Scream

SCREAMJasmine Edward Joni

BackgroundScream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. Directed by Wes CravenProduced by Cathy Konrad Cary WoodsWritten by Kevin WilliamsonStarring David ArquetteNeve CampbellCourteney CoxMatthew LillardRose McGowanSkeet UlrichDrew BarrymoreMusic by Marco BeltramiCinematography Mark IrwinEditing by Patrick LussierStudioWoods Entertainment Distributed by Dimension FilmsRelease date(s)December 20, 1996Running time111 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$15 millionBox office $173,046,663

NarrativeThe genre is revealed straight away for the audience with the opening shot of the title in red and the non-diagetic scream. Narrative is used in scream in many ways; firstly it does not follow the classic ‘todorov’ of Equilibrium – Disruption – Return to equilibrium. It has a linear discourse and so promotes the actual experience of being in the film for the audience rather than a non-linear discourse, which would suggest the telling of a story for example. The genre is introduced also in the next sequence of shots by introducing the character. A pretty, blonde and wealthy American TEENAGER. This is very important these are all classic horror slasher genre codes. The sound bridge of the phone ringing draws in the audience. The phone is also another genre code. It is often used in slasher films as the prospect that someone can hear what’s going on but cant see, know or help is very disturbing. It is also the way of getting help police friends or neighbours so it is seen as something safe handy and useful to have in your home but the most important aspect of the use of the phone in slasher genres is that nearly everyone in the audience will have one idea of who the killer would be, but its present in a way which cannot be easily noticeable.

Main characterStrong independent female, this would conform to post-feminine women taking control of a situation and not being afraid to use force.

From this mid-angle shot of ‘Cindy’ and Judging by the facial expression which is being portrayed Seems to be threatened and afraid.The use of the ‘knife’ prop would indicate how she is trying to take control of the situation.

This film subvert gender stereotypes; the way in which they do this is by having a dominate female character who seems to save the day in the end. The way which this subverts is that the ‘good looking females’ are portrayed as being stupid and as a result of this end up dying first but as we realise from this film she seems to have a lot of qualities which your would incorporate with a male.

Part 2From watching the film we realise how this character conformsThe Stereotypes of being a dumb blond and the effect of this being She can play the role of a victim well. She would be seen as being a stock type of a exaggerated character, the reason for this would be its easier to manipulate and makes for entertaining viewing.

Throughout the movie we notice how she wears a lot of bright coloured clothing and is very metrosexual and see’s her appearance as being a big propriety this would conform to modern stereotypes of females who needs a male figure to be feel safe.

Visual effects and DesignKNB Effects created over 50 gallons of fake blood, normally composed of corn syrup and food dye, to create the visual effect of severe wounds

Two of the most complex visual effects in the film were the corpses of Barrymore's and Walls' characters, Casey Becker and Steve Orth. Their deaths involved the character being gutted from ribcage to pelvis, essentially hollowing out the torso of internal organs

The mask of the antagonist was produced by sketching a lot of deformed faces and trying to link it with a ghostly theme the mask looking like the one from ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ so they needed to make sure they can differentiate it enoughTo avoid copyright claims.

Similar FilmsJASON; This would be an example of a similar film in the same genre,This also has the main theme of a deluded crazy cereal killer. But the way in which the two movies differentiate is that. In scream You have to try and work out who the killer is, but in Jason we realiseFrom the beginning. And the on going theme of people dying one by oneIs repeated in both movies.

HALLOWEEN; this is another example of the same type of film and inThis one they seem to use the same prop ‘knife’ this is coming in Slasher films because it emphasises the fact that you don’t need a Fancy weapon to be a cereal killer, you can use an everyday object Which in turn makes the film more scarier.