Film Review 1 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2013)

Brief Plot Outline:

Heather, the film's protagonist, travels to Texas to collect her grandmother's inheritance. Little does she know, this also includes her chainsaw wielding cousin- Leatherface.

Which two scenes impressed me the most and why?

The two scenes that most impressed me, were where both Darryl and Burt are murdered. Firstly where Dan Yeager's Leatherface cuts Darryl literally in half (through the use of prosthetic limbs (or a body!) and blood) and secondly the final scene where Leatherface get's his revenge on Burt by backing him up in fear, cutting his hands/wrists off as he's struggling to hold on, then slowly falling in the slaughter machine. I like both these scenes because they're brutal, not hiding away from what Leatherface is capable of, and the use of blood & special effects provides a sense of realism to the murders. 

How has watching this film helped you understand this genre of filmmaking? Which features on the genre checklist did you spot in the film? When? How?

I haven't really seen any other films directed by JL (John Luessenhop) so I'm unable to compare his style, however TCM (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) isn't afraid to show gore and violence (particularly in the scene where the Burt sends a cop into Leatherface's "lair", opens a fridge where he's storing the surviving girl, and shoots her in the head.) And most of it being shown on-screen (Darryl getting cut in half as another example). As character roles go, Leatherface is a fast moving monster/psychotic killer, whereas Heather is very badass in her approach and the way she deals with all her friends disappearing. Accompanying this, is the soundtrack. The opening sequence where Sheriff Hooper orders Drayton to send "the boy" out, and then Burt's hillbilly friends turning up and burning Drayton manor to the ground, is accompanied by a action type/ pleonastic music. And again, contrapuntal music is played when Darryl is being sawed in half, countered by Ryan upstairs playing pool. The music is very dark/stormy as Darryl investigates the downstairs, matched with upbeat, hip-hop where Ryan is playing pool and drinking with the rest of the group, two very different scenarios mixed into one sequence. 

Which aspects would you like to INCLUDE in your own trailer?  Why?

Gruesome murders - such as the Darryl sawed in half scene, or Burt getting forced into the slaughter machine, or even Heather's "remember me" before stabbing Gavin with a pitchfork. And to be able to recreate these and give viewers a thought of "Oh that's disgusting", which it is in my own trailer to an audience would have a further meaning, 

Which aspects would you like to AVOID in your own trailer?  Why?

Overuse of weapons/guns. In order to relate back to a murder/death being a slow and painful process, I wouldn't want quick and/or easy kills. Secondly, sex. Although common in gory type horrors, it would be easier to stick to what's on screen and create further dilemmas between characters, without usual breakups & such. Having said this, it might be difficult to further certain character roles if it wasn't included.

What was the best aspect/more enjoyable moment in the film? Why? Can you recreate this in your own film? How?

The shift between (at the start) and the extended opening from a follow-on of the 1973 original, and the film becoming almost 'full circle' in a way, with Heather/Edith knowing who she really is and knowing her true past & present role. Possibly through the use of flashbacks, the start of this 2013 sequel uses the flashback to set the scene for the rest of the film. 

How does the film reflect it's institutional or historical context? Analyse two scenes/events that reflect the time which the film was made.
> Burning down the Sawyer/Drayton farmhouse sets the scene for the sequel film, despite the original movie being over 40 years apart since release (outside of the film's context)

> Evidence box, from the original murders of the Drayton/Sawyer family at the start of the 2013 sequel, but contextually in time periods, set as a prequel era of 1973. Heather, the last surviving member of the family and also the final girl realizes the corruption between the rednecks, lead by the Mayor/Burt and the Police/Hooper who originally wanted to arrest Jed for the crimes he committed. 

> Sex & Taboo - Since censorship has really changed in the 40 years difference between the first TCM & sequel in 2013, the both on screen violence and sex has really changed. Not only this, but audiences too are less shocked at things they see than before. Post-1973 no major wars (on a scale that we're used to) had or were happening, compared to the context of 2013's film, where three wars had taken place including terrorist acts of 9/11 and 7/7. Acts that, we're used to seeing on both national television and real life, whereas when we see it in films, we're almost "used" to it, so it's less shocking. I think the film goes out to try and shock audiences, and that's the aim for all horror films to date, because once you're used to something it's very difficult to break that. 

Dawn of the Dead - 2004 Film Scene Analysis

The final scene from the 2004 'remake' of Dawn of the Dead, Ana - the lead heroine/final girl, is escaping alone with a few others that survived the ordeal of crossing town from the mall. Having lost not only her husband at the start of the film, Ana becomes attached very quickly (mainly down to the fear & realization that they are really alone in both the mall, where they come to terms that society is falling down around them) - to Michael, who has stories of his own. In the still we see above, the boat sails off leaving Michael behind. Reasoning for this? Michael, in his effort to escape and join the others gets infected, and rather than play down & join the others, he sacrifices himself to let them get away to 'enjoy the sunrise' before killing himself. Whilst the scene shows Ana partially "happy" that they've been able to escape, and the consistent use of the American flag, connoting "freedom", we quickly learn than they haven't escaped the terror at all.

Used at the start of the film, in a quick-montage sequence, this clip shows what appears to be a religious mosque, of what could be Muslim or Arabic 'prayers'. What does this symbolize? Well, as with most horror/end of the world type genres, religion and praying for negative things is a common connotation. Most fear that zombies and evil things sent from hell could be a "sign" from above, or a punishment. Whilst this could be true, this film is also set in America, post-9/11. It could be argued that these montage of clips, wars and general atrocities could be considered terrorist in nature, and that the zombie apocalypse bound to happen has something to do with all of these things. 

The final still, shows Ana putting what appears to be a fire poker through the eye of a zombie. Unlike the original DOTD, where Francine - the female was portrayed to be quite 'weak' and 'non-combat', Ana's character completely breaks the stereotype of women in horror films. Going on the basis of her hair colour - blonde which is typically portrayed to be "dumb" in both real life and films, as a nurse (in her character) she's tough and smart, character traits that aren't really accepted by the norm, which enables her to fight alongside the men, and her experience means she can deal with the blood & gore. 

Dawn of the Dead - 1979 Film Scene Analysis

The first scene that I'll be analyzing from the original 1979 version of Dawn of the Dead, is the famous mall scene, part of a larger montage of clips. In the sequence, Flyboy aka Stephen and Peter are seen to be enjoying life in the mall that they're held up in, having locked out the zombies outside. Whilst the still shows that they're enjoying themselves, it's strictly in essence pointless, as although they have all the money in the world- life as they know it, or civilization is over. With an every-growing threat and presence that the zombies outside could break in at any moment, the fact that they are enjoying themselves in such a desperate act of time is both comical and saddening. This is all the aspects of consumerism

A still from earlier in the film, at the very start shows Flyboy/Stephen unable or rather 'can't shoot' a zombie that's merely meters away from him, whereas Roger the stereotypically 'good guy/action man' can. Whilst Stephen is portrayed to be a "good man" and supposed to be the star role, in a series of shots it's actually Roger that can do what's necessary to kill another (although not fully human) being. However, later on in the film we find out that Stephen has a child to defend for (Francine, his partner) is pregnant, which leads Stephen to "man-up" in theory and protect both himself and his friends.

In this still, from a much later point in the film; Stephen having trained his shot & improved his aim at protecting not only himself now, but the mall that they're held up in. However, instead of just defending themselves from zombies, they also have a band of spiteful bikers, both looting and trashing the place leading to the famous line "It's ours we took it", again playing on the consumerism element that although technically they've sheltered here for months, that a few TVs and clothes aren't really theirs. 

6 Panel Practice Storyboards