2. What were Jeremy Tunstall's 4 character roles for women and
do they apply to The Cabin in the Woods?
The four character roles that Jeremy Tunstall identified for women was
Domestic, Sexual, Consumer and Marital. However, not all of Jeremy's
character types applied to the film The Cabin in the Woods, the ones that
are seen throughout the film are Sexual, this character type is displayed
by Jules by her use of body language, the type of clothing she is seen in
throughout the film, as well as how the camera perceives her. The other
character type that I am able to identify in the film The Cabin in the
Woods is Domestic, which is displayed the most by Dana. She is however
not the typical domestic women, she just contains traits of this.
3. How is Dana typical of Clover's 'Final Girl' theory?
Please mention: the ending; Dana's appearance and
her actions during the film.
Dana is the typical 'Final Girl' due to her surviving to the end of the film, she is also very academic, wears the
appropriate clothing, for example she covers all appropriate areas in comparison to Jules. Dana is also very
aware of her surroundings, when she's in the van she states to Holden that she knows she's going to die and
that there is no way out. Another scene which demonstrates that she is the final girl is she fights back, this is
seen where the zombie goes after her once she escapes the car crash into the water. She knocks the zombie
into the lake with a piece of wood from the wooden pier, she also fights back with the same zombie man
when he tries to attack Holden, Dana then stabs him endlessly in the cellar. Thinking she killed him with a
knife. At the very end of the film, Dana is also prepared to let all the creatures out as well as kill her friend
Marty in order to survive. Lastly, a scene which displays her virginal elements is when Holden and her are
kissing, she then states that she doesn't want to go any further than this, the style of her underwear being
plain and boring also shows us the purity and virginal qualities that she displays.
4. Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during
the film, what are they and how do they cause her to become a
horror archetype? (typical horror character)
At the very beginning of the film, we are introduced to all 5 characters. When we are
introduced to Jules, we know that she has dyed her hair blonde however, we do not see
this happen. This then makes her the typical damsel in distress character as well as the
stereotypical 'dumb blonde'. Later on in the film, we find out that the producer's/the
people who have caused this horror to commence, put a chemical into the dye that
Jules used, in order to make her more stupid and affecting her cognitive ability, slowing
her process down. As we are given the impression at the beginning of the film that Jules
has to be clever due to the type of people that she is surrounded by, for instance her
boyfriend being on a full academic scholarship as well as the college that she is
studying at.
5. Is Mulvey's Male Gaze theory exemplified in the film
and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles
and POV shots.
Mulvey's Male Gaze theory does exemplify in the film, this is seen when Jules is dancing
in front of the fire place. There is a close up shot used, however at a low angle slowing
looking up at Jules. This shows the audience her legs as well as her bum, whilst dancing
inappropriately. These similar angles are also seen when Marty dares Jules to make out
with a wolf on the wall, displays the similar features, legs and bum whilst
walking/dancing over to the wolf. After this scene, we seen that the producers want
her to take her top off as well as Curt, the angle that is displayed shows us what Curt
would see from his point of view.
6. In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs;
when does this happen and why is it important in
regards to representation of character?
A scene which displays this, is when Dana and Holden change rooms due
to Holden taking down this explicit painting revealing a one way mirror.
Holden is able to see Dana however, Dana isn't able to see Holden. Dana
is unaware of this, as Holden innocently watches Dana until the point
she starts to get undressed. We as an audience experience this through
the use of angle work, making us see it through Holden's eyes. Once she
starts to get undressed Holden does the decent thing and bangs on the
wall to stop her from getting fully undressed due to him realising how
inappropriate it is and doesn't get an enjoyment out of watching
someone else and being voyeur.
7. Summarise the way women are represented in The Cabin in the Woods.
Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual
males and/or do they full fill another role/purpose?
I would agree yet disagree with this, my reasons for this is we don't see all of
Jeremy Tunstall's character roles within the film The Cabin in the Woods. The
only character types which are displayed throughout the film is sexual and
domestic. We also have the 'final girl' Dana, who is represented as virginal, as
well as containing masculine traits in contrast to her friend Jules, who acts
very inappropriately throughout the film. She is simply there to entertain,
rather than having a significant importance. In this film, the horror lead is a
female (Dana), she contains elements of domestic throughout, through the use
of caring for others as well as being the responsible one. Showing a
progression in which women are viewed in horror films.
