We explored Horror Theory by looking at the ideas of a variety of different film theorists.
Wheeler Winston Dixon says that both men and woman in horror films can be sites of activity. This means we don't learn much about their character and there's a certainty of slaughter, they are seen as a situation rather than an actual character. A good example of a site of activity is in the opening sequence to 'Scream' (1996). The scene is based around the killing of Casey and her boyfriend who are both sites of activity we learn little about and make no connection to. This was relevant when we made our opening title sequence as our victim was a site of activity and it taught us not to introduce our character in our sequence as (his/her) sole purpose was to be slaughtered.
Carol Clover is another theorist who writes of horror films:
"the first and central aim of horror cinema is to play to masochistic fears and desires in its audiences." Masochism is the desire for pain and the enjoyment of it. Clover is suggesting that everyone has masochism and it is a horror films job to bring it out and fulfil it.
Another of her theories which is specific to the 'slasher' subgenre, is the identification of the final girl, the sole surviver. However, as we only made an opening title sequence so we did not use Clovers theory of identifying with the final girl. (also did not do slasher)
Killers in horror films have usually encountered childhood issues, for example Norman Bates in 'Phsyco' (1960), or are sexually disturbed like Freddie Krueger who was a child molester in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984). This however only applies to male killers and females killed for other reasons.
Another of her theories which is specific to the 'slasher' subgenre, is the identification of the final girl, the sole surviver. However, as we only made an opening title sequence so we did not use Clovers theory of identifying with the final girl. (also did not do slasher)
Killers in horror films have usually encountered childhood issues, for example Norman Bates in 'Phsyco' (1960), or are sexually disturbed like Freddie Krueger who was a child molester in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984). This however only applies to male killers and females killed for other reasons.
Clover states that the slasher victims tent to be beautiful women, previously adults, but not the victims are often in their teens. She says that victims of slashers are 'sexual transgressors' and that it is always the female deaths that linger on screen. We took this theory into consideration when making our opening title sequence by making our victim a beautiful, young woman. This benefited our opening title sequence as by making our victim, a beautiful, non virginal teenager we are attracting the attention of young males.
Carol Clover also has ideas about the settings of horros and thinks they should be set in terrible places such as decaying mansions like 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974). Although, the physical state is not what makes it so terrifying, but the history and awful people inside them.
However Wes Craven, another theorist had contrasting views about horror film setting to Clover. He said that the most terrifying things happen in the safest places, e.g. a school, hospital or church. This is because if bad things are happening in a place associated with safety then the audience get the sense that there is no safe place. A good example of this is the school scenes in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984).
We chose to take influence from Craven/Clovers ideas about setting in out opening title sequence because....
(M.G)