Carol Clover claims that there are
three fazes of the sub genre of horror, the slasher film. These fazes are
broken up by time periods. From 1974 to 1986 the killers identity is clear and
only slightly human, She says “The killer is with few exceptions recognizably
human and distinctly male; his fury is unmistakably sexual in both roots and
expression; his victims are mostly women, often sexually free and always young
and beautiful ones. “(Clover 77), which is the origin of the final girl. We see
this development in Texas Chainsaw Massacre through Sally, who is one of the
most famous final girls in the history of the genre. However after 1986 to
present day we tend to see more self-parodying slasher films such as cabin in
the woods. While the two movies have very similar plots their main distinction
is the idea, identification and awareness of the spectator. In the slasher film
of Texas Chainsaw Massacre we are not identifying with one individual character
, but are present in may situations of the film. We are aware of all of the
presents of the individuals and yet we sympathize not identify with them. It is
not until the end of the film when we are in the dinning scene that we loose the
element of spectatorship or friend and become Sally ourselves. With the techniques
of using quick shots, camera placement and close ups on her terrified face the
audience almost has a connection to her soul as we look through the lens and into
her eyes.
From 1986 to present day we see the
comedic self-parodying slasher film. Cabin in the Woods is an extremely
relevant example of this because we are unable to identify with not only one
single character but any of the characters at all. We are aware of the
situation within the movies diegesis that is within a whole other diegesis. We
are taken out of the film itself and brought into another realm of the movie in
which all the viewers are aware of the plot of the film. Within the slasher
film is a reflexive horror film combining two subgenres to create a new kind of
film, one in which identification and awareness of the film itself is the
leading role of horror not the slasher aspect. Unlike Texas Chainsaw Massacre
we do not identify with the final girl but identify with humanity as a whole because
it is the entire world that is viewing the film not us alone in our living
room. However there are so many similarities between the two films, for example
the ability to connect with the characters based on age, demographics and
gender. The scene where they are all
sitting in the van is a great example. The camera is situated at the perfect
angle as to make it seem like you are sitting right there with them. The scene
from Cabin in the Wood where everyone is sitting around watching the slut dance
in front of the fire has the opposite affect. This happens because the viewer
is no longer gazing at her, you are aware of the gaze itself because the camera
takes you back to the alternate room where the men are all watching her. This
causes the viewer to identify with the men instead of the kids in the room.
I irony of both films is that Cabin in the Woods emphasizes
the importance of the ending of Texas Chainsaw Massacre without even making a
direct reference. There only has to be one final girl who needs to be tortured.
If she does not survive until the end or
is outlasted by other characters the film industry cannot continue. Because the characters tried to change the
concept of the final girl, by doing the right thing, the movie can not continue
and everyone must die.
Work cited
Carol J. Clover. “Her
Body , Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film.” No.20 (1987)
No comments:
Post a Comment