The mise-en-scene also contributes to this. Shaun has been shown to be wearing a short sleeve shirt with a red tie and a red name badge, which suggest that he works in some kind of retail, giving the fact that the shirt is short sleeved.  Ed has been shown to be wearing a worn out greyish/brownish short sleeved with the words “I got wood” written on it, this shows that this is most likely to be his favourite top, as it looks worn out, also shows that he is laid back, and doesn’t really care of his appearance.  Liz is wearing a blue jacket with a shirt, and jeans, shows that she is also casual and practical. Also Liz upholds stereotypes by being the final girl, but then subverts it by being blonde and not really much of a hero. The nerdy one is simple wearing jeans a stripy jumper and a brown jacket, the fact that he is wearing glasses, is stereotypically as glasses in a film is used to show some ones intelligence. The hippy girl is wearing a stripy shirt, jeans a red scarf around her neck, a red bag, and a hat. The fact that she has even bothered to match her scarf with her bag, shows that she cares about her appearance and that she is the stylish/girly one out of the bunch, which differs from Liz’s character. And the final character, Shaun’s mum she is just wearing jeans a plain violet jumper, a cardigan and a black bag. Throughout the film, they’re chipping away at the characters, but leaving only the two characters. This upholds the stereotypes as this usually happens in a horror film. The fact that at the end of the film they keep Ed as a zombie, he is tied up in the shed, being kept like a pet, definitely subverting structuralist notions as that doesn’t happen in horror films.

The props used in Shaun of the dead definitely subvert structuralist notions. They use pretty much anything that they can find as a weapon, instead of a knife which is a typical paradigm, which was shown, but then rejected. Instead they use a cricket bat; which is usually used in a middle class game (sport) which subverts the meaning. Children’s toys/plastic chairs have been used which erupts their innocence. A spade/shovel has been used which doesn’t uphold the stereotypes as a spade/shovel is usually used for gardening which is a calming thing, where here it is destructive. Also when the song “don’t stop me now” is being played through the diegetic sound, this then turns into the non diegetic sound, they use a cue stick to attack the zombies, and when they attack the zombies they do it in time with the song. At the very end, they use a rifle, which was found in the pub, which even though is a paradigm, subverts the whole setting as it is used normally in an action/western film.

The location and settings throughout the film subvert structuralist notions of a horror film. It challenges the notions as it is set in a suburbia, which is supposed to be a calmer/quieter area, not as violent also it could be anywhere. There is a reverse shower scene, just like the scene in psycho, but it’s reversed, instead of the villain being on the other end on the shower curtains with a knife, its Shaun on the other end, with a baseball bat. This whole film is mostly set over the course of one day, gets darker towards the end, and as it gets darker it gets more dangerous and tense. This subverts structuralist notions of a horror film as horror films are usually set during the night. Most of the action is set in the pub. The pub is just one room, which is usually packed and crowded never normally isolated, which reminiscence to a saloon. Also the fact that it’s set in a pub shows that it could be any pub, with any group of people. Which doesn’t uphold stereotypes as in horror movies, they are normally set in the dark in isolated places, such as; woods, abandoned warehouses, haunted houses, and isolated houses.

The message that this film is slightly giving, is that it is criticising the modality of life that we are all stuck in a routine, and that life is mindless.