Own Image Analysis

This is a strong image from the film Patrick (2013). I think that this is a strong image because it goes against the rise of modernism, in this image the car represents modernism, the house looks considerably bigger and more powerful than the car. This scene contains low-key lighting to set the overall mood of the opening section, this then allows the audience to predict the overall mood and outcome of the film. The use of an establishing shot allows the audience to explore the location; the location in which the clinic is in is a typical location for a horror film. The house is in an isolated location, and the house itself is old and aged, but it also hints towards the modern day with the use of building a more modern side of the house. The image is also taken from an expressionist angle, the high angle makes the car look tiny and inferior compared to the size of the house. The architecture of the house also looks very Gothic and fits in with old-style horror films. 

The History of Horror

Dawn of the Dead (1979) Image Analysis

This image is from a scene in Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (1979). This scene is used to reflect the emotional states of the characters, it also shows the relationship between Fran and Stephan (Flyboy) breaking down. Both characters are naked in bed; this would usually illustrate sex, but the atmosphere of the scene demonstrates otherwise. There looks as if there is a line drawn between them both, the pillows and the shape of their arms establish this, the side that Fran is on contains low-key lighting, this could be a reflection of how Roger and Peter think that it is a bad idea to bring a baby into a world where you have to fight to survive. This scene consists of a slow cut, this it to create sadness and tension; the shot distance is also a long shot, this could be another representation of how distance Fran and Stephan are becoming. Laura Mulvey’s “Gaze Theory” is challenged in this scene, Fran’s breast is not shown for male pleasure, it is revealed to validate the breakdown of her relationship with Stephan. Character stereotypes are also challenged, Fran is blonde, and should therefore be the victim. Fran also is represented as an early feminist, as she is tough for the historical context of the film.

Dawn of the Dead (1979) Image Analysis

This image is from the film Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (1979), this is one of the first scenes where an establishing shot is used so that we are aware of the volume of zombies that are dominating the ground floor of the mall. The two floors could be a representation of heaven and hell; the ground floor representing hell, and the top floor demonstrating heaven. A high angle is used to demonstrate who holds the power within the scene, the zombies are viewed as the weaker aspect, whereas the survivors who are looking down at the zombies are represented as the powerful, dominant subjects.  The lift in the centre of the image could symbolize the link between the two.  This scene follows the horror convention of an isolated location; the Monroeville Mall is where the majority of the film takes place. The use of a long shot allows the audience to view the entire middle section of the mall, and also allows the audience to gain an understanding of where the threat of a zombie attack will most likely be. The zombies also hold aspects of sadism; the audience find out that the zombies eat to survive through an interview on television, this show that they are not simply killing people of the fun of it. DOTD (1979) includes historical contexts, this includes the rise of the malls in the 1970s, the rise of the malls also links to consumerism; there is a scene in DOTD (1979) were a zombie is sitting in a wishing well holding coins and pennies, George Romero hated consumerism so he highlighted it in DOTD (1979).

Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

This scene takes place towards the end of Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (2004). This scene mostly consists of close ups of both Ana’s and Frank’s face; these expressionist angles are used to reflect the mood of the scene into the audience. Quick to slow montage was used in this scene, after the attack of the zombies, Frank tells the group that he has been bitten, the editing then slows and expressionist angles are used to build an atmospheric vibe within the scene. The American flag is visible in lots of scenes throughout DOTD (2004); the American flag is a representation of freedom. The flag is often behind either Ana or Frank; this is to show their goodness and also reflects a sense of patriotism. The idea of the flag could also symbolize the idea of American vs. ‘them’; ‘them’ could represent the zombies, and the zombies could signify the terrorists.  V.Propp and T.Todorov’s “Classical Hollywood Narrative’s Structure Theory” is used throughout DOTD (2004); the film does not start with a “set out equilibrium”, the equilibrium is already disrupted by the invasion of the virus, as well as the problem with terrorist’s; the “quest to establish new stability” is the search for a safe haven; the quest could be considered as “achieved” as they make it to the boat, but the happy ending does not occur.

Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

News clips and photographs are shown at the beginning of Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (2004) whilst the song ‘When the Man comes Around’ by Johnny Cash is played as the sound track. The beginning links to the terrorist attacks, such as the 9/11, that have happened in real life. Horror films usually take historical context and use it in order to scare the audience, this is because we have become we have become tougher when faced with things such as body horror. This image is grainy and not of a high quality to make the news report look realistic, news reports from other countries is usually shot from a phone so that it can be quickly sent to other countries. The beginning scenes could be enforcing how the virus has become terrorism and has been spread from the Middle East; this then creates fear and tension within the audience.

Psycho (1960) Image Analysis

This is the first scene in Psycho (1960) where we find out more about Norman, and his relationship with his mother, as well as his hobbies and interests; we also see that Norman is sexually attracted to Marion. This image views Norman in an innocent, yet disturbed light. Low-key lighting is used to create deep shadows, as well as casting a dark and gloomy atmosphere over the scene. Norman’s face is half-light, half dark; this could represent how the audience, as well as Marion, are currently viewing him as a good and innocent person, but we later find out that he is the opposite of that. The stuffed birds are not just decoration, they relate to Norman’s hobby, and they are also a relation to his last name, Bates; the shadows also help to add depth in the image. This scene is also shot in an enclosed location, in an isolated part of town; this follows the conventions of horror locations. This expressionist angle allows the audience to understand the mood of the scene, as well as determining what will happen later on in the film. The low angle of the image also makes Norman appear powerful and dominating.

Andrew Sarris' 'Auteur Theory' could be applied to Hitchcock films. Hitchcock has developed his own style of film making, and also his films reflect his personality and part of his (sometimes dark) soul. 

Psycho (1960) Image Analysis

This is the first scene from Psycho (1960) that reveals the killer, but the angle in which it has been shot at doesn’t allow the audience to see the face of the killer; this brings a sense of mysteriousness to the scene. The establishing angle allows the audience to look down on the action; this suggests that the audience is supposed to view the scene from a God-like perspective. The low-key lighting casts an eerie and tense atmosphere over the scene. The low-key lighting, as well as the shadows, suggests that there is evil and negative energy present. The empty space between the staircase and the corridor separates the image into two sections; this could represent the good and the evil within the scene. The knife is the most dominant prop within the image, this suggests that it is sufficient within the scene; the knife could also represent a phallic symbol, we later find out that Norman killed both characters within the film; the phallic symbol could demonstrate his fascination with woman, especially his mother, and his lack of masculinity. The editing within this scene was fast paced montage, this technique was used to build tension and insert panic into the audience. The Bates house is also an old, Victorian house; this by itself brings a haunted and disturbed atmosphere into this scene.

Gothika (2003) Film Analysis

Gothika (2003)

Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz

Horror/Thriller

Miranda Grey works at a women’s penitentiary, in the mental institution department. We first see her interviewing Chloe (one of the patients) about her rape that happened in her cell. Miranda doesn’t fully believe her story and thinks that her drug doses should be lowered. Miranda has to take a detour on her way home, as she goes over a bridge she swerves as she thinks she has seen a young girl standing in the road. When she goes to help the girl she suddenly bursts into flames. We hen see Miranda in a cell in the women’s penitentiary where she once worked. She finds out that she murdered her husband and becomes haunted by the same girl that she saw burst into flames. Miranda finds out she was a victim of rape and kept in a rape den that her husband created in an old barn. The ending of Gothika is open and leaves room for a sequel.

The opening scene to Gothika impressed me the most because it used dramatic, low key lighting; therefore this helped to create a tense atmosphere. The lighting on Chloe’s face is half-light, half dark; this gives the impression that she may look like a liar at the beginning, but she may not towards the end of the film. I also liked the cinematography that was used throughout the opening scene. Closes ups were used when Chloe was talking so that the audience focuses solely on her, as well as expressionist angles so that the viewer could understand Chloe and reflect on the tense, negative atmosphere. Long takes were also used when Chloe was talking; this is another technique used to engage the viewer with the character.

Another scene that impression me was the shower scene. The use of cinematography, editing and mise-en-scene allowed the scene to become tense and uneasy for the viewer to watch. The use of montage from slow to quick editing allows the suspense to build. Also, the use of close ups and fast paced editing allows the audience to feel a sense of panic. The low-key lighting and the parallel, non-diegetic music all contribute towards the sense of panic reflected into the audience; the music for this scene starts off with a violin combined with low bass notes, it then goes deadly silent before seeing  the girl, then synthesized keyboard notes are used to drag out and increase the suspense. The costumes, or should I say lack of, contribute towards the patients feeling exposed and violated, also it connotes their lack of freedom and trust.

Gothika has helped me to understand the horror genre through its use of; character representations, mise-en-scene, sound, editing, cinematography, narrative and ideologies.

V.Propp and T.Todorov defined the classical Hollywood narrative’s structure. They broke it down into five phrases; ‘diegsis set out equilibrium’; ‘equilibrium disrupted’; ‘quest to establish new stability’; ‘quest achieved’; ‘happy ending’; ‘new equilibrium’. Gothika follows this theory for the majority of the film; the ending is not happy, but there is a new equilibrium. The ending is an open ending; it shows Miranda walking down the street, after meeting with Chloe, and a boy appears in the middle of the road as a fire truck speeds past. 

There are also stereotypes within Gothika. The psycho killer, Sheriff Ryan, is represented by a middle aged man who has an absent father and grew an over-dependent relationship with his mother. The male hero, Pete Graham, is very masculine, has facial hair, and is good looking. The female survivor/final girl, Miranda Grey, has dark hair, doesn’t wear much make-up and is a tom boy. The only character that does not follow the typical character stereotypes is the female victim, Chloe, who has black hair and is not killed. Stereotypes are used in the film Gothika to enable the audience to fully understand each character, as well as giving the audience hints as to what will happen with certain characters throughout the rest of the film. 

Thomas Schatz’s “Genre Theory” can be applied to Gothika. Gothika has a hybrid genre; it is called as a horror and a thriller, therefore the audience can expect; gore, phallic weapons and a stereotypical antagonist from the genre horror; from the thriller genre the audience can expect tense atmosphere’s, sudden plot twists and unexpected attacks.

The use of close ups, high angles, low angles, shaky camera movements and montages contributes largely towards the moods and atmospheres felt throughout the film.

The aspects of the film that I want to include un my own trailer are expressionist angles and shot distances, such as close ups, long shots and high and low angles. I would also like to include montage, because this increases tension. Also low-key lighting contributes towards the atmosphere of the film therefore that would be an important element within the making of my horror trailer. I would avoid using scenes would pro-long or confuse the audience; for example, the dream sequences within Gothika can be considered as quite confusing. 

The best aspect of the film was exploring the inside of the mental institution during the scene where the guards were chasing Miranda. I could re-create this by using shaky camera angles to influence a sense of panic, also by using montages – slow to quick paced editing. I would also use point of view shots, close ups, and long shots to show action from different perspectives.

Patrick (2013) Film Analysis

Patrick (2013)

Directed by Mark Hartley

Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Patrick (2003) is an Australian horror film based on the original film, Patrick, made in 1978. Kathy Jacquard seeks a job to take her mind off of her recent break-up; she gets interviewed and accepted then and there by Doctor Roget, at an isolated psychiatric clinic. Nurse Williams shows Kathy around the clinic, explaining who and why the patients have been admitted. Kathy meets Patrick, who has supposedly been involved in a car crash with his family and is the only survivor. Patrick received brain injuries; therefore he cannot talk or communicate with the staff. Doctor Roget uses shock treatment to shock his brain into creating a reaction; Kathy disagrees with this method of treatment and therefore falls out with Doctor Roget. Patrick starts to communicate with Kathy through spitting, then he shows his powers of telekinesis by communicating with her through a computer monitor. Kathy soon discovers that Patrick is an obsessive psychopath as he begins to hurt everyone around her.

A scene that impressed me was were Patrick was talking to Kathy via a computer monitor. The scene started off slow, and gradually sped up as Patrick revelled more about himself to Kathy. Towards the end of the scene when the tension was at its highest, the camera would jump between the computer monitor, and Patrick’s face. I enjoyed this scene because it used collision cutting to create tension, and also low key lighting was used to compliment the dark atmosphere. Expressionist angles were also used during this scene, the camera would cut to Kathy’s face every so often so that the audience could analyse her reaction; also, when the camera was cutting between Patrick’s face and the computer screen, the shot distances were increasing, the last shot was an extreme close up of Patrick’s face. I could re-create this scene in my own trailer by using close-up shots, and extreme close-up shots, as well as slow to quick paced editing, creating a montage effect. 

Another scene that impressed me was where Nurse Williams was showing Kathy around, it allows the audience to get a sense of the environment inside the house; within this scene close ups, long shots, medium shots and zooms were used, low-key lighting was also used to add to the creep, historic elements of the house – no sound track was used during this scene so that the audience concentrated on the dialogue. 

Watching this horror film allowed me to understand how important elements such as sound, editing and ideologies are when creating a psychological horror film. Parallel music is used throughout the film, in the form of stringed instruments which help to amplify tension and panic. The use of collision cutting and slow to quick montage also helped to build suspense and pressure in the right areas; such as when Patrick is talking to Kathy. Ideologies such as sexism towards women, sadism and feelings/beliefs outside the CDI (cultural dominant ideologies) help to shape the protagonist and explain to the audience why he is the way that he is; for example, Patrick’s mother regarded him as an annoyance when she was with other men, therefore Patrick grew a hate towards men that had relations with his mother; over time Patrick also grew a disliking towards his mother for having relations with other men. 

I would like to include parallel music, point of view shots, and creepy, enclosed locations in my own trailer because I think that these elements help to project uneasiness and dread into the audience. I would also like to avoid contrapuntal music, because I think that it is very hard to make a horror film appear scary or even funny with contrapuntal music as it goes against the overall mood of the scene. I would also avoid using CGI in my trailer because it can look fake and unrealistic, like some of the CGI used in Patrick when Brian lost control of his car. 

Patrick’s character is that of a psycho killer/serial killer. The audience are allowed to find out more about him as the film goes on; towards the end of the film we see flashbacks of his teenage years. In the flashbacks we see him killing his mother and her lover, Patrick suggests to the audience that he is obsessive and is in love with his mother. His love for his mother turns into anger and hate when with other woman, so he feels the need to watch them suffer, therefore he is a sadist. Patrick goes against horror conventions, most killers do not appear clean, and well groomed like Patrick does. There are character stereotypes within this film, for example the girl at the beginning of the film gets killed, she was young and blonde. Kathy is the final girl, and survivors all the way through the film, she is a brunette, dresses slightly like a tomboy and is very intelligent; Kathy also uses a big needle, which is a representation of a phallic weapon, to kill Patrick. 

I think that the establishing shot at the beginning of the film of the psychiatric clinic was very powerful, this is because half of the building is old, and half of it has been modernised; also the old half of the building looks dull, and creepy, whereas the more modern half of the building is painted white. This suggests that there is both good and evil within the house, the old half of the building also compliments the psychiatric clinic in the original Patrick (1978), which can be seen in the trailer below.

The film reflects its historical context through the use of technology. The film was made in 2013, therefore recent, and up-to-date technology was used throughout the scenes. A scene that demonstrates this is where Kathy’s phone starts to ring when she is upstairs, the phone sounds like an old dated phone because of the ringtone, but when Kathy picks up the phone we see that it is an iPhone. The iPhone has been purposely placed where a house phone would usually sit because it demonstrates the advance in technology when comparing the remake and the original. The film also pays tribute to the original 1978 version by using out-dated technology within the clinic, this also adds a sense of doom and dread, and also a negative atmosphere throughout the scenes situated inside the clinic.

Dawn of the Dead (1979) Image Analysis

In this scene from Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (1979) the audience see that Stephan (Flyboy) challenges his original stereotype of the male hero. Stephan is represented as a good looking television reported that can fly a plane. The audience find out in this scene that he cannot use a gun correctly, and nearly shoots Peter. Stephan’s gun is a representation of his masculinity, which is pretty much non-existent in this scene. A medium shot is used in this scene so that the audience concentrate on Stephan’s facial expressions, and Rogers’s ability to shoot perfectly; this could also be considered as an expressionist angle because it shows how Stephan is confused and shocked, whereas Roger is calm and relies on his own ability in order to save Peter from getting attacked. Thomas Schatz’s “Genre Theory” is relevant in this scene, as well as many others, DOTD (1979) is represented as a horror/action, the guns are a signification of an action film, as well as the slow to quick montages that are used in this scene, as well as lots of others.

Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

This image from Dawn of the Dead (DOTD) (2004) brings forward continuing rise of feminism that was touched upon in the original DOTD (1979). The characters do not comply with their stereotypes; for example, Ana has blonde hair, and turns out to be the final girl, the final girl stereotype is that they have black or brown hair and are more masculine than feminine. Although Ana is blonde, she has a tomboy attitude and is aiming a phallic weapon towards Steve. Steve has been uncooperative throughout the film, therefore he deserved his death. Steve wears mostly black clothing throughout DOTD (2004), this is to connote that he has an evil, uncaring attitude towards everyone apart from himself. DOTD (2004) also complies with Thomas Schatz “Genre Theory”, DOTD (2004) is classed as a sci-fi, action and a horror; sci-fi is represented through the use of zombies; action is represented through the use of guns and slow to quick montages, an example of this is where the zombies are climbing up the stairs and the camera focuses on the shot gun shells that are falling out of CJ’s gun as he is shooting the zombies; horror is demonstrated through the use of body horror. The low-key lighting within this scene allows the audience to gain a sense of seriousness, as well as tension because of the situation that Ana has been placed in. The positioning of the camera, as well as the focus, allows the audience to focus on Steve and the gun, rather than Ana.

Psycho (1960) Image Analysis

This is the last shot of Marion that we see after her death in the film Psycho (1960). The atmosphere within this scene holds a sadistic vibe, but the high-key lighting brings a sense of innocence into the scene. The eye could be a representation of the world, and the pupil could represent how there is evil within it, and how she has witnessed evil (her death). The teardrop could represent purity and how it was taken away from Marion when she had sex with her boyfriend near the beginning of the film, as well as when she stole the money. The expressionist angle also allows the audience to understand the mood of the scene. The teardrops, could represent how her life has been washed away, earlier on in this scene we also see her blood being washed down the plug hole, this also corresponds with the idea of her life being washed away. Within this scene 57 shots were used to build a sense of panic, the fast paced montage allowed the scene to become more realistic and tense for the audience.

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