Jasmine May; Timed Essay: Genre

The genre of my film trailer ‘Succubus’ horror, the subgenre is thriller meaning it immediately conforms to theorist Chandler’s theory stating that that films have genres and subgenres. The subgenre of my production is thriller because it contains its own conventions- an element of mystery/investigation, shown through a teen boy researching in the library and on a computer. My production is somewhat hybrid because it contains a supernatural element; the succubus is a supernatural creature shown by her demonic tail. Theorist burton spoke about the conventions of the horror genre, explaining how characters predicaments, icons, background/décor and themes. This theory applies to ‘succubus’ to an extent as I have included stock characters-the teenage boy who is quite nerdy and unpopular; this is portrayed through the use of mise en scene as I have put him in glasses. I have also included the typical situation within the horror genre ‘The chase scene). It is typical for this situation to be at the end, so I have put it at the end of my trailer, when the succubus chases the victim and protagonist (the teen researcher) in a dramatic final scene. Barton also spoke about the use of icons to create genre; I have somewhat developed this idea. Rather than including the stereotypical ‘knife’ (common icon in horror films) I have made the phallic object actually attached to the succubus- it is on the end of her tail. I have done this because the idea on the penetrative object being attached to the antagonist is even more terrifying (particularity to my target audience of men). With regards to background and décor, I’ve challenged this by using everyday settings such as houses, and London, city settings to create a sense of realism. Neal spoke about the stages of development and familiarity with innovation. (Conforming to original ideas but adding twists to prevent the genre from getting predictable). He spoke about the stages of development: Experimental – experimenting/forming conventions. Classical- When conventions are established. Revisionist- conventions are bent as films become cliché. Parodic-Parodies/mocking original ideas. My production is within the classical stage as it conforms to rules of the thriller genre. I have conformed by including a strong mystery/investigative element, made evident through the teen investigator/protagonist shown researching ‘succubus’ and actually going after the antagonist. I have also included a ‘stereotypical’ scene of the killer standing directly behind a victim with a knife/phallic object- The end scene when the succubus is behind her next victim about to harm him with her tail. This is seen is classical thriller film ‘Psycho’ 1960 in the famous shower scene, when the killer is behind the women with a knife. Theorist Altman discussed how genres offer audiences different pleasures: emotional pleasures, intellectual pleasures and visceral pleasures (Jumps/scares). My production contains intellectual pleasures due to the investigative element and the audience (alongside the teen boy) having to work out who/what the succubus. Intellectual pleasure is provided in fellow horror film, ‘prom night’ when the investigator is trying to piece together who and where the antagonist it. My production contains visceral pleasures as there are quick cuts and jump scenes, for example, when a dead and bloody victim appears in the background. Extreme close ups of the succubus are used (alongside scary makeup) to create visceral pleasure. Furthermore my work contains loud ‘booms’ to make the audience jump.