Analysis of the depiction of violence in the original Halloween movie by John Carpenter as well as its 2007 remake by Rob Zombie. Analysis of the "Remake logic".
John Carpenter’s Halloween from 1978 is the 17th scariest horror movie of all time. At least according to the ‘Science of scares’ study conducted by the website Broadbandchoices.co.uk in 2021. The results are based on the average heart rate viewers exhibited during the screening of different horror movies. Whether this indicator serves as a reliable source for actually determining the fear factor of movies is questionable, to say the least. Likewise, scientists and scholars, psychologists and philosophers have been arguing for a long time about what induces fear in the viewer while watching horror movies (and why one should even want to consume these films at all then). Theories range from ones that claim we simply feel empathy and sympathy towards the characters in the movie (e.g., Plantinga 2009) to ones that propose that the viewing experience itself is the scary feature (Hanich 2014). Yet others, mainly psychological approaches, contend that there is a certain level of enjoyment to be had from experiencing fear while knowing there is no actual threat present (Nummenmaa 2021). Whatever the actual explanation might be (perhaps all of them are true to an extent), the discussion surrounding the topic itself serves to illustrate one of the key functions of the horror movie. To make its viewers feel afraid. While there are a multitude of ways to achieve this, one only needs to consider the vast array of different genres of horror, from gory slasher flicks to supernatural and paranormal horror, the ultimate goal can be seen as the evocation of fear.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Fear, Violence and the Slasher Movie (Remake)
- Fear and Violence in the Halloween Franchise
- Close Reading: Michael's murder of his sister
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the depiction of fear and violence in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and its 2007 remake directed by Rob Zombie. The main objective is to explore how fear is created in both films and the extent to which the depiction of graphic violence contributes to this effect. The paper investigates the differences in approach between the two films, suggesting that while the 2007 remake relies on explicit violence, the original utilizes a more subtle fear of the unknown.
- The creation of fear in horror films
- The role of violence in evoking fear
- Comparison of fear and violence depiction in the original and remake of Halloween
- The concept of the "uncanny valley" in horror
- The slasher genre and its conventions
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the analysis by referencing the ranking of Halloween (1978) as a scary film and questioning the methods used to measure fear in movies. It introduces different theories on what induces fear in viewers of horror films, ranging from empathy to the enjoyment of experiencing fear in a safe environment. The chapter then defines the concept of a film remake and discusses the critical reception of remakes, particularly in the horror genre, highlighting the debate surrounding their artistic merit versus their function as commercial ventures. Finally, it introduces the central research question: how is fear created in both the original and remake of Halloween, and how does the depiction of violence contribute to this effect? The chapter lays out the methodology and proposes that while the 2007 remake utilizes explicit violence, the original relies more on the subtle fear of the unknown.
2. Fear, Violence and the Slasher Movie (Remake): This chapter provides a theoretical and historical overview of the relationship between fear and violence in horror films, specifically within the slasher subgenre. It distinguishes between the fear of violence (resulting from empathy for on-screen characters) and the fear of the unknown (often linked to the "uncanny valley"). The chapter situates the Halloween films within the context of the slasher genre, discussing its origins and evolution. It sets the stage for the following analysis by outlining the key elements of fear and violence that will be explored in the subsequent chapters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Fear and Violence in Halloween (1978) and its 2007 Remake
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper analyzes how fear and violence are depicted in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and its 2007 remake directed by Rob Zombie. The primary goal is to understand how fear is generated in both films and the role graphic violence plays in achieving this effect. It also compares the approaches of the original and the remake.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the creation of fear in horror films, the role of violence in evoking fear, a comparison of fear and violence depiction in the original and remake of Halloween, the concept of the "uncanny valley" in horror, and the conventions of the slasher genre.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The paper compares the original 1978 film with its 2007 remake, examining how each film creates fear in the audience. It suggests that while the remake relies heavily on explicit violence, the original relies more on a more subtle fear of the unknown. The paper draws on theories of fear in horror films and the characteristics of the slasher genre.
What are the chapter summaries?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): This chapter sets the stage, discussing the ranking of Halloween (1978) as a scary film, different theories on inducing fear in viewers, the concept of film remakes, and critical reception of horror remakes. It introduces the central research question: how is fear created in both the original and remake, and how does the depiction of violence contribute? It outlines the methodology and proposes a key difference in approach between the two films.
Chapter 2 (Fear, Violence and the Slasher Movie (Remake)): This chapter provides a theoretical overview of fear and violence in horror films, particularly slashers. It differentiates between the fear of violence (from empathy) and the fear of the unknown ("uncanny valley"). It situates Halloween within the slasher genre, discussing its origins and evolution, and lays the groundwork for the detailed analysis.
Chapter 3 (Fear and Violence in the Halloween Franchise): This chapter delves into a close reading of specific scenes, such as Michael's murder of his sister in both versions, to further exemplify the differences in their approaches to generating fear and using violence.
Chapter 4 (Conclusion): This chapter summarizes the findings and conclusions drawn from the analysis of the two films, likely drawing together the themes and comparisons established in the preceding chapters.
What are the objectives of this paper?
The main objective is to explore how fear is created in both the original 1978 Halloween and its 2007 remake and how the use of graphic violence affects this. It aims to compare and contrast the approaches of the two films, highlighting their differences in generating fear and using violence as a tool.
What is the table of contents?
The table of contents includes: Introduction, Fear, Violence and the Slasher Movie (Remake), Fear and Violence in the Halloween Franchise (including a close reading of Michael's murder of his sister), and Conclusion.
- Quote paper
- James Manderton (Author), 2022, Who is scared of Michael Myers?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1443236
