Scream: The True Story Behind the Mask (2/22-2/27)

     Scream is said to be one of the most successful horror films in movie history. With it's combined effort to criticize traditional aspects of scary movies as well as actually depict a plot based on true events, Scream is a staple when discussing well-made horror flicks. The production was released in 1996 and grossed over 400 million dollars in the United States alone, and the iconic mask worn by the serial killer has became an international symbol for horror.
     Wes Craven is highly acclaimed for "revitalizing the horror genre." Critics agree that, "Scream blended slasher violence with murder mystery and it played on the stereotypes and conventions of classic horror films breathing new life into the genre."  What may seem like pure fiction is actually partly based on facts; in 1990, thirty-six year old serial killer, Danny Harold Rolling, stalked, tortured and murdered five young students in Gainsville at the University of Florida. He was even dubbed, "The Gainsville Ripper," and Wes Craven sought his creative vision to turn this real-life horror into a Hollywood classic. The murders ensued panic around the area and launched one of the country's largest manhunt in search of a criminal. In 1994, Rolling pleaded guilty to all five counts of first degree murder and was accordingly convicted.
     The opening of the film itself is mildly sarcastic and draws the audience in by making references to typical mistakes and blunders committed by protagonists of horror films, such as the one being targeted in the beginning scene. Scream was modern in the sense that it portrayed an almost satirical side of horror, yet continued to direct a story that was to portray the terrifying story of a masked killer. The cast perfectly embodied the typical 90s' generation of style and behavior, but it also revamped the industry, as the genre was slowly dying in popularity. Screenwriters and critics offer insight that, "...a chunk of 'Scream''s success is due to being in the right place at the right time."
 
Actual serial killer, Danny Harold Rolling.                     Iconic Scream mask.

The True Story Scream. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from www.discoveryuk.com website:
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/the-true-story/about/scream/ 

Hall, P. (2011, March 31). The Lasting Legacy of the 'Scream' Franchise. Retrieved February 26,
2015, from news.moviefone.com website: http://news.moviefone.com/2011/03/31/
scream-movies-legacy/

Women Can Be Scary Too! (2/16-2/20)

    The horror film industry typically lends itself to slight gender discrimination and stereotypes accordingly. But, as the "Women in Horror" movement has sparked a fire in female directors and actresses alike. Dominating masculine characters and "hyper sadist" men tend to overtake the genre, allowing little recognition for women figures, and if females are included, they are usually embodied by misogynistic representations. The movement's theoretical goal is to have the gender of a filmmaker be completely irrelevant and unimportant, but discrimination against females in the industry is a painful reality. Actor-filmmaker Rose McGowan recently states at the New York Film Critics Circle, "I ask you to take up the hand of the female director until we no longer say "female director."
    As awareness is strengthening the growth and prevalence of goals from the movement, the situation is improving as female leads, producers, and directors are receiving high praise and recognition for their work. Director Jennifer Kent recently acquired industry claim with the production of the Australian horror film entitled, "The Babadook." She reached Rotten Tomatoes Top Ten of the Year list, making gender irregardless because the film itself deserves attention. Critics of the movie claim that it's success lies in its portrayal of a non-sexualized female lead that is pivotal in plot development.
     One criticism that the "Women in Horror" movement makes about the industry is that female film-making is taken less seriously and considered more novel or juvenile in nature. Contrary to popular opinion, female productions have long taken reign in history such as "Ida Lupino's proto-slasher The Hitch-Hiker (1953) or Maya Deren's supernaturally-imbued experimental masterpiece Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)."
     Hopefully, the horror film industry will eventually become gender neutral and the achievements of women in movie production will be respected just as highly as those of males. The Women in Horror movement is a powerful change in the industry that is promoting the successes of female filmmakers and it can only grow from where it stands now.

Heller-Nicholas, A. (2015, February 18). Women in horror: who is horror for? Retrieved February 19,
     2015, from http://screen.artshub.com.au/ website: http://screen.artshub.com.au/news-article/
     features/film/women-in-horror-who-is-horror-for-247192

 
Director Jennifer Kent and her recent Australian blockbuster film, "The Babadook."

Horror Movies: Why Do We Like Them So Much? (2/8-2/13)

     There are multiple criticisms of horror films that analyze why the genre's viewership enjoys them as much they do. The horror film industry has had a major breakthrough and it's evolution in terms of audience has progressed dramatically.
      The psychoanalytic theory states how horror movies provide a release for feelings that have been suppressed or what society may oppress the viewership from experiencing. Film critic Robin Wood states that the monster Frankenstein is "identified with repressed homosexuality." He theorizes that horror films provide an outlet for violent transgression that is pleasurable because it reminds the audience of nostalgic childhood which didn't deem gore as taboo. Scholars argue, "other psychoanalytic theories saw horror in the opposite light: as a safe and cathartic way to deal with darker feelings." Overall, these opinions rely on the idea that the fear does not particularly lie in what the evil in the film represents, but it is what is inspired by the terror that becomes a curious topic of discussion. The article thus states, "One feature of  Philosopher Noel Carroll’s theory is that it captures the paradoxical nature of horror’s allure: the very oddity that makes monsters repulsive is precisely what makes them attractive."
     One other hypothesis lies in the gender theory. It begins to explain how horror films present a unique experience for male viewers. A professor at the University of California, Carol J. Clover, argued that "this was one of the few film genres that regularly asked male audiences to identify with a triumphant female protagonist. It gave teenage boys license to indulge a gender-bending fantasy that was, she wrote, 'unapproved for adult males.'" The horror film industry has been modern in it's use of character archetypes in the regard that typically, strong female leads are involved in central conflicts and plot development in the story.
    Horror films have become a staple in American culture and there are numerous different perspectives on what keeps national audiences so drawn to them. The horror film industry's appeal can only be theorized, and all contain elements that make up the bigger picture: as adults we forget how enjoyable being scared can be, so in turn, these movies provide a way to bring back the fun. By buying in on these insights, horror films will continue to maintain a stable viewership that keeps coming back for more.


Zinoman, J. (2011, July 16). The Critique of Pure Horror. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from
      www.nytimes.com website: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/opinion/sunday/
      17gray.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

How One Horror Film is Hoping to Revamp a Community (2/2-2/6)

     The writer and director of an upcoming horror film are aiming to reboost the local atmosphere and industry of Staffordshire, a small county in the West Midlands of England. Steven Beattie and Philip Kempson are preparing to start shooting their film, ‘Beneath Still Water’, a retelling of the story of the Blakemere mermaid, a seemingly local legend that has the community buzzing. A plot summary of the movie goes as follows: A young man is in love with a woman who he claims is a witch, and after rejecting his advances, the girl is thrown in the lake and drowns, thus creating the Blakemere mermaid. Since the legend is well-known around the country, the project is creating excitement in the local community among tourists and residents alike. The men are anticipating the use of local casting and location use of the area to truly capture the realistic aspect of the story. The film's director states: "It is a great opportunity to showcase the locales and talent that normally would not be shown. The area used to be in a lot of films in the 1950s and a few of the mining collieries were used for films set in Wales. We want to bring back the industry to Stoke and people are already latching on to it.”
    The pair also states that the onset of the horror film has spurred talent searches throughout the local community, bringing out actors who know how to represent the authentic, original storytelling trying to be achieved. The project is bringing variety to the job market in Staffordshire especially and the community feels a sense of being on a "united front" in order to accurately depict this legend and keep it genuine to it's roots.
    Not only do I believe that this project will tremendously boost the morale of this town known to be a coal-mining mecca, but it will create recognition of such an unknown area. By being displayed in the horror film industry, the town could be used for further projects in the future and local actors could possibly land a Hollywood role on the big-screens. 

The Sentinel. (2015, February 2). Staffordshire horror film hopes to revitalise local industry.
Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/ website:
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Staffordshire-horror-film-hopes-revitalise-local/
story-25961760-detail/story.html