The first scene in Halloween uses a variety of common technical codes that are conventional to the Horror genre. These types of technical codes are used to connote fear in the minds of the targeted audience. The POV shot gives the audience a limited and uncontrollable field of view within the setting, which can unsettle and discomfort the viewer because they should be paranoid about what is off-screen, this is otherwise known as restricted narration. The low-key lighting is very typical of the horror genre, because it plays on the basic human fear of the dark. Use of props such as the knife and mask became an extremely conventional technical code used in slasher films, but it also was already quite typical to the genre in the way that mask 'dehumanizes' the character (similar effect to makeup in monster movies) and the knife is a stereotypical item associated with violence.
2. How does the setting apply to the horror genre?
The main setting in the film is set on Halloween night - a time and worldwide event that a mass audience will associate with things like monsters, horror, and fear. It is also set in a strange detached town with an uncanny sense of realism that doesn't quite represent the world accurately. I think that this is a result of the colour scheme, town layout, and the attitude displayed between the characters in the narrative. The later climax of the film is also set at night and a lot of low-key lighting is used, again playing on the basic fear of the dark. One of the beginning scenes is set outside the psychiatric institution where Mike Myers was being held. This is one of the most stereotypical settings in the horror genre and it is combined with the conventional thunder and lightning effects. Themes of insanity are often linked with thunder and lightning and it can be considered intertextual to the iconic scene in the horror film 'Frankenstein' when the monster is brought to life by a lightning strike.3. What iconography of 'innocence' is heard or seen early on in the film?
The theme of innocence is used a lot throughout the film, purposely to contrast against the violent themes of the film.This in effect exaggerates the violent scenes by building tension against the innocently portrayed themes and characters, because the audience begins the sympathize with them. Laurie, the protagonist, is clearly the representation of a virgin as she has no interest in sexual topics, or rather she is embarrassed to talk about them. This quite typically signifies innocence and it strongly juxtaposes against the other highly sexually active characters. Throughout the film there are often scenes that include children out on halloween trick or treating, which again is an innocent contrast against the more horrific themes that Halloween signifies.
4. What was the main impact that Halloween had on the horror genre?
Halloween was incredibly affordable to make, because it did not require any big special effects and the actors weren't incredibly famous celebrities. The idea of the 'slasher' type narrative was first brought into the industry by the film Halloween and it became incredibly successful. It caused a new category of sub-genre to exist within the horror film industry. This 'slasher' narrative was recycled again and again through the 1980s and it continued to be popular in a parody format into the 1990s.
5. Name some 'slasher' films that followed up from Halloween.
Friday 13th, Prom Night, Terror Train, Bloody Valentine, Night School, The Burning, Graduation Day, Happy Birthday to Me, Hell Night, The Slayer, and The Prowler.
6. What are the four 'rules of plot' in the slasher sub-genre that the film Halloween put forth?
1) A traumatic event in the past creates the antagonist/killer/psychopath.
2) The killer returns to the site of the event, typically a specific date in the present that allows the producers to use a calendar motif in the title (e.g. Halloween).
3) The killer stalks and graphically kills a group of obnoxious and stupid teenagers of both sexes, usually with some kind of blade, often a garden or farm implement.
4) A 'final girl' survives, usually boyish and often virginal, to thwart the killer, although he is never entirely vanquished.
7. Give three ways in which Laurie is androgynous.Unlike the majority of the rest of the teen characters, Laurie isn't highly sexualised. She also has quite masculine features such as a prominent jawline and a deep voice. Laurie also fights back when the antagonist attacks, and is seen using phallic symbols such as the knife and needle to do so.
8. What does the phrase 'reactionary sexual agenda' refer to?
The phrase suggests that the killer deals with his victims depending on their sexual agenda. It is suggested that the script of Halloween was written to make a point that the killer only goes after those who are sexually active. This suggestion was likely brought on by the AIDs epidemic that was occurring during the time of the film's release, when the subject of sex was strongly related with the terminal illness.
9. What does the directer, John Carpenter, say to counter the argument that his film has a reactionary sexual agenda?
John carpenter argues that there is no sexual reactionary agenda, because the killer pursues Laurie despite the act that she is a virgin. He also mentioned that Laurie survived because she wasn't distracted by sex, alcohol, and other typical teenage concerns. This meant that she was more perceptive of the strange things that happened in the town resulting in her success.
10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?
I believe that Mike Myers killing his sister was written into the film because it is a representation of the AIDs epidemic and how the disease does not discriminate between people. It also would explain why the Mike Myers wears a mask and kills sexually active teens, because AIDs is a 'faceless killer' that is sexually transmitted. Laurie's perceptive nature and virginity represents what might have been considered a safe attitude towards sex.
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