Assignment 9: Individual Research

By Abdullah Khan

Shutter IslandOfficial Poster:

I learnt the following:

• The film focuses on psychological paranoia within the horror genre.

• The protagonist of the film is in deep psychological stress/paranoia as the horror is presented within the mind of the character.

• The protagonist of the horror film is male which is stereotypical approach although this is changing within the modern film industry.

• The psychological paranoia sets a tone full of tension and suspense for the audience as the character suffers mentally.

• The films approach allows the audience to feel sympathetic towards the protagonist as he is isolated, alone and in despair.

• The film offers a twist at the end of the film which is a conventional reinforcement for psychological horror movies e.g. “the sixth sense” which also surprises the audience at the end of the film with a shocking twist.

Costume: The protagonist’s appearance is a typical representation of a professional detective as he is assumed by the audience to be in his experienced role with his partner.

Setting: The setting is quite isolated, set in a island, adding to the sense of fear experienced by the character (protagonist) as we also now know that he cannot escape.

Props: There are no weapons as the film has a psychological approach rather than a physical.

There are a range of flashbacks in the movie to give an insight to the protagonist of the film.

The range of illusions experienced by the protagonist create narrative enigmas, engaging the audience.

There are symbolic references to the twist of the movie to offer the more intelligent audiences or second viewers clear clues.

The detective is accompanied by his partner which is a conventional approach to a crime story.

The RingOfficial Poster

I learnt the following:

Red Dragon

Official Poster:

I learnt the following:

28 Days LaterOfficial Poster:

I learnt the following:

Panic Room

I Learnt the following:

• The film focuses on home invasion within the horror genre.

• The protagonist of the film is a female mother, reinforcing more recent representations of gender within horrors e.g. Don’t Breathe (which also had a similar approach with the female having the more dominant role as the protagonist)

• Fear is a dominant factor within the tone for the characters as well as the audience. This being similar to other horror movies within the genre.

• The narrative structure is linear as the movie is set in one location being the home of the protagonist.

• The film has a serious tone as the mother and child are victimised by criminals so the audience are sympathetic towards them.

Official Poster:

Costume: The costume within the movie is typical home clothing as the women is in her house. The antagonists outfits on the other hand is more representative of criminals as his clothing is similar to those of street gang members.

Props: The antagonists have weapons as they use it to threaten their victims, creating fear. This being the conventional approach for the genre. The protagonist is in her home environment so the audience are given a representation of a typical home.

There is fearful tone through out the film emphasised through the facial expressions of the characters.

There is more than one antagonist so the audience know that the mother and daughter are very likely to be victimised.

Weapons are used in the film as they offer a physical threat to the characters that are being victimised.

There is conflict between two of the antagonists which creates tension as well as suspense for the audience.

The ShiningOfficial Poster:

I learnt the following:

InsidiousOfficial Poster:

I learnt the following: