Tuesday 10 November 2020

Kiss of the Vampire - analysing generic paradigms


P block 
  • The highly conventional and even stereotypical mise en scene of bats reinforces that this is a conventional vampire film
  • The dated and worn letters connote that the film is set in the past, which is also highly conventional
  • Horror in general in the 60's and 70's were by and large set in the 19th century
  • 'A Hammer Film Production' - A British studio famous for making a range of horror and sci fi films
  • An old fashioned, classic British horror film, with an emphasis on acting and set pieces rather than gore and jump scares. This reflects the sensibilities and censorship laws of the time
  • MES of dripping blood
  • Sharp pointy font may be symbolic of sharp teeth, or a bloody stake, both being clear iconographic features of the vampire film
  • 'Kiss Of The Vampire' - word vampires clearly suggests the film belongs to the vampire subgenre
  • Vampire films also typically have a big emphasis on sex and love, for example the lexis of word kiss, the performance of the man holding the woman, and the revealing mise-en-scene of the nightdresses of the female characters
  • Setting of the castle (European setting) especially emphasizes the high levels of typicality that this film evidences
  • Facial expression of male vampire seems scared or shocked, which functions as a hermeneutic code, asking the audience 'why is this vampire scared'? An example of difference
  • Subversive representation of a female vampire in an aggressive and violent again offers potential audiences a new and exciting experience 

T block

  • The iconography of the mise en scene of the bats reinforces that he film is a horror film, and is definitely a conventional vampire film
  • MES of stereotypically attractive women functions as a generic paradigm, suggesting romance elements, and promising generic hybridity 
  • Iconography of deserted, bleak and stereotypical 'evil lair' informs audiences that this is a conventional horror film
  • MES of bites on woman's neck, and the exposed neck 
  • MES of selection of colours, depressing, bleak, miserable setting
  • Low key lighting, symbolises key themes of the film
  • Mise en scene of blood
  • Early 20th century late 19th century setting highly conventional of horror films
  • Produced by Hammer Studios - specialists in horror
  • Costume: revealing nightdresses 
  • Title: 'kiss of the vampire' - word kiss also carries romantic elements
  • Further anchored by the positioning of the women: sexual overtones 
  • MES of frightened face of vampire: atypical and subversive representation of vampires 

R Block

  • Mise en scene of the vampire's menacing smile confirms a conventional horror film 
  • Lexis: 'kiss of the vampire': a poetic and flowery title typical of 60's horror film
  • Use of low key lighting is symbolic of horrific events and dark themes
  • MES of vulnerable/dead victims
  • MES of vast, crumbling gothic castle, seen in silhouette, synonymous with the vampire
  • MES of bats, at least ten, demonstrating exactly how scary the film will be 
  • However, our views and perceptions of what is frightening have radically changed since the film was released
  • Produced by Hammer films, and distributed by Universal 
  • Classic horror, with an emphasis on acting and setting. Generally set in late 19th/early 20th century, set in Eastern Europe