Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add it to the list.
New Teasers:
The Avengers
New Trailers:
The Raven
Young Adult
Tower Heist
My Week With Marilyn
Sket
Snow Flower and The Secret Fan
The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
[Debate] Slashers Vs Psychological Thrillers, Which Is More Frightening?
This subject generates many different opinions, and remains one of the more common topics of debate in film. Before beginning, it is important that the definition of a ‘Slasher’ and a ‘Psychological Thriller’ are understood, in order to establish the reasons why each create fear within the horror genre.
Horror, alongside comedy, drama and action, is one of the most popular genres in cinema - and while it has an extensive amount of subgenres; ‘Slashers’ and ‘Psychological Thrillers’ are considered to be the two most common types.
A ‘Slasher’ is a horror film centered on ‘gore’. The basic narrative usually revolves around a leading protagonist killing or hunting a group of characters, usually for sadistic fun, resulting in a series of gruesome deaths or tortures designed to shock a viewer. A ‘Psychological Thriller’ on the other hand is a horror that focuses around the psychosomatic effect fear can have on a person. The narratives can vary, but is always designed to frighten the viewer by working upon the many basic fears that we experience. They often contain scenes that scare without the use of gore, and instead impose sinister imagery.
It is of course common that the ‘Psychological Thriller’ and ‘Slasher’ genres will intertwine to some extent. However, it is usually easy to identify generally which category a given film will fall in to. For example, ‘The Ring’, ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Blair Witch Project’ are examples of ‘Psychological Thrillers’, whereas ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, ‘Scream’ and ‘Hostel’ are examples of ‘Slashers’.
But what is it that makes these frightening? And which is considered to provoke more fear?
A ‘Slasher’ horror generates fear by forcing the viewer to sit through experiences in which we would never hope to find ourselves. When we watch a film it provides us with a level of escapism. Therefore to become involved with the narrative where the characters that we relate to are being murdered or tortured, causes us to empathise with what they are experiencing, thus generating the fear.
‘Psychological Thrillers’ on the other hand play on our mental, supernatural and exaggerated fears. Throughout such a film we are expecting to be scared, therefore our receivership of something that is meant to be frightening is heightened and a strong sense of suspense and fear of the unknown is apparent. When the protagonist in the film is, for example, a ghost, demon or monster, it is using elements we have grown to fear from childhood, again forcing us to escape to a narrative that we wish to never experience in real life.
When we watch a ‘Slasher’ horror the aim is more to disturb and shock the viewer. The fear comes from hoping the situation you are consuming also never happens to you in reality. A ‘Thriller’ is different because it aims to actually psychologically scare the viewer, rather than just disturb. ‘Slashers’ work by using the shocking scenes of gore and torture, whereas ‘Psychological Thrillers’ utilize techniques to generate the afore-mentioned suspense. This would include effects such as lighting, mise-en-scene, editing and sound, and while these are still important in a ‘Slasher’, it is these cinematic traits that work together in a particular way to create the psychosomatic fear that makes a ‘Psychological Thriller’ work.
The question is, ‘Which is more frightening?’ It could be argued that the
‘Thriller’ succeeds here because it generates an effect which plays on our innermost fears. However, on the other hand, it could be said that the shock value a ‘Slasher’ offers is more realistic and therefore more frightening.
While a ‘Thriller’ might frighten you more as you watch it, it is common that the fear generated is lost afterwards due to the lack of realism. Of course certain famous ‘Psychological Thrillers’ are exempt from this rule. For example ‘The Exorcist’ became famous because it was the first ‘Psychological Thriller’ of its kind and the fear generated throughout remained. However in a strange way many begin to fear the film, rather than the narrative coming to life.
A ‘Slasher’ however is likely to disturb you for a longer time – For example, the famous scene from ‘Saw’ where one of the leading characters is forced to amputate his own foot has become one of the most talked about scenes in cinema.
As previously stated, this debate is largely based upon personal opinions and fears. On a personal level, I find ‘Psychological Thrillers’ more frightening than ‘Slashers’, probably due to my superstitious tendencies and overactive imagination.
What do you think? Leave me a comment explaining which you think is more frightening.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
[New Trailers] - 14th September 2011
Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add to the list.
New Teasers:
N/A
New Trailers:
Thursday, 25 August 2011
[Classic Film] Number Six - Fight Club
Trailer:
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★★★★★★★★★ - Excellent [For rating system, see information tab at top of blog]
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Release Date: 12th November 1999
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Director: David Fincher
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Writers: Chuck Palahnuik (Novel) Jim Uhls (Screenplay)
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Cast: Edward Norton - Brad Pitt - Helena Bonham Carter
Famous Quotes:
1) 'How much can you know about yourself if you have never been in a fight?'
2) 'Only after disaster can we be resurrected'
3) 'Fight Club was the beginning, now it's moved out of the basement'
4) 'Hey, you created me. I didn't create some loser alter-ego to make myself feel better. Take some responsibility!'
5) 'Listen, you can run water over your hand and make it worse or...'
6) '....Because we're the same person' 'Thats right'
7) 'My god. I havn't been fucked like that since grade school'
8) 'All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, Capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways you want to be'
9) 'Is that your blood?' 'Some of it yeah'
10) 'When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep... and you're never really awake'
11) 'The things you own end up owning you'
Explanation
'Fight Club', staring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, is a unique film about two men; one an office employee, the other a soap salesman, who start a fight club to vent frustration and anger. It explores the mindset around depression and insomnia, and questions the different ways in which people tackle various obstacles in life. The narrative is written to the highest standard and flows excellently, accompanied by 'The Narrators' (Edward Norton) voiceovers, it contains a range of twists and action scenes that keep you guessing and gripped to your seat.
The leading roles are performed brilliantly, Helena Bonham Carter alongside Pitt and Norton combine to make an excellent screen chemistry that blends comedy, action, rage and depression in a near perfect manner. The film is focused around the humans basic instincts and how we react to them, and the three lead actors portray this particularly effectively.
Though 'Fight Club' is now regarded as one of the most popular films of its kind, it was greatly overlooked by the award academies. It received only one nomination from the 'big three' film ceremonies, and only won four awards in total.
Now however, 'Fight Club' is featured in many 'top' film lists; the most notable being 'Total Film's 100 greatest movies of all time' in which it reached number four, and IMDB.com's top 200 films, reaching number fourteen. 'Fight Club' - a clever, exceptionally entertaining film that I would recommend to anyone.
Awards
Oscar Wins:
N/A
Oscar Nominations:
Best Sound Effects
BAFTA Wins:
N/A
BAFTA Nominations:
N/A
Golden Globe Wins:
N/A
Golden Globe Nominations:
N/A
*The videos used in this post are not mine*
Sunday, 21 August 2011
[New Trailers] - 20th August 2011
Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add to the list.
New Teasers:
N/A
New Trailers:
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
[Review] Super 8 - 9th August 2011
★
★
★
★
★
- Average [For rating system, see information tab at top of blog]
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Release Date: 5th August 2011
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Director: J.J Abrams
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Writer: J.J Abrams
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Cast: Elle fanning - Amanda Michalka - Kyle Chandler - Joel Courtney - Riley Griffiths
Review
From producer Steven Spielberg, and primarily television writer and director J.J. Abrams, comes ‘Super 8’ a film following a group of friends who witness a train crash whilst making a film of their own. Soon after the crash, strange things begin to happen in a local town; revealing something far more sinister.
Clearly, any ‘Steven Spielberg’ production is bound to attract a large audience who will have very high expectations. However, I was personally disappointed. ‘Super 8’ is a film that worked well in parts, but was weak in others.
J.J. Abrams has made his name writing for television shows such as ‘Fringe’, ‘Lost’ and ‘Alias’, as well as directing popular films like ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Mission: Impossible III’. Therefore, considering ‘Super 8’s’ premise, you would think he was the perfect man for the job – and in terms of direction, this is correct.
J.J Abrams did not try to overcomplicate the film, but instead used simple methods that allowed it to progress at a satisfactory pace. Without trying to spoil the film (for those who have not seen it), the ‘unknown’ sinister element, once revealed, is not predictable – and does not ruin the element of suspense built up throughout the film.
The problems with ‘Super 8’ emanate from its writing. While J.J Abrams directed a good film, it has to be said he did not write to the same standard. The narrative is effective; the story flows fluently and keeps pace. However, development of characters and use of dialogue is substandard resulting in a total loss of realism in some scenes. Another consequence of the poor writing was the two dimensional performances presented by the actors who had little to work with, for example, the scenes of panic contain dialogue that make it very difficult to relate to the events portrayed in the film.
Finally, I also have to take issue with the setting of the film. Its premise states that it is set in 1979, however there was little evidence of this. Objects and props used were in keeping with this time frame, but costumes and house settings were not so appropriate for the era.
‘Super 8’ - a relatively unique film that is well directed, but containing many faults that make it a less than satisfactory experience to watch!
Monday, 1 August 2011
[New Trailers] - 21st July 2011
Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add to the list.
New Teasers:
New Trailers:
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