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Questions and Answers
Which character type is commonly found in the crime genre and may include individuals like Vito Corleone and Tony Soprano?
What recurring thematic question in the crime genre involves the moral dilemma of sacrificing human life for the greater good?
Which film falls under the 'Heist movies' category mentioned in the text?
In the crime genre, what is a common character archetype that might include characters like Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade?
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Which sub-genre includes films like 'The Roaring Twenties' and 'Miller’s Crossing'?
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'Can men of violence ever really be a part of wider civilisation?' is a recurring thematic question that delves into what issue?
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'Ocean’s Eleven' and 'The Italian Job' are examples of which category that often involves elaborate planning and execution of complex thefts?
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'Blade Runner' and 'Collateral' fall under which distinctive sub-genre characterized by a dark and cynical view of the world?
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'Panic in the Streets' and 'Heat' are part of which sub-genre focusing on police work, tactics, and procedures during investigations?
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What character type often portrayed as cunning and elusive, like the character Alex in 'A Clockwork Orange'?
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Study Notes
Iconography in Horror Genre
- Common supernatural entities include ghosts, demons, monsters (werewolves, vampires, zombies), and masked killers.
- Typical settings feature gothic locations like old castles, graveyards, and isolated rural areas (farmhouses, abandoned manors).
- Classic horror imagery includes screaming victims and various weapons (knives, axes).
Setting in Horror Films
- Frequently set in the 18th or 19th century, emphasizing an exaggerated Gothic past.
- American small towns or suburbs often serve as covers for dark secrets.
- Popular venues include high schools, social events (e.g., proms, summer camps), and isolated rural locations.
Narrative Tropes in Horror
- Gothic Horror draws inspiration from 19th-century literature, often adapting stories like Dracula and Frankenstein.
- Slasher films typically depict a group of young adults stalked and killed by a relentless killer.
- Zombie films showcase the dead rising as monsters, with survivors battling for survival.
- Ghost stories, such as Poltergeist (1982) and The Haunting (1963), feature characters threatened by supernatural forces.
- Body Horror narratives focus on disease or biological transformations (Cabin Fever, The Bay).
- "Revenge of Nature" films like The Birds (1963) illustrate nature turning against humanity.
Style of Horror Films
- Employs expressionistic film techniques to evoke suspense and unease.
- Utilizes low-key lighting to create dramatic shadows.
- Dominant camera techniques include smooth tracking shots and handheld POV shots to suggest unseen dangers.
- Music and sound effects amplify tension, often using specific motifs (e.g., shrieking violins in Psycho).
- Sudden sounds and amplified diegetic effects (e.g., screams) enhance terror.
Notable Horror Films by Subgenre
- Supernatural Visitations: Poltergeist, The Haunting, The Blair Witch Project
- Body Horror: The Bay, Cabin Fever
- Gothic Horror: Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, Masque of the Red Death
- Revenge of Nature: The Birds
- Slasher Films: Sorority Row, The Hole
- Zombie Films: Land of the Dead, Warm Bodies
Western Genre Overview
- Set primarily in the United States during the mid to late 19th century.
- Explores themes of civilization versus lawlessness, with settlers and lawmen defending territory against outlaws.
- Some Westerns address conflicts between settlers and Native American inhabitants.
Science Fiction Themes
- Alien Encounters: 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
- Alien Invasion: Independence Day, War of the Worlds
- Artificial Intelligence: The Matrix, Wall-E
- Dystopian Future: The Hunger Games, Blade Runner
- Time Travel: Back to the Future, The Terminator
- Post-Apocalyptic: Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, I Am Legend
Crime Genre Definition
- Explores the criminal world, featuring detectives, cops, and ordinary people caught in crime-related situations.
Iconography in Crime Films
- Urban environments serve as settings, often acting as characters themselves.
- Features tough private detectives and cops typically characterized by trench coats and fedoras.
- Highlighted elements include sharp-suited gangsters and various weapons (e.g., revolvers, sub-machine guns).
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Description
Test your knowledge on the common elements of iconography like supernatural entities, monsters, masked killers, and settings such as gothic castles and isolated rural locations in the horror genre. Explore the various components that make horror films thrilling and spine-chilling.
