British Horror seems to feature very similar narrative themes and characters. The Descent (Neil Marshall, 2005) and Dracula (Terrence Fisher, 1958) are films that present very typical narratives, characters and conventions of British Horror films.
British horror mostly follows a definite narrative structure which is usually Todorov’s five steps to a narrative structure; Equilibrium, disruption of equilibrium, realisation of disruption, attempt to repair and finally a reestablishment of the equilibrium. Also you could use Syd Field’s 3 act narrative structure; an overview to the genre, characters and what the film will be about. A conflict with the protagonist involved in a number of complications in which they try to resolve. Then finally the protagonist confronts the villain and defeats them with knowledge gained throughout the film. One of the many subgenres within the main genre of horror is ‘Urbanoia’. Urbanoia subgenre usually features modern characters who travel to the wilderness or territory unknown to them and get their comeuppance for their transition. Urbanoia films usually follow Todorov’s five stages narrative structure up until the third act where the protagonist is defeated, or is left traumatised by the events of the film. Another subgenre is Hammer horror, these have very strong iconography and a gothic tone which makes it clear that it belongs to that sub-genre. Hammer horror was very popular in the 1950s which was a drastic time for sexism in society this is why women were very highly sexualised and dependant on male characters to save them. Whereas in modern society females are written to be stronger more independent characters, as depicted in The Descent, however this doesn’t guarantee their safety as there i...
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...hood. Juno is also hinted at as being the final girl however her sympathy for Sarah and the audience’s realisation of the affair with Sarah’s husband makes it clear that she will not survive because she has compromised a marriage which is typical of the genre and results in the characters death.
Both Dracula and The Descent are typical of their own subgenres. Hammer and Urbanoia. Dracula is typical of British Horror films because it follows the narrative structure, conventions and typical characters of British Horror films. It follows Todorovs five step theory through to the end and has blatant themes of marriage and this is clearly portrayed through the characters. The descent takes conventions from both subgenres but twists the ending, by having the character fail to survive the film gives a realistic and gritty feel to it which is typical of the Urbanoia genre.
Morgan, J. The biology of horror: gothic literature and film. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2002.
Gothic elements have an enormous impact on the plot and theme of all of the sections above. Through the use of Psychological Issues, Monsters, and Blood/Death the
Comparing the 1931 version of Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, with Frances Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula 1993 version yields some similarities. Both films are of the same genre: Horror. Both films are set around the same time period. Also, both deal with a vampire coming to England and causing disruptions in people's lives. Beyond these few similarities are numerous contrasts.
In 1897, Bram Stoker had Dracula published for the first time. Dracula is considered, by many, Stoker’s best work. It is an exemplary example of Gothic literature. In Dracula, three essential motifs of Gothic literature are revenants, cemeteries, and shapeshifting.
Perhaps one of the most dramatic genres of literature, the gothic genre, already set in unpredictable and unsettling times of revolution ingeniously set the stage for such horror stories as were never before seen by modern society. Artists like Bram Stoker, who was bedridden until the age of seven, and Mary Shelley, whose mother died giving birth flourished, and produced literary pieces that, in the midst of revolution, started their own revolution.
As you can see, the evil features are in both Dracula and Frankenstein, but the presentation of this evil is different in both novels. Rarely has another novel been able to come close to the dismay that the witness experiences in Dracula. Bram Stoker wrote a true piece work of art that will never be able to be topped. With willing suspension of disbelief, Stoker makes she accounts of terror in Dracula seem as if they could actually happen. The image the author creates is horrendous and he his tone brings about the most dreadful of adventures.
The first stage of the genre cycle is called the primitive stage. During this stage of the cycle, the genre of horror is very new. Filmmakers are trying to decide what makes a horror film a horror film, while audience are figuring out what they should expect every time they see this kind of film. For example, Todd Browning’s Dracula is the basic, stripped down blueprint for many monster-horror films today. It features the “bad guy” accompanied by the “good guy”. After several horrifying events, Van Helsing kills the vampire, Dracula, and good prevails, again. Thus, establishing that in horror films no matter how grue...
The definition of the Horror genre differs completely to the Gothic genre. This idea of how the Gothic novel transformed from various architectures based around impending castles and morality tales, to the idea of monsters, fear, and repugnance. Therefore, it is interesting to notice the change from how the genre has developed from arguably the 17th century to the 20th century, where vampires, werewolf’s, and other monsters are very popular with teen audiences especially.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula can be compared to F.W Murnau’s, 1922 film Nosferatu, due to the similarities in characters, plot, and the myth of vampires. The novel is a horror story of Dracula’s attempt to find new blood and spread the undead curse. Throughout the novel Dracula is challenged by a group of men in order to defeat the curse, destroy the undead, and enjoy their lives with a new sense of freedom. However in Nosferatu, Count Orlock’s attempt to obtain woman’s blood leads to sacrifice and death. These stories follow such similar outlines, such as slightly changing the names of characters, that the movie was charged with copyright, and every copy was destroyed. Fortunately, some copies made it secretly into the U.S, where the movie was not
As a Director, Tim Burton collapses between different categories of elements. Films directed commonly by him as an American, carries an outstanding trademark known for dark, Gothic, macabre, quirky horror, and fantasy films. Tim Burton spent his formative years watching old cartoons and horror flicks. At an early influence, there was no doubt for his work to form a splendid director who was to become known for his production. Observing through his films, Tim Burton's signature style focuses towards focus on plot, elements to a good story and lighting effect.
Dracula by Bram Stoker is an authentic Gothic novel that manages to hit on every Gothic literature aspect. Gothic literature is usually set in an isolated setting and has a dark, mysterious, and evil tone. In this type of literature, there are usually dark castles, palaces, presences of supernatural beings, and religion. The book Dracula is about a Count from Transylvania that goes to London in search of new victims and a group of Victorian citizens who end up defeating him and his evil ways. The use of setting and atmosphere in Dracula is filled with a world full of mystery and fear. Bram Stoker manages to capture the Gothic element with his use of castles, symbols, and isolated setting.
Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a classic tale of Gothicism. Traditionally, gothic tales only carried single theme of horror. Through Dracula, Stoker breaks this single theme barrier. The theme throughout Dracula is clearly displayed through the characters as they step from ignorance to realization in this tale of horror.
Bram Stoker's Dracula is a true Gothic novel that belongs on any gothic literature course. Focusing in on the recurring themes, characters and settings used throughout the novel one sees how Dracula has set the standard for Gothic literature today.
Although these two films have very different ideas and structure, while Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is dealing with a supernatural beast along with an intertwining love story, and Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is dealing with a plot of passion and love shown through the multiple love triangles throughout the film. It can be said that both share many of the same elements which are all part of the gothic genre. These elements include Byronic hero characters and traits, the use of camera techniques, and metonymy. Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is comparable, and in the end similar to, the archetype for the gothic genre; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Gothic literature has many dark factors, some of them are death and decay, haunted homes/ castles, some have family curses, powerful love/ romances, ghost and vampires. This type of genre became to be popular during the late 18th century. There are many gothic lit novels like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These two books have a lot of in common thing. Both of these books have many gothic elements. These elements consists of atmosphere, characters being isolated, emotions and supernatural atmospheres.