HORROR SUB-GENRE’S – “A Nightmare on Elm Street”

A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American horror slasher film written and

directed by Wes Craven, and the first film of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

CLASSICAL

Visceral Pleasures – Rick Altman (shows audience pleasure)

Gut response based on stylistic construction –silhouette of person gives the audience a feeling of revulsion and

offers a narrative with a ‘roller coaster ride’.

Silhouettes of the antagonist are present in “A Nightmare on Elm Street” sub-genre. This is used to create mystery and hide the identity from the audience.

Dark Lighting is a normal convention of every sub-genre.Smoke is used to hide

identity, the misty/fog creates mystery.

CLASSICAL

Screenshot of her running in dress here

Young, Blonde stereotypical female. Blonde perception as stupid.

Helpless, running away. Looks like she needs help from a man

She is wearing white which connotes angelic, innocent and pure. She is vulnerable

Supports Laura Mulveys Theory;

‘In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active /male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly’

CLASSICAL

HORROR SUB-GENRE’S – “Scream”

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette

DECONSTRUCTION

Young, Blonde stereotypical female. Blonde perception as stupid.

Supports Laura Mulveys Theory;

‘In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active /male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly’

Similar to “A Nightmare on Elm Street” character.

Looks vulnerable, like she needs help.

Wearing pale yellow which is still feminine and a colour linked to innocene.

DECONSTRUCTION

Flirty dialogue, so not as angelic and innocent as she looks

Discuss Scary films, refers to Nightmare of Elm Street, and is a similar character

Intertextuality (REFERENCE)

Both female, blonde and young. Slasher films.

Big white house out in woods is a common horror convention.

DECONSTRUCTION