Popular film genre designed to frighten the audience using explicit violence and supernatural creatures such as vampires, zombies, aliens or deranged people with chainsaws. Sometimes called ‘slasher’ films, as opposed to Thrillers which are more subtle and psychological, creating the horror in the viewer’s mind.
Excerpt from Media Key Terms and Concepts.
A recurring theme.
Any significant repeated element in a film is a motif. It could be an object, colour, place, sound etc. For example, the recurring image of the ring in the horror film The Ring (2002).
Our recognition of these motifs contributes to our enjoyment of the film.
A famous example is the word ‘Rosebud’’ in Citizen Kane (1941); a common Hollywood thematic motif is humankind vs nature in Armageddon (1998) and The Day After Tomorrow (2004) reminding us of our fragile existence as a species in the universe.
Non-mainstream, eccentric films which avoid using traditional narrative and technical conventions. They appeal to a small but passionate audience who enjoy their controversial subject matter, oddball characters and highly stylised design. Some do achieve commercial success and some mainstream films acquire a certain ‘cult status’ but most cult films are usually too outrageous or contrived for most audiences.
They range from such movies as Freaks (1932), Reefer Madness (1936), Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and any film by director Ed Wood; to such mainstream films as Pirates of the Caribbean (2003), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Two for the Road (1967) and Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010).
Excerpt from Media Key Terms and Concepts
Too much light has reached the film or photographic paper to produce a correctly exposed image.
Whilst taking the photograph, the light meter will register above the line (the aperture is set too high or the shutter speed too slow to allowing too much light to hit the film), resulting in an overexposed negative.
In the darkroom, the photographic paper may be exposed for too long, resulting in an overexposed print.
Overexposed images appear as being too light.
Appearing to be true or real.
Most viewers tend to respond to the content of media presentations as though they are very close approximations of real life situations or experiences. A high degree of verisimilitude means that the work is very believable and realistic. Verisimilitude relies on credibility, plausibility, probability, actuality and/ or truthfulness.
The willingness to suspend one’s disbelief. When the intensity of the story or interest in the characters overrides our need to believe that things are scientifically correct.
In a film, the audience is positioned to view the narrative from the perspective of one or more of the characters. As events unfold, perspective may change several times. At any one time, we are seeing the story from one point of view. The audience is encouraged (positioned) to identify with that character at that time. We may not always approve of their actions or ideas, however, our value systems will almost always be reinforced by the outcome of the film.
Point of view is very dependent on the position of the camera, framing and focus. The camera can lead us to notice certain details in a scene.
If there is a narrator, the audience is told the story from the narrator’s point of view. Whether the narrator is a character or not, their narration may be very objective or just as easily very subjective.
A relatively new film genre which, as its name implies, has the central conflicts played out through spectacular action sequences such as high-speed car chases, explosions and gun fights. They are usually set in present day America and have a huge body count and massive destruction of property.
The typed characters are often one-dimensional: strong male heroes, feisty females with attitude, and a cold, ruthless villain wealthy enough to employ many expendable henchmen.
Examples are Die Hard (1988), Black Panther (2018).
Having the characteristics of an icon, a sign which represents the signified (photograph, portrait) and which has become instantly recognisable over a long period of time. This especially refers to film and popular culture where some actors, characters, objects and settings are connected to themes or meanings immediately identifiable in the minds of the viewer.”
Young news reporters learning the profession at various newspapers, radio or television stations.
A film genre that deals with romantic mishaps and mismatches in a humorous way.
A basic plotline:
Despite obvious attraction, the would-be-lovers do not become romantically involved. After various comic scenes (social interactions laden with sexual tensions), they are parted, then realise they are made for each other, meet again and live happily ever after.
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