Creep Analysis

Creep Analysis

Creep is a 2004 British-German horror film written and directed by Christopher Smith. The film follows the protagonist Kate, locked in the London Underground (Charing Cross) overnight who finds herself being stalked by a hideously deformed killer living in the sewers below. The setting used of Charing Cross station is a typically overused and busy location. The use of it being abandoned and locked turns a familiar location for Kate into a dangerous one due to her being isolated, trapped and confined in a place people spend short periods of time in.  This adds an eerie feel to the current atmosphere within the narrative creating early instances of tension and suspense within audiences as anticipation begins to build towards what she will face. A reoccurring atmospheric non-diegetic soundtrack is used to indicate suspenseful moments towards audiences also. 

The protagonist and the antagonist reinforce common conventions within Horror films due to their representations e.g. the binary opposites between the two of Kate being human and the antagonist, Craig being made to resemble a creature rather than man. This representation is delivered towards audiences through the use makeup techniques used on Craig e.g. pale skin; cuts and scars and his misshapen facial and bodily features. This increases the fear factor within audiences due to the antagonist having an unnatural appearance and nature. The protagonist being a female and the antagonist being male again complies with classic conventions of Horror due to the sympathetic effect of having a female protagonist and the reoccurring stereotype of males being menacing. Kate being the protagonist will again indicate to audiences how she will dictate the narrative and will therefore also be the final girl, providing some form of resolution towards audiences. 

The use of lighting within the underground setting reinforces conventions of horror. For example, the high-key lighting in the background corresponds with the low key lighting in foreground of the long shot. This creates a silhouette of an unknown figure within the shot reinforcing conventions of horror as his identity is hidden towards audiences and therefore they are not familiar with this characters input into the narrative, building apprehension within audiences. The low key lighting consuming the shot increases the fear factor within audiences also due to the inclusion of primal fears developed through the surrounding darkness. 

The scene where Mandy is shown to be tortured by the antagonist within the narrative is a key scene in reinforcing images and cinematography common to the horror genre. The close up shot captures the performance of both the characters, Mandy (the Victim) and Craig (The antagonist) e.g. the calm, collected facial expressions of Craig and the terrified and distressed facial expressions of Mandy. The body language of the antagonist relates to the title of the film “Creep” due to him stroking Mandy as if she was a pet. This creates an uncomfortable feeling within audiences due to the juxtaposition between his actions and the current atmosphere e.g. stroking being associated with comfort and the inhumane activities being displayed. The close up shot again captures the use of iconography within the scene through the blood on the faces of both the characters. The dialogue within the scene complies with conventions of horror also through the tone of voice coming from Mandy, “Jimmy!! Jimmy!!” her frantic calls for help reinforce her presentation towards audiences as being a helpless victim and exaggerates the menacing nature of the antagonist.

Whilst fleeing in panic, Kate falls into the sewer system below the station, and from there she ends up in a storage facility where she finally meets and is captured by the killer, whilst running the diegetic sound of heavy breathing adds realism within the scene and the adrenaline her character would be feeling. Once captured, she is kept in a semi-submerged, rat-infested cage along with other captives. A high angle shot is used during this scene to deliver the sense of power the antagonist has over his trapped victims. The victims are therefore forced to subdue any treatment they may face on the behalf of the antagonist and are presented as powerless. This reinforces classic conventions of Horror as it not only shows the sinister motives and intentions of the antagonist but suggests that the protagonist will overcome this threatening situation not by being strong but through their desperation to live and escape this nightmare. 

The following scene enables audiences the insight into the lair of the killer. Within this setting audiences are open to develop a better understanding of the antagonist. The non-diegetic sound of babies crying is used when the camera pans over preserved foetus’/new-born babies contained in jars. This combined with children’s beds with names at the front of each of them, the variety of medical equipment and a photograph of a younger looking Craig with a Doctor creates the impression of him being an experiment adding unsettling feelings within audiences. This adds to the representation of the antagonist not being human due to his possible story of origin. A sympathetic view may therefore emerge within audiences as his psychotic behaviour may be due to the experiences he had with the Doctor. The scene where the killer imitates the health and safety procedure before a surgery may again correspond to this insight within this scene e.g. he is inflicting on his victims what was inflicted on him.

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Reflection of Horror

Comparing Scream and Halloween

Comparing Scream (1996) and Halloween (1978)

In this essay I will be comparing the film Halloween (1978) directed by John Carpenter and Scream (1996) directed by Wes Craven and how the horror genre was fading after the release of Halloween. For example, the generic conventions of horror used in Halloween were copied within various other Horror films this led to the narrative and plot within horror films becoming too repetitive and predictable. The unrealistic nature of horror was also present within Halloween as it did not relate to real life e.g. parents were always absent from the narrative within Halloween. This differs from Scream as parents make a reoccurring appearance e.g. Kasey’s parents within the opening scene and Sydney’s Father. The absence of parents within Halloween allowed the violence on behalf of the killer to be without consequence also. E.g. the murders may have been stopped sooner if parents had been around. Both Scream and Halloween are independent slasher films e.g. the antagonists both wear masks and use knives. However, the violence within Halloween was done without good reason and therefore added hardly anything to the narrative of the film. The target audience for both films seems to come to an average of 16+ and would aim to target audiences who enjoy the adrenaline and fear which comes with horror films. However, Halloween being set in the 70’s and Scream being a more modern horror film, suggests the directors/producers would aim to appeal to the teenagers of their times e.g.  by including modern fashion and technology.

Wes Craven, the director of Scream was eager to change the dated conventions consistently used in previous existing horror films. He achieved this by avoiding ordinary conventions and features which made up horror films. The non-existent use of a Steadicam throughout the narrative and less voyeurism enables audiences to see through the perspective of the victims and the killers, allowing audiences to receive the point of view of both. This therefore creates a more sympathetic view towards the victims from audiences and has a greater effect of immersing audiences within the narrative. Fast moving camerawork and editing was used instead of the constant voyeuristic stalking in Halloween showing the difference in technology used between the two films and budget also.

There is a constant use of pastiche within Scream as the characters make constant references to Halloween and the generic conventions of Horror. E.g. the character of Randy refers to Jamie Lee Curtis, the protagonist within Halloween and the ‘rules’ within horror films.  The budgets within the films vary also as Halloween had a small budget of 300,000 whereas Scream had a budget of 15 million and therefore enabled them to use a greater amount of technology then within Halloween. The use of stars was also influenced by this as Drew Barrymore (Kasey), Courtney Cox (Gayle) and Neve Campbell (Sydney) were present within the film. The poster for the film included these stars also. However, Drew Barrymore was one of the first victims within the narrative to die, this being unusual for a big name star to die so early in the film.

Scream used atmospheric music and also varying tunes for different scenes. This music was also carefully timed and constructed in synchronisation with the action within the narrative leading to the build-up of tension within audiences and expectations for what’s to come. Scream countered the sexist view towards women within Horror films e.g. within Halloween the females were highly sexualised and reinforced the use of the male gaze within films. These females were also powerless towards the antagonist but within Scream the victims are shown to fight back, this defeats existing stereotypes as usually it is only the final girl who challenges the killer.  The antagonists again differ from Halloween as there are two of them and they are shown to be ordinary boys and not inhuman as Michael Myers is in Halloween e.g. constantly surviving his death. This presents more of equality between the fighting between victims and killer(s) as victims have more of a chance to inflict injuries on the killers and is therefore a drastic change to the typical conventions within Halloween and following Horror films.