Genre Analysis

‘Dawn Of The Dead’

By Esere Simei-Akajagbo 12 Francis

Dawn Of The Dead

Are there any survivors of a

worldwide plague full of

aggressive, flesh-eating

zombies?

BloodDarknes

s

HorrorZombie

s

DEATH

Click here to watch trailer and find out more.

Genre?

• The genre is Horror, this is because of the basic conventions: blood, dark settings and gory images.

• Other films with the same genre are : Warm Bodies The Conjuring Insidious Carrie

The purpose of the horror genre is:

• Terrify people with tales that trigger less logical parts in our imagination.

• Horror films derive basic thrills form triggering the rush of adrenalin which our fears brings.

• This is presented by the use of basic conventions such as darkness

Audience?

• The audience it targeted at teenagers.

• To be precise the main audience directed at male teenagers.

• Stereotypically, male teenagers love horror movies.

Horror Conventions: Examples From Some Films

When a character sees, hears something mysterious, they always go and investigate what it is and end ups not coming back.. Or hurt

‘Silent Hill’

Usually set in dark streets and narrow alleyways, old houses(‘haunted houses’), abandoned/isolated areas. Anything that connotes with the idea of isolation or being alone.

‘ The Possession’

‘Stupid’ character that does something to die in a stupid way or heads towards the danger

‘ Sinister’

Splitting the group up in the woods, cave, haunted house, a dark place, station: any creepy location.

‘The Cabin In The Woods’

When trying to escape the vehicle never starts

‘Jeepers Creepers’

The killer never seems to die ‘ A Nightmare On Elm Street’

Blood, Gory images ‘Creep’

Conventions:

Conventions Genre:Conventions Evidence Explanation

Blood, Gory Images In every horror movie there is some sort of blood or gory imagery. This is highlighted by the use of screen grabs.

Isolated areas Horror films is usually has a sense of isolation and this screen grabs presents that.

Dying in stupid ways In every horror movie most people die in stupid ways and this screen grabs reveals how the person did a foolish act and ending up dying.

The killer never seems to die

The screen grabs illustrate how the killers never seem to die: The population of killers is increasing.

Subgenres Of The Film

• Subgenre is Horror/Zombies.They portray viral reliving corpses/ mindless humans that feed of the living.• Other films in the same subgenre

are: Warm Bodies Night Of The Living Dead I Am A Legend

Connotations & Denotations

Physically the child is there, mentally she’s not. She has turned into a Zombie.

A girl with blood of her face and looks possessed.

An empty area. No one is the shopping mall.

Isolation has occurred, there are no humans left or they are in hiding. This environment creates a sense of loneliness and desertion

Connotations & Denotations

Woman slipped into the bath.

Her status is physically low and the fact that she fell into the bath indicates to the audience that she doesn’t have much authority. This is also represented by the use of camera angles, the higher up makes the main character seem weak and vulnerable.

Landscape of a city

The fact that the screen grab is dark suggests a sense of cold, loneliness, darkness and some sort of danger.

How are people, places or objects represented in the trailers?

Places:

The killers seem to be located in:• Dark areas• Isolated areasDark, mysterious, dangerous, isolated, abandoned areas which attract the Zombies because that is when they are most fearful.

High angle shows the danger!

Isolation

Fear

How are people, places or objects represented in the trailers?

People:

The people are portrayed as terrified, scared, vulnerable and in need of protection.

Terrified!Vulnerabl

e

Low camera angles to indicate that the killers are dominating because they look like a threat: audience feels sympathetic towards the humans because there insecurities has been revealed.

Explain the Stereotypes in trailer.

Popular area- Desertion.

The big muscular character who is meant to be the protector gets scared at times

In horror films, there are often stereotypical characters which are strong and tough; they usually look after the weak and at times they’re weak as well.

Explain the Stereotypes in trailer.

Safe, secure place- Closure, warmth.

He is vulnerable( Blood, pain, hurt) and the high angle makes him look vulnerable.In horror films, there are often

stereotypical male characters which keep their partners safe yet are misguided when it comes to their children and end up dead.

Are the Stereotypes Challenged or Reinforced?

Stereotype Reinforced Challenged

Killers as threatening

Low angled shots making the Killers seem superior and invincible.

Big, muscular character

Strong male, with muscles, protector of the weaker.

Also is represented as weak, when the pressure to conform is too much to handle.