Scream is influenced from a lot movies from the horror genre such as Halloween, the characters are all meant to know the rules of the ways in which to survive. "It's an important detail in a movie that's made up of teen characters who are all wise to the intricacies of what to do and what not to do in horror films. Multiple references to various movies of the genre litter a script that prides itself on being cleverer than the features it both mocks and reveres." (Haflidason, 2001) Scream changes the concept of the original rules and ideas of the typical victim of a helpless girl who is thick and doesn't know how to deal with the situation. This film allows the the typical group of teen stereotypes to have the upperhand and experience from films that Scream mocks. Scream has a huge link to Halloween because they both have the idea of the killer stalking teen women while wearing a mask, building up to the terror element.
Figure 1, (2011), Billy Loomis aka Ghost Face
The film breaks the original traditionals of horror but still has the classic obviousness of the identity of the killer and the gore within the film. "It's been a long time since a teen-slasher movie has offered up anything but dull buckets of gore. With Scream, the genre reclaims it's roots." (McGurk, 2002) Scream is very predictable in terms of story and which victims are most likely the next to be killed. However there are certain twists in the plot development such as there are two killers instead of one, that give the film a unique identity in it's own right.
Figure 2, (1996 - 1997), The last characters taking on the villians
One major postmodernist example in the film is the identity of Ghost Face, which draws a lot of attributes from the painting by Edvard Munch. "Amoung the droller touches in 'Scream' are the killer's mask, which is Edvard Munch by way of a trick or treat costume, and suspense scenes set in de rigueur locations like the high school bathroom." (Maslin, 1996) Scream draws inspiration from original key ideas in art and setting because this makes the american teen stalking world believable to a viewer. They can believe in the killer in a halloween costume because it hides his identity but also strengthens the idea of a predatory monster that is tracking his victims down and playing psychological games of fear and entrapment so the victims know they are not going to escape alive. The typical setting of the high school bathroom, the one place the killer could strike where the victim is allowed to be alone and defenceable. This allows the killer to hide in a cubicle and strike unexpectedly.
Figure 3, (2011), Ghost Face
Illustrations
Figure 1, (2011), Billy Loomis aka Ghost Face, @ http://scream.wikia.com/wiki/Ghostface, Accessed on: 2011
Figure 2, (1996 - 1997), The last characters taking on the villians, @ http://screamfreak.tripod.com/image.html, Accessed on: 1997
Figure 3, (2011), Ghost Face, @ http://12ftdwende.tumblr.com/post/4968627410/12ftreview-scream-1-4-by-jake-brooks-slasher, Accessed on: 26th April 2011
Hafildason Almar, (2001), BBC Film reviews - Scream, @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/05/24/scream_1996_review.shtml, Accessed on: 30th May 2001
Maslin, (1996), New York Times - Scream, @ http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEEDE1431F933A15751C1A960958260&partner=Rotten Tomatoes, Accessed on: 20th December 1996
McGurk Margaret, (2002), Horror fans will 'Scream' again - Scream, @ http://enquirer.com/columns/mcgurk/122096a_mm.html, Accessed on: 15th October 2002
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| 5/5 |
ooh - 5 stars!
ReplyDeleteYes I really liked this film more than I thought I would :D
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