Shocker: Horror Film Genre

970 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Horror film genre analysis

Shocker was made in 1989 by Wes Craven in hopes of launching a new franchise. Due to him feeling he wasn't fairly compensated for his Nightmare on Elm Street series under New Line Cinema. After watching Shocker I can understand the reason that no sequel was ever made, Shocker is a good Craven style horror film. But feels... unoriginal, as if feels like it borrows a bit to heavily from Child's Play which was released the year prior. If the similarities were on purpose or purely accidental I don't know, but they're there. Also I feel like Shocker was trying to be a Slasher, but just couldn't cohere into one. Shocker comes up to the line, but stops short and settles on being a possession/ghost story instead. Shocker follows Jonathan Parker (Peter …show more content…

Don Parker (Michael Murphy) a police detective on the trail of serial killer Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi), who's holding the town hostage in a constant state of fear. When Lt. Parker starts getting to close Pinker kills his wife and two foster kids, an event that Jonathan witnesses in a dream. During the dream he see's not only Pinker's face, but also his vehicle which is a big deal since till then no one had any idea who he might be. After informing his father, Jonathan and Lr. Parker go to Pinker's business, but Pinker escapes killing a number of officers in the process. Jonathan is featured on the news about his involvement in finding out Pinker is the killer. Which results in Pinker killing Jonathan's girlfriend Allison Clemens (Camille Cooper). Soon after another dream leads Jonathan to Pinker, and along with his father and other police officers catch Pinker in the act. After nearly escaping again Pinker is captured by Jonathan, and sent to jail where he's sentenced to die by the electric chair. Before being executed Pinker communes with the Devil and is granted his wish to not die... …show more content…

escape? The deal with devil/black magic to cheat death was already done by this point and better by the way by Child's Play. Just Charles Lee Ray aka Chucky, ends up possessing a doll rather being able to body hop. A gimmick that's basically abandons for the last part of the film. All those flaws in mind, I still like it as Shocker has some great visual moments. Mostly involving Allison post murder when she's communicating to Jonathan via his dreams. With the first sequence where she dripping in blood in a white dress being stunning and memorable. Another is when Jonathan see's all of Pinker's victims in another dream state, they have a strange zombie'esc vibe that screams trapped in purgatory till they see justice served vibe. Had Craven included more moments like this, I think Shocker would have stood a better chance of becoming a

Show More
Related

  • Mise-En-Scene In The Film Halloween

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the film, “Halloween”, directed by John Carpenter, an outstanding work of art has been created with respect to the ‘on the edge of your seat’ thriller that has been conveyed in the film. Mise-en- scene is incorporated in many different facets throughout the film and has creatively developed the scenes that makeup the thriller and deliver an objective of tone, mood, and scary elements. Mise-en- scene sets up the setting in the film as the director has an objective to deliver a scary, dark scene that keeps the audience on their feet. Initially in the film, there is a unique introduction of a quiet town that leads up to believe there is no horror involved in the area. This unique set up by the director gives us the preamble that the

    Read More

  • Analysis of Halloween by John Carpenter and Evil Dead by Sam Raimi

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    Analysis of Halloween by John Carpenter and Evil Dead by Sam Raimi The horror genre is characterized by the attempt to make the viewer experience dread, fear and terror. Some of the most common elements include vampires, zombies and werewolves. One of the films which I am going to analyze is “Halloween” by John Carpenter which starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence. This film was made in 1978; this was considered the film which started the “slasher film” genre. This genre was continued in dozens of violent movies throughout the 1980s.

    Read More

  • Revitalizing the Slasher Genre: The Impact of Scream

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Do you like scary movies?” purred a sinister voice over the telephone, and immediately Scream had marked itself out as something new in a tired genre. When it was released in 1996, the classic slasher franchises had all pretty much ran out of steam. Scream was different, it was a breath of fresh air: smart and self-referential, it reminded horror fans what they loved about the genre in the first place, and scared them silly at the same time.

    Read More

  • For The Love Of The Game

    2375 Words  | 5 Pages

    I think the performance delivered the message and intent perfect. I was not once confused, but it is that which starts out some what at the end and uses flashbacks to tell the full story.

    Read More

  • Stab Movie Analysis

    425 Words  | 1 Pages

    For less then 2 hours Scream 2 is worth the watch, it's fun, scary and making you want more in the end. Wes Craven always delivers what I look for in great horror movies. I was totally digging the entire new cast, as Wes made us fell even the old cast couldn't be trusted just as much as the new. The music to the film wasn't nearly as good though, which is one thing I look forward to a movie. As the soundtrack was tacky, boring and not even close to peaking my interest to actually buy the soundtrack. I would have to say that was my least favorite

    Read More

  • Horror Subgenre Analysis

    2686 Words  | 6 Pages

    This new facilitator of horror, the stalker, has helped to redefine a new subgenre of the horror film industry. What they do is absolutely terrifying, as they basically invade every aspect of their victim’s lives, with no regard for their friends, family, or possessions. After analysis of the three stalker films referenced above, as well as the numerous amounts of stalker movies that continue to be produced, one can understand why there is a demand for this style of movie. The entire idea encompasses that which is suppressed because it threatens our normalcy of life. The idea is captivating, and we as a society would much rather view this from the outsider’s perspective on the “big screen,” than to see them enacted in our everyday lives through ourselves or others.

    Read More

  • Elements Of Horror Movies

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    Horror movies are one of the most fascinating genres of film that exists. They are unrealistic but at the same time, they are also realistic. This realism that they contain is what draws people’s interest towards them because viewers are able to associate aspects of their own lives with the film. Every horror movie, no matter how farfetched the theme or plot may be, contains an element that people can relate to. This element may not be observable to a conscious mind, but to an unconscious mind, it brings back memories of something that has been repressed earlier in our lives (Wood, 197). This recollection of suppressed memories is how horror films create a sense of fear and it is literally what Robin Wood means when he talks about “the return

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Horror Films

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    A girl runs frantically through the woods trying to escape an axe wielding villain. The defenseless victim suddenly trips and collapses to the ground. The villain laughs wickedly as he lifts the axe above his head. The girl releases a final scream as the weapon quickly ends her life, causing the audience to go silent as they watch the villain drag away the lifeless body. Death, blood, guts, suspense, screaming, and terror are all just a few things to expect when watching a modern day horror film. What is horror? Horror can be defined as an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. (Wilson) The description of horror is not very pleasant, but for some reason horror films are extremely popular. Why is this so? People are addicted to the synthetic feeling of being terrified.

    Read More

  • Attraction of Fear: Unraveling the Allure of Horror

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    Are you a fan or horror? Or are you the one that hides under a blanket during a movie? Intense scenes, a little blood and gore mixed with creepy characters and monsters, is what makes a good horror movie, television show or even a book. Many of us wonder why we are attracted so much to these horror elements like foreshadowing, suspense, mystery and imagination within a book, movie and or tv show. There are actual characteristics of this horror related theme that gets our attention, and makes us want to crave more of the story. But the fear, obsession and power is what sets the tone for the monster realm, in both fictional and nonfictional people and characters.

    Read More

  • More Like Sterile-ing!: Detective Starling in Silence of the Lambs

    1801 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Thriller” is a film, literary, and television genre that contains elements of suspense, anxiety and excitement. Within the thriller genre, there are multiple subgenres such as the mystery thriller, crime thriller, horror thriller, erotic thriller, psychological thriller, and the list still grows today. Many thriller films contain elements from multiple subgenres, which in turn helps to create the core elements with more potency and variety. Silence of the Lambs is undoubtedly within the thriller genre and moreover can be placed into several of its numerous subgenres. However, there are two thriller subgenres that Silence fits into like a perfectly tailored suit of human skin: crime thriller and psychological thriller.

    Read More

  • Alfred Hitchcock's Main Themes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alfred Hitchcock developed his signature style from his earlier works The Lodger and Blackmail. These films were the framework for his signature films later on. His themes of “an innocent man who is accused of a crime” and “the guilty woman” were first seen in these two films and are repeated throughout Hitchcock’s cinematic history

    Read More

  • The Horror Genre

    1295 Words  | 3 Pages

    This depends on the location - is it a business mans office or an old

    Read More

  • Film Analysis Of Carol Clover's 'Men Women And Chainsaws'

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout Clover’s novel she never mentioned “A Nightmare on Elm Street” even though it is part of the same franchise as “Halloween”.   However, I say the film followed Clover’s exact model.  A link can be made from the film to Clover’s theory from a couple of standpoints.  “A Nightmare on Elm Street” had a very Halloween like feel to it.  Freddy Krueger acted as the male tormentor as he harmed Tina Gray and Nancy Thompson.  The line here is that the base for the film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is the same base that was used in “Halloween” as well as the base theory Carol Clover provides in her novel.  In “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Tina and Nancy have a goal of becoming the “final girl(s)” because they have the same common goal of surviving Freddy Krueger’s attacks.  Tina and Nancy’s stories sound exactly like Laurie’s in Halloween.  The base is the same in that a male continued to attack female characters until the female(s) overcame the challenge to become the “final girl.”  I really feel that most “slasher” films follow this

    Read More

  • Exploring the Film Genres of Horror, Science Fiction, and Action Movies

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    What makes people fascinated and amused to watch movies? I think all kinds of movies are, in there own way, great. Practically the excitement of horror movies, and science and technology of science fiction movies, and action and enthusiasm in the action movies are some credits that makes people’s engrossment. Even so could all movies create an entertainment and make people experience their thoughts of imaginations in the real world. What are the most interesting things about these film genres, which could establish a fantasy world for their fans to escape to their imaginations and live with it? Participating in suspense, adventure, mysteries, and discovery amuse audiences every time they watch films. There is specific film genres that have most of this attraction to the audience, which make them most likely to have all secretes of attraction in it. These films genres have changed our out look and make us thinks better, because it provides us with a source of leisure; these movies are horror movies, science fiction movies, and action movies.

    Read More

  • Contrasting American and European Horror Movies

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    A common complaint about many film critics is that they tend to fall over themselves in praising anything with subtitles, regardless of quality. For most critics it seems there is a simple equation in analyzing foreign pictures: subtitles=great moviemaking that is not exploitative. When the borderline hardcore French film Romance (1999) was released critics were effusive with their lauding of a film that deals (arguably) with sex in a realistic manner. Even respected guys like Roger Ebert confessed to "not really enjoy[ing] it, and yet I recommend it." Apparently Ebert was not aware of the fact the movie uses filmmaking techniques similar to hardcore porno (the editors cleverly cut away from scenes before the "money shot" can occur) and follows the trajectory of many pornographic films in which a nubile young lass goes from man to man in an effort to find orgasm.

    Read More

More about Shocker: Horror Film Genre

Open Document