Shot list 1-3

Class Research: Favourite Type of Horror

My favourite type of horror genre is gory horror films (Zombie movies)

Shot lists 1,2 and 3

Health and Safety report

Film analyses DOTD 1979 (final) IMAGE 3

The image I have chosen is where zombies have taken over the mall. It gives the idea of how even after death there is still consumerism. It indicates how we act in today’s society how in a way we are the zombies just travelling from shop from shop interest in objects and things.

The lighting and the camera angles (where the shops are above the zombies) connotes that the shops and corporal business overpower our needs of things and how as people are weak and small to the big industries which consume us. As well as this the canted angle and the use of a Point of View shot shows that without the zombies nothing would have changed from this shot. The lighting in this image give the impression that the whole mall is lit up with fluorescent lights and colourful neon signs, which connotes consumerism is rampant even at night.

Film analyses DOTD 1979 (final) image 2

In this image and scene Fran has just had sex with Stephen and by their faces it wasn’t a happy experience. Their boredom indicates their love of each other is going down as well as their love of consumerism, the mall now seemed like a prison to them.

This also challenges the horror stereotypes as Stephen is not exciting or good with the ladies, which are not usually what films have done in the past. At the end with the film when Fran and Peter go off together it hints of a mixed race relationship which was a controversial topic.

The whole Sex and the Taboo loosened since Psycho and the Hays Code, where there were no naked people or no swearing. However in this image you could see Fran’s nipple which gives us the image of a much more relaxed BBFC, this shows that the institutional context has clearly changed Now you are usually allowed to show anything as we have toughened up, and this film later features a lot of body horror when the bikers attack.

Film analyses PSYCHO (final) IMAGE 1

The image is showing Norman peeping in a hole, looking at Marion undress. It shows a creepy side of Norman in a way that hadn’t been seen before, in the 1960’s sex and the taboo were usually cut from films so breaking this habit really showed Hitchcock’s work and genius.

The fact that the hole was originally there shows that this could have happened before with another guest… or victim. The low key lighting really connotes how shady Norman is being, and how the hole is bringing light to his face may also connote that Marion is somewhat pure and innocent and that is why Norman is looking at her.  The whole eeriness to the scene shows why the “Mother” side came out and how Norman may never have been in a relationship before. This scene is quite sad and shows he is lonely, but it is also the first time we realise Norman has a dark side. This scene uses Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze and this was common in Hitchcock’s film because his own “auteur” influence showed his obsession with blonde women.

Film analyses PSYCHO (final) IMAGE 2

This scene introduces the start of the realisation that Norman is not “normal” in the way he seemed in this scene overly attached to his mother even though he didn’t really like her. In PSYCHO and this image it shows that Norman Bates has a quite obsession of birds: “I-I don't really know anything about birds. My hobby is stuffing things. You know - taxidermy.” This quote foreshadows the end of the film, where we see Norman has also stuffed “Mother”.  Norman represents Ed Gein who also dug up his mother and preserved her body; Ed Gein murdered women and thought it wasn’t his fault either. In 1960 Ed Gein was fresh in everyone’s mind which was why the film scared so many people as Norman reminded them of Ed Gein. The shot shows low angle of Norman Bates showing he’s more powerful over Marion and a stuffed bird of prey connotes what is going to happen to Marion later on in the film. The low key lighting gives of a shadowy effect which gives Norman and the Birds a very creepy eeriness to it as well as this the shadow effect which half’s Normans face in a shadow shows the schizophrenic way he is divided form him and Norman.

Throughout the film Hitchcock references the use of Norman’s birds. For example Marion’s full name is Marion Crane, and Norman “You-you eat like a bird” to further his obsession with Marion. This could also fit into another Hitchcock’s film “The Birds,” where birds become evil forces.

Film analysis DOTD 2004 (final) IMAGE 3

The scene is from the end of the film when the survivors are on the boat sailing as Ana watches. It shows a very patriotic view of America and at this scene the American flag is put subtly around the shots to signify that the Americans beat the zombies. It gives the viewer the impression that they are the heroes of the story and will live happily ever after- however in the end credit sequence, they all get bitten. Janet stagier said that understands the audience/context when a film was released is vital to understanding it fully. Mention how the film was made just three years after 9/11 and also there are other horror films of a similar era – such as the hills have eyes which also represent the context.

The intense lighting and natural light as well connotes an almost blurred way of life that the whole 10 minute scene was all so fast and such a blur. As well as this it almost signifies happiness how they are at peace with everything and everyone’s going to be safe – albeit only temporarily. Ana is the main Final girl in the film and has beaten the fast moving monsters (zombies). She is also looking at the “male hero” Michael on the dock, who has sacrificed his own life to help save her. It shows she still is bound to the stereotypica
l roles of needing a man to survive.

Film analysis (final) DOTD(2004) IMAGE 2

This image shows Ana (the final girl) killing a zombie through the eye using a golf club. It shows how unlike Fran from the original Dawn of the Dead, Ana is not afraid to kill zombies her way. The fact Ana has blonde hair shows us that she goes largely against the horror stereotype, through most of the film she wears the archetypal tom-boyish t-shirts and jeans with her hair in a semi pony tail. As well as this the zombie she is killing is one of the refugees which died from a bite - it shows she is not sentimental; she follows the rule of “Kill or be killed”.

The low key lighting and the props within the mise-en-scene all show it’s almost like a home environment where they all feel comfortable. The brightness of the zombie as well as the white top she is wearing connotes she is an innocent victim in all of this, but the blood stains and dirt connote this has been corrupted by her change. The gore effects or body horror are very effective with the pole going through her eye. It seems believable and would scare us more than the original DOTD (1979) which just had blue face paint and red paint for the blood- it shows how far we have come to scaring people and how relaxed we are now about seeing gore and violence.

Film analysis (final) DOTD(2004) IMAGE 1

This image is from the Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake. They remade it much faster and more violence without the BBFC censoring or cutting parts of the film, which shows the change in the institutional context since the original 1979 version. In this scene Andre and Kenneth talk to each other about their lives. The interesting thing about this scene and image is the fact they are both black and they lead different lives i.e. Andre is into crime (the way he holds his gun sideways suggests being a gangster) while Kenneth is a respectable, religious police officer.  This shows a contrast between them and gives them both a back story that is more detailed than the first Dawn of the Dead (1979) when Peter is simply a likable soldier. Another way this shows this is what they are wearing- Kenneth is wearing white which connotes goodness, purity and selflessness. While Andre is wearing black this connotes evil, bad and darkness.

The high angled shot shows it’s almost like a camera like someone is watching them or even it shows how Kenneth is so much more powerful than Andre. Andre is crossing his arms while Kenneth's arm is stretched out, and it seems that Andre is scared or dislikes Kenneth due to his body language. However the mirror which shows their reflection connotes that they aren’t that different at all. This is also shown by the tattoos on Kenneth’s arms showing he might have been bad at one point of his life.

The intense lighting suggests how the scene is also intense and the use of shadows and low key lighting on the corners of the shot shows that they are in their own little bubble, only talking to each other (a private conversation) between possible friends. This starkly contrasts with the darker, later scenes on the streets filled with zo
mbie.