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.