Film case study By Sasiane Sakuu

1. Halloween Film Case Study
By Sasiane Saku

2. TECHNICAL ASPECTS:
SOUND
Sound, Misenscene and editing
create meaning ?
Throughout the film Halloween there was a sound motif which associated strongly
with the killer “Michael Myers”. The sound associated with a threatening buzz
which alerted the audience because they realised that every time the killer was on
the screen the sound motif would appear. This then creates tension and
suspension towards the audience as they are aware that something bad is bound
to happen .
From the beginning of the film there was a sound bring which played continuously
across more than one cut/transition .
Climax Crescendo sounds were played frequently in this film to reveal the actions
and personality of the killer , every moment the killer was on his way to attack a
victim there would be a built up of high key pianos playing. This again built up
suspension and awareness for the audience.

3. TECHNICAL ASPECTS:
SOUND
Sound, Misenscene and editing
create meaning ?
Ambient and Diegetic sound
Diegetic Sound
From watching the Halloween film you are able to make assumptions about who the killer is an what they are like .
“ Prepare for him “ “start planning your own funeral” this is dialogue from the Michael Myers Physiatrist who is warning a police
office about the behaviour of the killer who is loose . From this dialogue of the Doctor you understand that the killer is
dangerous and that you should be aware of him . This links back to the viewers view of the film from this dialogue without
seeing the killer on screen yet they can assume that he is out to strike or he has striked before , he is a man who is a
psycho path.
“I saw the Bogeyman “ The name Bogeyman has an association with devilish scary themes someone/something that attacks a
person . The bogeyman is also associated with ghosts and zombies from the dead .
Ambient – There were a lot of background sounds such as a quiet sound car engine radio , heavy breathing , screaming
and also children playing in the playground .The ambient sound allows the audience to feel the atmosphere of the scene
example the barking of the dog made it obvious to the audience that there was someone unusual / unfamiliar in the house
( which was the killer ).
The heavy breathing connotes that the killer is present and that he is sexually frustrated . We as the audience known that when
we hear heavy breathing we know that the killer has seen its prey and that the killer himself is a predator.
The screams that were heard from the females usually signified that they were being attacked . This connotes there weakness
and lack of bravery and strength . The screams caused tensions and suspension for the audience as they felt drawn with
what they were seeing it makes them sympathetic with the character.

4. TECHNICAL ASPECTS:
Misenscene / Prop
Sound, Misenscene and editing
create meaning ?
The killer
The killer is portrayed with a mask which shows to the
audience that he is hiding his identity as he does not want to
be revealed . This implies that he is keeping his distance
away from the audience.
The female victims
The mask created an anchorage with the film title
“Halloween” because during Halloween people dress up and
disguise themselves as different characters from example
scary films and books .
In slasher / horror films it’s a typical convention to represent
females as the typical American cheerleader or a smart wise female
who has her mind set and also the promiscuous , naughty , always
high on weed female.
Michael Myers ( The killer) throughout the film was often
shown wearing dark colours such as blue and black which
connotes his power and status but also bold character . The
colour black can suggest to the audience that the killer is
very unfriendly , this links to characters representation on
the screen we were not able to see his face until the middle
of the film , example meeting the boy at the playground
there was a mid shot of the killer which shows his status as
a character he is to dominant to be shown or maybe he is a
danger.
The misenscene of the final girl ( last female to get attacked by the
killer.)
In Slasher / Horror films it is a typical convention to see the
killer slash and harm victims with weapons such as knifes,
axes and chainsaws. However in this film the killer only used
his knife once which was slash one of the female victims
arm but he missed and only managed to rip open her
There were three main females characters who were victims .
Was very smart which reveals the sort of character that she is to the
audience .
A cream nude cardigan , nude connotes elegance , she also wore
a green top and we known that green connotes earth and greenery .
Her attire was very simple and female like she also wore a skirt
which represented her feministic side . Iconography was very
important in the scene that we saw the final girl in , she was
carrying books which connotes her intelligence and wisdom she
was always aware of her surroundings and always focused on
herself she is a straight minded character . This female character
had a lack of makeup which connotes that she is an everyday
women who just takes life with a lot of simplicity . Her facial
expressions throughout the film were the same she was always

5. Misenescene /props/lightening
It’s a common convention in slasher / horror films
that most attacks and stalking take place in a close
well known neighbourhood where everyone knows
each other . Also the attacking takes place in a big
haunted interior location example a basement
,house or garage, in this film it is a house .
Inside the domestic setting it consists of dark
lightning there is a limited ambient light source at all
times which could be the moon since all the action
is taking part in the middle of the night , while the
rest of the neighbourhood are trick or treating “ .
The darkness inside the house created tension for
the audience watching because it makes the
assume straight away that something negative is
bound to occur . The ambient light present which is
the moon creates shadows in the house it reveals
to the audience if something is present , normally it
would be the killers shadow and the victim is not
aware of the killer surrounding which creates
suspension and eagerness for the audience to see
what will happen next .
The House where all the killings and attacks occur has
a light outside the door which alerts to the audience that
this is where the next crime may happen . The light
grabs the attention of the audience because they know
that the house is targeted it creates suspense.
Outside the targeted house there was
a pumpkin which has been carved out
in a scary way , this links back to what
the film is about and what season it is
“Halloween”.

6. TECHNICAL ASPECTS:
Sound, Misenscene and editing create
meaning ?
Close up zoom shot of the big house was done very frequently throughout the film , this connotes to the
audience that the house will be a main target to the killer. The close up allows the audience to feel
drawn inside with the action happening .
In the film a long shot was often used to identify the killer . There would be a long shot of the killer from
a distance which allows the audience to track the killers next action . Close ups were also used to
capture the face of the killer , his face was usually covered by his mask which was very scary . The
mask was white which connotes purity and innocence however the actions of the killer were the
opposite of these words . The close up allows the audience to analyse the facial expressions of the killer
which were usually straight and stern this implies that he is a serious character.
Tracking shots often create tensions towards the audience because they feel drawn into what will
happen next . Example tracking shots were often used when the killer was stalking the female it causes
eagerness to see the next seen .
The audience were introduced to the house by an establish shot which allowed the audience to make
sense of why the house was the main target and why it was seen as a forbidden house to enter “ Here
is where Michael Myers killed his sister”.
The killer Michael Myers at the start of the film was only shot from his shoulders downwards it was a mid
shot that accompanied the scene . The created a mystery towards the audience because they did not
know if this was the killer or a random subject . However watching the film we noticed that it was the
killer who's face was always hidden this connotes and suggests that he is too dominant and powerful to
be seen in the beginning of the film , it expresses his character as one who is trying to constantly
disguise himself.
The three shot in the film explains and reveals to the audience by dialogue about what is happening it
also allows the audience to make sense of where the film is going and what they may expect to appear
or happen next “ Run out go get help “ . This line reveals to the audience that there is danger coming
there way or something negative is bound to happen .
Tilt shots / Low angle shots were used to represent the status of the killer , the shots suggests to the
audience that he is more powerful then his victims and that he should be respected . Whereas high
angle shots are used when the killer is ready to attack the final girl it connotes her vulnerable status and
weak character especially because she is a female.
Shots

7. Narrative
This film follows a linear narrative as
everything happening chronically in order
which makes it easy for the audience to
follow reasons to why the killer is the way
he is it tells a story .
The plot begins with a flash back which is
after 20 years its is the past forward to
the present . I thought after watching the
film that the plot was also when Michael
Myers returns back to the town , he has
escaped from a mental home and the
only person who knows so much about
him is his Psychiatrist / Doctor .
Young Michael Myers
before he escapes the
mental home .

8. Genre Conventions
In slasher / horror films supernatural themes occur example , in
Halloween the killer dies several times ( gun shots , knife wounds ) but
still comes back to life after all its punishments, it fascinates the
audience and interests them more.
Interior settings are common locations where attacks and killings
happen – big haunted houses
Exterior settings will take place in a dark silent street where no one is
around to witness anything.
The killer usually has a motif and reason to why they are how they are .
Normally the killer is said to have a mental illness and is known to be a
psycho path ,example Michael Myers at a young age kills his blood
sister which leads him to go into a mental home .
The female victim is usually alone when being attacked or stalked .
Music accompanies the killer when they are about to strike a victim
which makes the audience alert.
Because slasher/ Halloween films are associated with devilish
supernatural creepy vibes , they will include negative props such as
grave headstones which represent death and dullness.
With slasher/horror films there is always a police investigation which
reveals to the audience that there is a cause to why the killer is like the
way they are .In the film Halloween the police officers reveal as
dialogue who and what Michael Myers is and what he has done in the
past .
The film Halloween has its ways of subverting the genre convention
example it kills a man , however in most slasher/ horror films only
females get attacked and kills. This could come across as surprising to
the audience.

9. Representation and Characterisation – How are the
characters represented . Can you discuss stereotypes
or stock types ?
Stock Types – There is always a killer who is usually a male in slasher / horror
films . The killer is the main character and the audience are always alert when they
are on the screen , it is known that the killer makes the film what it is .
The killer appears unexpectedly behind the victims in different forms as a shadow
or from a distance – we see the killer stalking from outside . This reveals the
discreet behaviour of the killer and creates suspension and tension towards the
audience who can see more of the killers actions then the victims can .
The killer is represented as a dangerous being this is a stereotype of killers and it
conforms to the conventions of this genre . It defines a stereotype that men are
dominant and bold
The Final girl usually gets killed ,however in this film the final girl remains alive
which suggest to the audience that there maybe be another series of this film that
will show her death. However this can create a stereotype of females being more
powerful then killers as the female in this film striked back frequent times .
However at the end of the film we notice the final girl wearing a blue shirt and blue
jeans , the colour blue connotes coldness and muscularity . This connotes that
females are not weak it subverts stereotypes of females. The female attacks the
killer with his own Freudian weapon( knife) which suggests that she is brave and
not weak like most females are said to be . However during her attempts to hide
from the killer the final girl ( victim) shows signs of weaknesses as she screams
and cries . She portrays a mother figure as she protects Lindsay and bob the two
little children she looks after “ Go to the McKenzie's house and tell them to call the
police “

10. Representation and Characterisation – How are the
characters represented . Can you discuss stereotypes
or stock types ?
Stock Types – There is always a killer who is usually a male in slasher / horror
films . The killer is the main character and the audience are always alert when they
are on the screen , it is known that the killer makes the film what it is .
The killer appears unexpectedly behind the victims in different forms as a shadow
or from a distance – we see the killer stalking from outside . This reveals the
discreet behaviour of the killer and creates suspension and tension towards the
audience who can see more of the killers actions then the victims can .
The killer is represented as a dangerous being this is a stereotype of killers and it
conforms to the conventions of this genre . It defines a stereotype that men are
dominant and bold
The Final girl usually gets killed ,however in this film the final girl remains alive
which suggest to the audience that there maybe be another series of this film that
will show her death. However this can create a stereotype of females being more
powerful then killers as the female in this film striked back frequent times .
However at the end of the film we notice the final girl wearing a blue shirt and blue
jeans , the colour blue connotes coldness and muscularity . This connotes that
females are not weak it subverts stereotypes of females. The female attacks the
killer with his own Freudian weapon( knife) which suggests that she is brave and
not weak like most females are said to be . However during her attempts to hide
from the killer the final girl ( victim) shows signs of weaknesses as she screams
and cries . She portrays a mother figure as she protects Lindsay and bob the two
little children she looks after “ Go to the McKenzie's house and tell them to call the
police “