Mise-En-Scene Task

Setting/Location (Train to Busan):


Situation: Zombie apocalypse. A small group of uninfected people are at a train station and go to see if it is safe where they are. They get attacked by a large group of zombies and fight them off and get onto another train so they can go somewhere else.

Mise-En-Scene and meaning: It is set in a train station. There are many platforms and different places to go, creating the feeling of being lost. Train stations are known to get very full, so this is  fulfilling this idea of a full train station (uncomfortable, unsafe). It looks clean, which is a contradiction to the zombies that are infecting it. Trains are like capsules, so are safe and shut away from the zombies on the outside. The amount of zombies seem larger because it's only a small group of people being attacked.




Situation: Harley Quinn is fighting with people in an elevator.

Mise-En-Scene and meaning: Her movements are fast-pace so it creates the impression that she is a good fighter, and she can't be beaten. Being in a elevator means she has limited space to move around, yet she uses this small space to her advantage so she can be done quick, and compose herself again.

Horror Film Review (Homework)

Olivia Dineley - The Babadook Review


The Babadook is a horror/thriller film, based off of a short film called Monster (which was released in 2005, and written by Jennifer Kent, the director of this film) and was released in 2014. It follows the story of Amelia and her son, who after his fathers death, begins to see a monster: The Babadook. In this clip, Amelia starts hearing noises, which at first appear to be her dog. However, even despite her dog being in the room, the noises continue. She looks towards the door, and sees that it is slowly opening. There appears to be nothing, so she tries to sleep. She then hears noises again, so opens her eyes to see a black creature on her ceiling. Out of fear, she hides under the covers, as do the audience, and you hear the noises of the Babadook. The noises may connote to a screaming, or something struggling. She then takes a look, and sees the horrifying creature. 

The film has many of the stereotypical conventions in it. The film is set in a familiar terrain (a house). The feeling of helplessness, which creates empathy from the audience's point of view. The known/unknown contrast (where she finds out the 'source' of the noises, until they carry on). The creature is conventional in a horror story line. Using these conventions help the film fit in with their genre.

The clip uses low key lighting, which plays on people's fear of the dark. It also creates tension. There is diegetic noise such as doors creaking, heavy breathing and scratching, which is a convention in horror films. However, when the creature is making the noises whilst she is under the covers, it is non-diegetic, so it can be played louder. The creature is made with stop-motion, which means it can look like something that a human could never look like. The camera is very still, which can make the viewer want to stay still and been drawn into the film. It uses close-ups to show the emotion and fear on her face, as well as making the audience feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable when under the covers. There is a birds-eye view when looking down on her and her son, so we can see her facial expressions. This shot also follows the rule of thirds. Roughly half of the shots are from Amelia's point of view, so the audience can essentially have her eyes and see exactly what she sees.

Personally, when watching this clip, I could feel some tension, but not enough to scare me. I think if there were some non-diegetic dissonant music in the background, it would have more effect. However, the low key lighting works well, as it sets down a fearful mood, ready for the narrative to take effect. The creature is kind of off-putting, as the pale-skin connotes to a vampire, the dead or a ghost; in my case, it reminds me of a god/creature of death from the anime series Deathnote. 

Favourite Film of Summer 2016

Olivia Dineley

Suicide Squad Review

Suicide Squad is a 2016 film that was released by DC Comics. It flips the standard superhero movie set-out, where a group of 6 evil people from a high security prison go and save the world. In the past year, it ranks 9th place on the world box office chart, which is pretty good. There was lots of hype around the film because it’s first trailer was released a year before the film release at a comic convention. The trailers showed a range of comedy and violence, without showing too much of the film. Also, they used highly-renowned actors like Jared Leto and Will Smith, meaning their fans would want to go see the film. They had a modern soundtrack, including bands like Twenty One Pilots, again attracting fans of their music to see the film.

Character Profiles were shown on screen which meant you could understand the characters more through the film. That gives viewers something to read on screen, so they stay focused on the movie. The font they use for this section is eye-catching and colourful, so people know that it needs to be read. It also makes people who aren’t familiar with the franchise able to understand the characters in a quicker way.

The comic relief (Harley Quinn) had a dark side and a back-story which created a good contrast and gave her more of a meaning. The back-story explains why she is so funny/crazy and explains her part in the story. This again helps people who aren’t aware of the franchise understand her as a character more. It makes her character more loveable as you see what a difficult time she had and how much she acts like she is okay, even though she is not. This can relate to many people, making her a character that relates to a mass audience.

In the film, there are many Scene-Cut-Scene’s used to create a contrast. This means they use a clip with a lot of action, then cut to a clip where it is rather calm and then cuts back to the action. There is usually a contrast in the way these scenes are lit, the action clip usually being darker than the calm. This captures the intensity of the action as you have something to compare it to.

Tracking shots are also used, which give the film a faster pace and show more action. This fits the stereotype of it’s usage in action films.

Laura Mulvey’s theory of the ‘male gaze’ is also used. Harley Quinn wears very revealing clothing, sexualising her so it appeals more to men. Even though she goes against the stereotypical ‘damsel in distress’, she is sexualised to a certain extent. However, this fits the comic books, so it is not just used because it’s a film, it’s just what her character wears.Another example of this theory being used in this film is Enchantress, the main villain. She is wearing very little clothes, less than the drawing in her comic book version. However, this is standard for a comic/action film.

The films goes against Todorov’s film sequence theory, as it ends with another disruption, rather than the restoration. This left it open for there to be another film.

It also goes against Propp’s stock character list, as there isn’t really a hero, there’s no father of the Damsel, and no clear donor or mentor character.

Personally, I wish the Joker was in it a bit more. He is an extensive character, who could have progressed the storyline on, but instead he got a small part and only left the film open for another film at the end.

Olivia Dineley

Why ‘Deadpool’ was so successful:

‘Deadpool’ is a 2016 action-comedy, produced by Marvel Studios. It follows the story of Wade Wilson and his journey to getting revenge and how his character develops and gains superpowers. Gaining $760.3 Million at the box office, making it the 7th highest-grossing Marvel film, following in the footsteps of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble.

A films success is measured by the grossing amount, how well it does in the opening weekend, merchandise sales and the overall reviews from film critics. The grossing amount is calculated by the amount of box office (how much is made from sales) and the amount it cost to make it is subtracted.

‘Deadpool’ had some very good trailers, which could suggest why the film was such a success. They mainly used the colour red, which is a bright, eye-catching primary colour. This would draw viewers into the trailer, by catching their attention. The trailers have a comedic effect, making viewers laugh or feel happy when watching them. People like laughing, so would want to go see the film as soon as it is released. The trailers also show that there will be action, without giving too much away as regards to the storyline. The trailers ‘break the 4th wall’, which makes viewers feel included and part of the storyline.

The advertising targets to a mass audience. Going against the stereotype, it advertises to both male and females, by labelling it as a ‘love story’ and releasing it a few days before Valentine’s Day. This could also be why the colour red is used a lot in the trailers. It also advertises to a younger audience (15+) by using social media. This follows the stereotype of teens staying on social media.

The fact that it is based off of a comic means that whoever has read the comic book, would want to go see the film. Also, people who generally like Marvel films would want to see it, as they know that their films are usually of a high standard.

The film was rumoured to have been made very early on, so that meant fans could build up lots of ‘hype’ and make others aware that the film was going to be released. The anticipation had built up, and it became a huge success before it had even been released.

In my personal opinion, the film is successful because it is just a good film. It uses a range of camera angles and techniques to keep the film interesting. The contrast between the action, humour and dark themes (cancer, death, and vanity) makes it appeal to everyone in some way. The fact it uses quick scene cuts and fast-pace jokes means that every time you watch it, you’ll pick up something new, or find a joke funnier because of something that happened. The film doesn’t require a background knowledge of the franchise, but if you do have the knowledge, it is a funnier film, as some jokes are aimed towards the fans. This can then lead to people wanting to watch the films that are in the franchise, furthering Marvel’s success as a film company.