WEEK 2 – TASK 3

WEEK 2 – TASK 3 Using your notes from class on sub-genre and Horror conventions, write a 300-word summary of HOW the film makes interesting use of the conventions of Horror and Subgenres you have studied Cabin in the Woods is horror comedy film that features several different sub genres within it. It’s main sub-genre is the slasher genre with the prevailing theme of teen punishment, acting as a cautionary tale for sinning. The film makes the theme distinct by firstly, having a cast of young adults playing common stock characters that would be in a teen punishment film such as; the athlete, the slut, the scholar, the fool and the virgin or final girl. As expected, the slut character is attacked and killed first followed by her boyfriend after they begin a sexual encounter. This is a common convention in horror films as sexual intercourse in our world can be considered a sin which is in turn punished by being sent to hell. By being targeted during and after this act it shows them being punished for it. In the film, the athlete is shown to be drunk and disoriented, underage drinking is also seen to be sinful or a taboo and he is killed. Similarly, the purpose of his death is to warn or frighten teenagers about the consequences of their corrupt behaviour. The main sub-genre, splatter, is conveyed through the iconography and the theme of teen punishment, gender patriarchy and the behaviour of the characters. In splatter films the final girl usually adopts masculine traits to defeat the antagonist in order to survive. In Cabin in the Woods, the final girl uses a gun as a weapon to defend herself however she ends up surrendering to die with her friend which subverts to the convention of the final girl always surviving. The character’s that initially takes the lead are the men; for example the athlete fights off the antagonists to save his girlfriend and further on when the four of them remain in the house, he gives the instruction for everyone to split up which they follow. The iconography in the film includes, blood, masks and phallic weapons such as chainsaws. The blood is significant as it is used excessively in the film which emphasises the film as more gory and graphic which makes the film more uncomfortable for the viewer to watch but on the other hand it may satisfy them in their need of catharsis. The masks used on some antagonists are significant as they create mystery and play on people’s fear of the unknown.

Comments

  1. ctkmedia13 September 2017 at 01:44

    Again a confident analysis with inference of meaning and this time with consideration of intent and purpose that the film is using these subgenre for. WT.A
    Consider how necessary it is for the audience to be aware of these conventions to make the film 'work' therefore who is it directed at - general audience or horror fans

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