In the short film ABE, the horror
genre is represented through the use of camera work, mis en scene, editing and
sound. I will be analyzing this text
using each of the categories of analysis and explain how they create
representations of the horror genre using evidence from the text, as well as
explaining the effect each has, on the audience.
To begin with, sound in the short
horror film ABE is used to create a stereotypical representation of the horror
genre, as the horror genre is represented as highlighting death and despair.
For example, in the beginning of the extract the non-diegetic instrumental of
rumbling sounds and low mumbling fades in as the first few cuts of the film
(showing the setting of the film) is shown.
The use of such sound sets an eerie tone for the start of the film and
helps to create tension for the audience, as the audience becomes aware of the
mysterious setting of the film. Moreover, the use of low rumbling and mumbling
sounds is conventional in the horror genre and is perhaps used to foreshadow
death, which may build tension for the audience, as rumbling sounds may connote
to danger and hazard. As a result, a stereotypical representation for the
horror genre is created.
The use of camera work in the
short film ABE is significant in drawing in the audience and is stereotypical
of the representation of the horror genre, as the horror genre is represented
as building curiosity and ambiguity. For example, in the beginning of the
extract slow, short panning movement of the camera is used to show, translucent
curtains with a ball of white light behind it, in the left of the screen and
rule of thirds. Furthermore, the use of slow movement is conventional in films
of the horror genre, as it is great in drawing in the attention for the
audience and keeping the focus of the audience on particular scenes. Perhaps,
in this extract, the use of slow and short pans in the beginning of the film
was to connote the significance of these curtains and what is behind these
curtains. In addition, the fact that these curtains are translucent, nothing
clear behind the curtains is shown; as a result this may connote to ambiguity
and thus draws in the audience through their curiosity. In addition, the use of
a wide shot to show blood on the curtains of the robot is inter textual to the
horror film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock, this further draws in the audience of
those who have watches the particular horror classic and blood is an iconic
convention in the horror genre.
Furthermore, editing is also used
in the short horror film to also represent the horror genre in a stereotypical
light, as it is represented as creating inner conflict within the audience. For
example, throughout the entire extract there, were many long cuts that were
spent on the robot, the supposed antagonist. These long takes draws in the
audience, but more importantly create a tense atmosphere, as these long takes
allow the audience to take a closer look at the antagonist and hear his
dialogue. As a result, the use of these long takes create stereotypical
representations of the horror genre, as conventionally films under the horror
genre have more long takes than short takes. In this extract, the use of long
takes on the robot, perhaps have been used to create conflict within the
audience, as the long takes allow the audience to sympathize with the robot (antagonist
or villain), but because he is the villain it may not be morally right to
sympathize with him. As a result, conflict of morality is creates, in doing, so
this creates a tense atmosphere.
Mis en scene is also used to
represent the horror genre in a stereotypical way, because through mis en scene
the horror genre is represented as creating symbolism. For example, in the
middle of the extract a moth is shown several times fluttering around and being
attracted to white light. The use of the moth creates symbolism of the life and
death in this extract, because butterfly’s’ connote life, death and
reincarnation. This creates the symbolic code and is a code part of the enigma
code explained by Barthes and through this the conflict of life and death is highlighted.
Thus, the use of nature within this extract connotes the fragility of life and
the prominence of death. As a result, the horror genre is represented as
playing with meanings and using symbolism to foreshadow events, as the use of
the moth may show that life is ending and as a result creates fear within the
audience, as generally humans fear death. Lastly, conventionally films in the
horror genre play on human fears to create that scare factor.
In addition, editing is used to
create a non-stereotypical representation of the horror genre. For example,
throughout the entire extract VFX and CGI is used to create and show the
audience the robot antagonist. The use of the robot is significant, as it
creates the binary opposition of humans verses robots and thus good versus
evil. Moreover, the use of the robot does not create verisimilitude and thus
allows this particular film to be a counter-type to stereotypes in the horror
genre, as stereo-typically verisimilitude in the horror genre is created by the
intelligence of human characters not robots. As a result, the use of the robot
creates instability for the audience, as robots connote to high intelligence,
power and strength, thus this threatens the dominance of human intelligence
over other kinds, such as animals, in real life.
Furthermore, sound is also used
in ABE to represent the horror genre in a stereotypical way, as sound is
represented as creating panic within the audience through intertextuality. For
example, in the middle of the extract the robot antagonist uses a scalpel to
cut a flying butterfly in half. At the point the robot strikes the butterfly, a
sting is used of a rapid whip sound. The use of the sting is important, because
the sudden noise of the whip creates a jump scare for the audience and creates
panic within the audience, as the death of the butterfly, is the first death
that the audience come across in the horror film. Moreover, the use of the
butterfly is intertextual to the horror film The Silence of the Lambs (TSOTL)
(1991) by Jonathan Demme and the use of a silence following the sting also
allows the audiences who have watched TSOTL, to acknowledge this intertextual
link, which creates further panic as the audience know that the butterfly does
not mean good. As a result, the death of moth connotes nearing death and death
is a convention of the horror genre. Thus, this particular short film can be
considered and archetype to the horror genre.
In conclusion, the short horror
film ABE contains many conventions that are found in the horror genre and these
are highlighted through the use of camera work, sound, editing and mis en
scene, therefore over all the short horror film ABE represents the horror in a
stereotypical light.
ABE (2013)
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