Tegan Olness - Final Project

Films of the 1970s impacted all of the films of the future. This time period of films helped mold the films and the theatre experience into what it is today. The use of the family in the 1970s was something new. The use of the family causes the audience to closer relate to the characters. This emphasizes fear in the minds of the viewers. The compositions that I have created are done in a style to create and emphasize fear.

My work deals with the horror film genre and its subgenres. The slasher film subgenre emphasized the psychological origins of terror through suspense, with emphasis on mental illness being the leading monster. The most popular slasher film of the 1970s was John Carpenter’s Halloween. Another popular subgenre of the horror genre is splatter films. These films emphasize blood, gore, and body mutilation through special effects. There are many splatter films from the 1970s, but The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and Dawn of the Dead stand out to me. A third popular subgenre is the occult horror films. The films that stand out strong from this subgenre are The Omen, The Amityville Horror, and The Boogeyman.

Each film stands out for its style and unique qualities. It is through these qualities that the films have generated a cult following. The films Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, Dawn of the Dead, The Omen, The Amityville Horror, and The Boogeyman were all made popular in the 1970s. The popularity and 30 year period of horror film popularity has impacted the remakes. Each of these films has been remade in the 2000s. Some of the remakes were better than the originals, others were not. Either way, all of these films emphasize and expand on the ideas presented in the original films.

The overall concept of this project is the examination and comparison of 1970s horror films and their remakes in the 2000s. This visual project emphasizes the strong similarities and differences between these films. The main emphasis of each composition is the tool used to attack the victim. These compositions feature a variety of manipulated video stills, text when appropriate, drawings, and some integrated photography.

Halloween

The film Halloween was directed by John Carpenter in 1978. This film is about a young boy, Michael Myers, who kills his sister in the 1960s. He is sent to a mental hospital and escapes after 15 years. Michael returns to his hometown to find his baby sister and kill all whom cross his path. Rob Zombie directed the remake of this film in 2007. Rob Zombie’s take on this film helps to create an understanding and connection between Michael’s childhood years and his connection with his younger sister.

The composition that I created for this piece emphasizes the connection between the two films. The similarities of the two films are drawn out and put together in an obvious comparison. This composition was the most difficult to create because the remake film it not released on DVD. This required me to rely on video stills published online. I have created a strong connection between the killer and the victim. The background is integrated with imagery of a childhood home, Michael Myers, and a murder weapon attacking Michael. This is connection between the knife and Michael is a play between the victim and the killer. Michael is constantly attacked in this film, and his others, and continues to stand strong.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was directed by Tobe Hooper in 1974. This film is about a group of teenager who visit an old farm. When the teens wander off, they run into a family of cannibals. One by one the teens are killed off. Marcus Nispel directed the remake of this film in 2003. This film retells the story of the teens, but amplifies the last teen’s struggle to survive.

The composition that I created for this piece creates a strong comparison between the two films. The boxed pattern helps to create a unified whole. The text is centered and used to explain and enhance the piece. The similarities between the two films are evident in this piece. The special effects have improved and the story line has been slightly adjusted, but overall the movies are similar.

The Hills Have Eyes

The film The Hills Have Eyes was directed by Wes Craven in 1977. This film is about a family on a road trip whose car breaks down in a deserted air-testing zone. The family becomes victims to the savage inhabitants of the hills. The remake was directed by Alexandre Aja in 2006. The remake provides more insight into the lives of the genetically mutated cannibals that live in the atomic testing site of the hills.

The composition that I created for this piece emphasized the fear experienced by all who know about the miners in the hills. The struggle and strength of the family is demonstrated in this piece. Also demonstrated is a story line comparison of the events that unfolded. The advancement of special effects from the 1970s to the 2000s is strongly demonstrated through the characters. The main idea of fear is demonstrated through the cause and effect of this film. The main cause is the crash that occurred because of the bunny or spikes in the road. The main effect is the victimization of the family.

Dawn of the Dead

The film Dawn of the Dead was directed by George Romero in 1979. The film is about a plague that creates living dead who walk the earth feeding on the living. The survivors seek refuge in a shopping mall and fight for survival. The remake of this film was directed by Zack Snyder in 2004. The remake features twice as many zombies with emphasis on the character interaction inside the mall. The remake cuts out the motorcycle gang that disrupts the survivors in the mall.

The composition that I created for this piece emphasizes the fear and gore. This composition is different from the rest by integrating all of the items together. This composition shows the struggle inside and outside of the mall. The largest comparison can be witness between the quantities of zombies that surround the mall. This piece portrays fear the strongest. It also emphasizes the flesh-eating zombies through the background and foreground elements. The connection between the living, the living dead, and the material is integrated in this piece.

The Omen

The film The Omen was directed by Richard Donner in 1976. This film is about a boy who was marked with the sign of Satan. Damien, the young boy, does not allow anything or anyone to stand in the way of his evil powers. The remake of this film was directed by John Moore in 2006. The remake digs down further in depth to the back history of Damien’s powers.

The composition that I created for this piece strongly emphasizes the Anti-Christ qualities that Damien possesses. The use of text is simply used, but provides a rich meaning to the piece. The integration of the background elements with the manipulated still helps to create a comprehensive whole. The strongest crimes pains caused by Damien are displayed in this piece. The placement of imagery is wrapped around the title to nearly form the number six.

The Amityville Horror

The film The Amityville Horror was directed by Stuart Rosenberg in 1979. The film is about a family that moves into a new house. The family later learns that a multiple murder took place several years ago and the demonic victims still inhabit the place. The remake was directed by Andrew Douglas in 2005. The remake pays more attention to the victims and how they interact with the family. The film also pays more attention to George’s struggle to overcome the demonic voice that haunts him.

The composition that I created for this piece displays the fear and anger surrounding the family. The composition separates the films and compares the elements. The composition relies of text to address issues that imagery would not do as well. The message ‘Katch’em & Kill’em’ is strongly emphasize in the second film. These films rely heavily on the fear and anger. That is displayed through the harsh colors.

The Boogeyman

The film The Boogeyman was directed by Ulli Lommell in 1980. This film is about a young boy who murders his mother’s abusive boyfriend while his sister watches in the mirror. Years later the brother and sister stumble upon the mirror. The boyfriend spirit is trapped in the mirror and murder occurs everywhere the shattered pieces of the mirror exist. The remake was directed by Stephen T. Kay in 2005. This film differs from the original in many ways, especially the plot line. The main character is a young boy who sees his father captured in a closet by the Boogeyman. At his mother’s funeral, he decides to revisit his childhood home to get over his fears. This film displays the struggles that the main character must battle to save himself from his worst fears.

The composition that I created for this piece strongly relies on colors. The dark blues and purples create a glooming and mysterious palette to create fear. The struggle between the fears is exhibited in this piece. The idea to face the nightmare is the main message of this piece. Since the two films are vastly different in portraying the same message, I decided to focus on major events of the two films. I emphasized struggles and fear within the composition.

All of my works have a similar style and message. Each piece incorporates the struggle and fear that the victims experience. The compositions also are stylistic similar through the use of a collage style piece. Each layout was determined by the still imagery that was found and created, and the flow of the films. Overall these pieces compare and contrast the 1970s horror films and their remakes.

Bibliography

Biskind, Peter. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And-Rock ‘n’ Roll
Generation Saved Hollywood. New York: Touchstone. 1998.

Cook, David A. Lost Illusions: American Cinema in the Shadow of Watergate and
Vietnam 1970-1979. California: University of California Press, Ltd., 2000.