Case study: The Funhouse (1981) and The Orphanage (2007)

The Taxes Chainsaw Massacre

Characters and their representation

The trailer Texas Massacre shows how female characters are vulnerable and the male characters are shown to be more dominanting ones as they are portrayed as the antagonist. Binary opposite is illustrated by the use of the two female characters: one is shown to be the innocent and pure one, whereas the other is more of a rebellious character, which is seen as more or less as a sinner. This is mostly displayed through the use of the character’s costumes and their gestures (flirtatious).    

Setting

The mise-en-scene of the location is set in an isolated area, which is a convention of a horror film. This makes the scenes contain eerie atmosphere. The main setting in the film is the remote house, surrounded by forest to make the sure the characters does not escape easily. This creates an uneasy feel to the audience as they will have to see the horrible things the character go through, similar to accomplishing them in their journey.   

Narrative

A non-diegetic sound of voice-over is used as a narrator to inform the audience about some background information on the crime occurring in Texas. The use of diegetic sound, dialogue is used to let the audience know what is going to happen in the film.  

Theories linked to the trailers

The last girl standing because throughout the trailer, the female character is seen to be fighting against the antagonist, when all her friends are getting murdered one by one. Also, the use of her costume as she is shown as the innocent and pure one whereas, the other female character is shown to be wearing revealing clothes portraying her to be a sinner.  

Types of shots

Variety of shots has been used to show the dominance of the antagonist and the vulnerability of the antagonist and her friends. In the beginning Extreme close up is to show a light bulb flashing and then a dead person’s hand. That is followed by a long shot to introduce the antagonist. When the antagonist is shown, the use of low angle is used to show his authority and a high angle is used with an over the shoulder shot to show how the other characters are inferior to the antagonist. A medium shot which pans in to become a close up shot is used to show the setting and the antagonist’s terrifying face mask.  

Representation of gender- trailers

Nightmare in Elm Street (1984)

Nightmare in Elm Stree was directed by Wes Craven, which is a slasher genre. In the beginning of the scene three little girls are seen to be plating with white clothes on to suggesting their purity and innocence. However, the first person to die is shown to be a girl, who is seen to be having ‘sex’ before marries. A point of view shot of the antagonist is used, where his hand is shown to be grabbing the girl. This suggests that the male antagonist has more dominance and power than the girl. Throughout the trailer, the antagonist is seen to be hunting girls to show how vulnerable females are, however the theory of ‘last girl standing’ is used to subvert from the stereotype of how females are weaker than males. Medium shots are used to show how she is trying to fight back and is determine to survive. Hypodermic needle theory is being used in this trailer to show teenagers if they do something bad this could happen to them as well. Therefore, trying to persuade the teenagers to stay out of trouble.

The cabin in the woods (2012)

In this trailer females are still objectified because even if their costume are not too revealing, their gestures seen to be very sedative (Laura Maulvey). A low angle of is used to show a female dancing and a close up is shown of her trying to kiss the wolf head. This is shown to suggest how women are less intelligent and only care about sex. Also, the male protagonist is seen to be leading the group, where the protagonist girl is seen to be cowering behind him. Even though, the girl is seen to be the last one standing, she is still not seen as an independent woman who is able to carry on trying to survive all alone. This is portrayed when a over the shoulder is shown and her frustrated facial expression and scream.      

Rings (2016)

In this film, even though the male character is shown as less powerful than the female character, he is still helping her during the problems she faces. A medium shot and close up shot is used to show how the male character helps the female protagonist remove from the danger of being hit by a wire pole. Near the beginning of the trailer, the female protagonist is represented as a strong woman as she tries to fight and make herself believe the spirit is not real. However, this starts to change as she turns vulnerable and starts to slowly give up because she experiences horrible situations. The male character is always beside her to show how even though he is not the main protagonist, he is still there to help the female protagonist and without him she wouldn’t be able to survive the challenges she faced.   

Over all difference is seen throughout the years on representation on women. In the olden days, woman are more sexualised and is shown to be vulnerable and weak, who is always relying on the male protagonist. However, as time has changed women are seen as strong willed and able to fight back. There is always one female character that is shown to be objectified even if the text is shown to be subverting on the stereotype of representation of female roles.