For this task we had to watch different horror films and find examples of how the horror theories we learned about are used.
'The ring'
This screenshot is from the film 'The Ring'. It supports Wes Craven theory about absence of authority. This says that typically, good horror films show their 'site of activity' character all alone. The effect of this is that it makes the film more intense for viewers. This screen shot of the scene shows the young teenage girl (who is also the site of activity) walking alone down a dark and flooded corridor alone, showing the audience that there's nobody around to help her, therefor there's less chance of her escaping the killer.
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This screenshot is also from the same film. It supports Carol Clover's theory that when characters have no signal when they most need it, the horrors are scarier. The audience feels that the victim is in trouble because they have lost connection from the rest of the world- they're helpless and even more vulnerable. The shot shows the TV with no signal on the screen, highlighting that all the technology she might depend on are failing her, and that there's no escape or way to get help.
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'Scream'
This screenshot is from the film 'Scream'. It disregards Carol Clover's theory that when the site of activity is in danger, all technology and means to find help are cut off. It contradicts the theory because Casey is on a working and connected phone. She could call the police if she wanted at this point in the scene.
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'Halloween' |
This Screenshot is from 'Scream'. This contradicts a convention we usually see in horror that says blondes die first because they are less intelligent than brunettes. In most horror films, it's typically the brunettes who live longer or survive to the end. This happens in Scream, Sydney survives all the way through the series of films. This supports Carol Clover's 'final girl' theory.
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This screenshot is from the film 'Halloween'. It supports Wes Craven's theory about absence of authority making horrors more intense for the audience. This screen shot shows an empty house with the lights off. This shows the audience with the use of mise en scene and lighting that there's nobody home to help the site of activity and therefor makes the scene more intense to watch.
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This is also from the same film. It supports Carol Clover's theory that says a slasher movie killer always uses knives and other sharp weapons. It means that they are getting up close and personal with their victim, causing pain and a slow, painful death and exposes lots of blood and guts. Because of this, it's a more disturbing scene to watch because of the blood and because of how the audience will relate to the pain the site of activity is feeling.
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