AOB 2 + 3 - Structure & Meaning

The main character (Jack) is starred by Jack Nicholson, he basically gets a job as a caretaker in a hotel at the top of a mountain, the hotel gets snowed in, in the winter, which makes the hotel have to shut. Danny (Jacks Son) has psychic powers, which is found out by the hotel chef, this means he can see ghosts and detect when they are present, when Jack and his family get snowed in, Jack turns into a madman, because of the ghosts being around, this then causes him to attempt to murder his wife and son.
The structure of the film is a linear structure, this means that there is a beginning middle and end, although its made more complicated than just this, it means that there is an exposition, complication, climax and finally a resolution. This is the layout the film is planned around.
The first scene, where the chef introduces Jack and his family to the house is basically to set the scene and give the audience an understanding of who the characters are and where the film is set, also in this part we are told about the previous caretaker who was also isolated during the winter months and killed himself and his family. We also learn that Danny has Psychic powers within this part, this is the exposition.
Next we have the complication, this is where Jack starts getting angry with his wife because shes distracting him when hes trying to work, but its not really work because he just sits there writing: “all work and no play, makes jack a dull boy” this isn’t normal behaviour and as a sign of this we can see hes starting to go mad.
The climax can be seen as the most powerful scene in a film, in the Shining, this is the axe scene, where Jack goes looking for his wife and son, and then the “heres Johnny” quote is used.
And finally we have the resolution; this is where jack ends up freezing in the maze, although it isn’t 100% clear that he has died, this is a good way for producers to make a sequel if they wanted to, although they didn’t, they felt they didn’t have to.
At the time of this film being made, something called a steadicam, this is basically what it says in the name, a camera that is used to make shots steady when the camera is in motion, this helps shots in the shining and helps create suspense, because when the shot is constantly moving it creates alot of discomfort, for example, the scene where Jack is smashing the door down with the Axe, the camera jolts from side to side, this creates alot of atmosphere for the audience, and makes the want to watch on eagerly.
Usually in many films they use dolly tracks, this is perfect for long distances, for example a car chase or something, but it wouldn’t have been a clever idea to use it for the shining, simply because the audience would see the track on the floor.
The Deus ex Machina is basically when a suprising event happens, usually something that wasn’t recognisable to the audience, the deus ex machina of the film would be when Jacks wife discovers his “all work and no play” writing. As an audience we instantly see a different side to Jacks character and we feel that he could be capable to murdering his family.
Macguffins are used throughout this film, a macguffin is a plot element that catches the audiences eye, and also advances the story, for example a macguffin in this film would be when the audience see a photograph of what seems like jack from 1921, this creates alot of mystery, because they instantly relate back to the knowledge of the old caretaker, and this makes them think if jack is a reincarnation of the previous caretaker, and this makes them wonder if theres going to be murders again.
This is the scene out of the shining that I felt would be strong to write about and look at more closely. the famous scene where Jack chops through the door and says "heres johnny."
Before he starts axeing the door down, Jack recites a nursery rhyme, three little pigs to be precise, this not only shows that Jack has lost it and has gone completely mad, but it also feels out of place, hearing something so innocent when something so brutal is about to take place, this is called juxtaposition, it means when theres calmness against fear, the way Jack speaks calm even though he is about to kill someone.
Also the contrast between the cold outside and the colour inside, helps create a warm feeling within the hotel, this again is strange considering a murder is trying to take place.

It isn't just about the camera in this scene, but also the sound plays a large part in setting the scene and making the film have alot of suspense. it isn't music that is used as such, but discordant strings in the background, making a low but jumpy sound, also the diegetic sound within the frames make this scene too, such as the screaming and the sound of the axe going through the wood, I believe that with music ontop of this, the effect wouldnt be so great.

The way in which the camera has been placed in this scene is extraordinary! not only did the creators place the camera where the audience can see the axe bashing through the door, but they placed it so you could see Jacks wifes face, that was full of terror. being able to see all of this creates such alot of suspense, and some would say, fear.

Stanley Kubrick didn’t want Jack Nicholson in the film because he had just starred in "the cuckoos nest", and the audience would relate back to the other film, whereas Stanley Kubricks style was to create films that people haven’t seen before, something new, but putting Jack Nicholson in the film, turned out to be very successful.

AOB 1 - The Wicker man

I feel that this film is like marmite, you either love it or hate it.

A very religious police officer gets called to a scottish island (Summer isle) to investigate the disappearance of a missing girl, an anonymous letter is sent to the police station from the Summer isle, and Neil Howie (police officer) is sent to investigate.

He carries around a photo of the girl, and shows it to everybody he can, even the missing girls mother, but they all deny her existence. The police officer notices the rather strange going ons on the island, and decides to talk to "Lord Summer isle" this results in him telling the police officer that they are practicing pagans Howie is deeply offended and accuses them of murdering the girl as part of a bizarre ritual, The police officer tries to leave and go back and report the bizarre things he has seen to the police constable, but he finds out his plane has been sabotaged, and this all along was a trap to get the policeman on the island, he is then tricked and burnt in a wicker man, because this means that the villagers have sacrificed a life, for a life for the crops.

I felt this film was rather strange, and at times I felt like there was some humour involved, when I don't think it was intended.

The film was hated by the film company when it was released but as the years have gone by it has gained a cult following, i think this is because of the way they have used religion, and because its a very strong subject and many people dont understand other religions, it gives an insight to how they live their lives, and how they think.

I believe this film fits into the genre of horror, although its a slightly different form of horror, as its not portrayed in the same way as most horror films, simply because the scary part is the way in which religion is used, so its rather different to most other horrors.

AOB1 - The Exorcist

The Exorcist is about a little girl who is possessed by a demon and a mother who is desperate to get her daughter back normal, through an exorcism conducted by two priests.
People regarded this as the scariest film that has been ever made, when this was released in the cinema, people were found to be fainting and throwing up. even today, when this film is compared with other films, this film is most likely the scariest.
a large feature of scary films is that some are based on true stories, like this one.
The audience were hooked to watching it, they couldnt believe that what they were watching really happened to somebody, a 14 year old boy to be precise, this happened in 1949.

This film is one of the most profitable films of all time with $402, 500, 000 gross worldwide; People even queued for hours and hours, in order to watch the film, because it was hit! simply because it lived up to the horror expectation in alot of ways.
Cinemas had to provide sick bags to every viewer as the special effects at the time were so disgusting that people spewed up at the sight of them.
if a similar storyline comes out, similar to this, where people have messed with spirits etc, i feel that it would still be seen as really scary, simply because not many people know the true story about what happens when this is messed with, so it leaves alot upto the imagination, this is a very scary and shakey subject to be looking at.

There are stories which claim the film was cursed, and there were problems with certain parts on the set, such as a fire breaking out, everywhere but the bedroom of Chris Macneil, so it had to be rebuilt.
it has also been claimed that a priest was brought in numerous times to bless the set from any bad spirits.

There are so many different points of views about this film, some people feel this film is a very well constructed horror film. but some people felt that censorships should have been used, because of the amount of graphic scenes that made people pass out/throw up within this film.
some people also feel that this film shouldnt have ever been made, because of the amount of spirtuality thats used within it.
I feel that the call for regulation today is alot less needed, than it was back in the day, simply because of the amount of horror films that are around, people have become so desensitized to everything, they feel that nothing is as graphic, as the creator had hoped.