1. Would you describe yourself as a horror fan? If so, does this identity mean that horror films from around the world are equally accessible to you, or do language differences present a barrier to your viewing experience?
No, i wouldn't call myself a horror fan particularly. If i went to my film cupboard and picked out a movie, it most probably wouldn't be horror. My personal film collection consists of chick flicks (Angus, thongs & perfect snogging), musicals (hairspray, mamma mia), rom-coms (along came polly, Bridget jones), fantasy (the golden compass) & sequel films (harry potter, pirates of the Caribbean). If i was a horror fan though, i do think language barriers make the viewing experience less engaging. The emotion in the actors' voice's cannot be heard well and it takes something away from the overall atmosphere and creepiness of it. It is certainly less believable, for me, when you're constantly seeing credits in the bottom of the screen.
2. How does the trailer encourage you to watch the film in the cinema?
One way the trailer makes us want to go and watch it at the cinema is by showing us two different sides to Eli. One minute she's a nice girl in the neighbourhood who Oskar befriends, next minute she's throwing men out of windows and drinking their blood. Another way it makes us want to go and watch it is the music. At first, the music is quite high pitched, and droning. Almost like screaming, but more peaceful than that. It gives a sense of calm, but that something is about to happen. The digetic sounds in this are all quite sharp and violet (e.g the bully flicking his nose, stabbing the tree) which break up the mood a little bit, however they're not 'jumpy' because of the fact they match what is going on with the screenplay and we know they're digetic. The music then changes as the shot pans to see Eli watching Oskar, quite creepily. Then the music is quite soft and gentle as we see Eli's and Oskar's friendship grow. Their is a few snapshots of their happiness and then a loud bang which disrupts the peace; which is accompanied by a man falling out of a window. This now tells me this film is a horror and that there are going to be things that make me jump; which entices me to go and see it. Also, another way it makes me want to go and see it is by the way it gives none of the story away. The montage of all the shots at the end.. and the last line of dialogue ('will you be my girlfriend') really leaves the trailer on a cliffhanger.. especially seeing as we've just discovered the little girl's actually a vampire.
4. How is the sense of being an outsider represented visually? Think about the character relationships and behaviour, and elements of mise-en-scene to develop your response.
The way 'outsiders' are represented in this film is that they are strange and unsociable people. For example, when Eli and Oskar are getting to know each other they hardly speak, and when they do, its very blunt. Also, from the way Oskar gets bullied and how unhappy he is we know that these 'outsiders' are very unbalanced people. We can connote from the way that he stabs the tree that he is bottling a lot of anger up inside of him and has no release for it. This is the first time we see him being violent and coincidently Eli just happens to be 'watching' him. I think this shows they both have a likeness, that no one particually wants to talk to them and no them which gives them a mutual ground to get to know each other. I think 'outsiders' are represented as emotionally unstable and a bit weird to be honest.
5. Think about your responses to characters. Did you like them? Why, or why not?
I, personally, did like the characters in a sense that they were 'different'. However, the story has been seen before, in 'Twilight' (2008). Even though it was released the same year, the books have been out for a while and i cant help but think the storyline is too similar for my liking, just a change of Genre. I liked the character of Oskar though as he's really developed and we can really 'feel' what he's feeling the whole way through the movie. I also liked the character of Eli, as she to begin with was almost 'too sweet'. You just KNEW she was hiding something and i thought it was clever the way she hid this until much later on.
6. Which aspects of the narrative appealed to you?
I, personally, like the 'romance' aspect of it and the sweetness of it all. The way Eli didn't want to be this monster and she just wanted to be like Oskar, and the way Oskar just wanted to be strong and powerful. I like the fact they both used each others strengths & weaknesses. I also thought it was good how the girl was the strong, powerful one for most of the film, yet Oskar does have his shining moment at the end of the film when he saves her. I like all the mystery of it as well, and the way it all unravels at the end. Like when Eli promises to be there when the bullies 'hit back' and she does, even though its the whole length of the film apart.
7. Think about how Eli's relationship with Oskar could be considered unusual for this genre. Is it possible to imagine a version of the film where Eli was not a vampire, and is so what other aspects of the narrative would you need to change or develop?
They're relationship could be considered unusual in this sort of genre because of the fact its a horror two children (hero & villian) are not usually in such a close relationship. If, however, the genre was not horror, and it was romance, it still wouldnt be normal because even in romance films, the hero manages to get rid of the bad one to find the good one e.g legally blonde, along came polly. I think either we'd need to introduce a CLEAR villan or manage to make Eli get rid of this 'vampire' curse.
8. During the course of the film, we see a very domestic view of vampire life. How does the domestic representation of the vampire impact on the sense of fear generated at various points in the film. Are we encouraged to be scared of the figure of the vampire?
I think if we saw a vampire in a haunted house in transylvania we'd be less scared than if we did in somewhere like this. I think the reason for this is because we can relate too the setting, which gives it a much deeper emotional connection to the narrative. This makes us more scared because the setting tries to put on edge by saying 'this can happen where you live'. Especially when all the bad stuff happens around the domestic living spaces aswell. Yes, i think we are encouraged to be scared of the vampire figure. I think this is because she is represented in a very creepy and eerie way, like suddenly being there watching things silently and moving into shot. This gives off the impression she's creepily 'lurking in the shadows' which makes us even more scared because we feel like we have to be on edge in our own domestic settings.
9.Consider the way in which the character of Eli's father is represented in the film. Does this conform to or subvert the familiar stereotype of the vampire? What does his behaviour mean for Eli?
I think that even though her father does her 'dirty work' for her and comes across as a violent and 'powerful' person, he is portrayed as being weak to Eli. Also, the fact that Eli is a child makes him even weaker.. not too mention the fact that she is a girl. However, for a vampire, i do think this is a typically hegemonic reading of vampires, for EVERYONE to be afraid of them.. no matter how big they are. In Eli's case, the fact she is a child also makes it even creepier as children are usually portrayed in a typically hegemonic reading of being sweet & innocent.. not violent & deadly. So yes, i do think this is a typically hegemonic reading for the 'villains sidekick' or 'partner in crime'. His behaviour shows Eli to be the more powerful one and definitely that she knows what she's doing, seeing as she's got a full grown adult male wrapped around her finger. We know she is 'evil' before she even makes a killing herself because of the way her father acts.
How did you respond to the relationship between Eli and her father at different points in the film? Select two contrasting scenes and explore the emotions evoked, consider how the audience's emotional response is manipulated, and how this informs the narrative. Where do your sympathies lie?
At first i thought Eli's father was a crooked, senile old man who was nasty & vicious. After all, what kind of man goes out and kills children for no motive other than to collect blood. Later on in the film however, i began to sympathise with him and how much he cared for his little girl. He put his life on the line countless times, and it drove him to breaking point where he eventually ended up pouring acid over his face. When Eli saw this; she felt no remorse and simply threw him out of the window. After seeing this the pity i felt for him grew and i realised he wasn't the villain; he was just looking after his little girl. This makes the narrative that little bit more interesting purely because of the twist it gives us as it 'pulls on your heartstrings'. Personally, my sympathies lie with the dad.
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