2. Analysis of The Cabin in the
Woods
Sound: There is various screams throughout the trailer all of which come from the two women which
are shown within the teaser trailer, this represents them as weak and the most venerable of the
group as their screams are the only ones which are heard. Dialogue is used at the beginning which is
spoken by the ‘jock’ of the group asking if anyone is ready he is taking the role of the dominant one
here. He is seen as the protagonist here as he is seen as the group leader wanting to protect
throughout and therefore the audience sympathises with him slightly. Sound is used throughout to
create drama and tension, the use of non-diegetic sound is began half way through and is slightly
upbeat and adds to the chaos that is happening, apart from that sound is not particularly used to
represent characters. Although, there is silences when the blonde bimbo is screaming and this could
show her lack of vulnerability.
Editing: sound bridging of male voice as the camera shows the house, this editing of the sound can
show the male dominance of the location in which they are in. Short clips and fast paced editing are
used when the girl is screaming and she is being captured showing her lack of dominance in the
scene and rapidness in which she may be killed. All editing is fast cut as all of the characters are
venerable throughout and therefore need to be represented in this way. The title are used to
represent the genre of the film and cut up the scenes of the characters enforcing the horror genre.
3. Mise en scene:
Placement of characters is seen where the ‘jock’ character wraps his arm around the ‘bimbo’
character as if to protect her representing the idea that females need to be looked after by a
male. This is then followed by the placement of characters where three males are seen to be
standing in front of a female. Male that is near the beginning is seen as having a dirty face and is
older which can possibly show him being wiser, which is justified through his dialogue advising
them to not go there and therefore more valued but across the group he is seen as the most
dominant. The ginger girl looking in the mirror can show that she is all about her appearance and
this is stereotypical of the female gender. ‘Blonde bimbo’ character is wearing short shorts and a
low cut top, this is representing her as only being shown on screen for the male gaze which
follows Maulvey’s theory. Dark lighting throughout this doesn’t really represent characters in a
certain way, all are made to be venerable and there is no clear difference in lighting. Character
placement of the ‘blonde bimbo’ dancing erotically again making her sexualised and being used to
satisfy the male gaze.
4. Camerawork:
Close up of the ‘bimbo’ screaming which shows her as being the most venerable of the
group as her farcical expression is clearly seen by the audience. Mid shot of the older
male at the beginning again showing his dominance in this scene. The POV shot which
is conducted shows that the male character here is slightly still or more in control as
he is controlling the camera and therefore is represented as being slightly more
dominant over the other characters. Low angle shot of the male walking, again this
shows his dominance as he is made to look bigger. Close up of the ginger girl
screaming at the end leaves the audience with the idea that females are the weakest
and the most venerable out of the males.
5. Analysis of Oculus
Sound: Voice over throughout the teaser trailer of a young girls voice, this can possibly
show her as venerable as she could seemingly be on the one that is possessed.
Dramatic music follows the scenes shown of close ups of the characters faces,
although there is no diegetic sound heard and this could show that all characters are a
lot stronger than perceived, especially the ginger girl who is made out to be
protagonist by certain shots I have mentioned presenting her as an anti-stereotype.
Editing: Cut to black of from the two young boy and girl which is showing the front of
their face, this is continuous editing that shows the same people and therefore allows
the audience to see that each character is rather young so possibly more venerable.
Fast paced editing to show the vulnerability of the characters, which is contrasted
with the long shots of the mirror, this can show that the mirror is the one with the
power and more dominating.
6. Camerawork:
Camerawork: Two shot of a boy and a girl staring into the mirror the camera is placed behind the two characters
possibly showing that the mirror (as seen in the first scene alone) is more important than the characters. Low angle of
the two young people which emphasises their vulnerability. A wide shot of the room is used to represent the girl as
venerable and at a risk, she is also standing in the far left of the frame so that there is a lot of empty space in front of
her making her seem alone and helpless. Close up of the girls face to show her expression that allows the audience to
see that the young girl is scared. Wide shot used to show a male character standing against the mirror, this could
either show he has power over the mirror as he’s in front of it, or the mirror has power over him, he is also placed in
the right hand frame with a lot of empty space in front of him possibly representing that he is more at risk which is an
anti-stereotype. Close up of the young boy’s face that looks scared for the girl, shows his age makes him more
venerable. Extreme close up of the young girls eye as she looks through a crack in the door, this shows her not
wanting to reveal the rest of her body as this makes her seem more venerable so therefore by only showing her eye
makes her feel safer, to an audience although this can show her as venerable and hiding. High angle with dark lighting
shows the ‘demon’ that is after them her eyes are the clearest thing and also the spookiest this demon is seen as the
antagonist.
7. Mise en Scene:
Lighting is very dark when showing the two young people representing
the idea that these characters are going to be involved in the horror to
come. The ginger girl character is seen stepping in front of the younger
boy, this could be an anti-stereotype in the fact that a girl is protecting
the boy and this is normally the other way round. Or it could represent
that age makes someone more brave and this is why the girl is
protecting the younger boy. Ginger girl get’s dragged out of frame, this
represents her of being at risk and the audience are left clueless as to
who is dragging her.
8. Analysis of Annabelle
Sound: Non-diegetic sound goes against the genre of horror at the start as it is rather
upbeat as it shows an establishing shot of the house and a baby's room with a mother.
This music seems to represents the family as normal and leading a happy life. Male
dialogue cuts through music possibly representing him as dominant. Dialogue from male
‘Stay here’ shows he is dominating and taking control of the situation. Whispering from
the woman which cuts into the silence, shows her dominance in this scene.
Editing: Montage of fast paced shots of mostly the male protagonist and the antagonist
of the killers, this shows their dominance in this scene over the woman. Slow cuts at the
beginning showing that everything is at peace and characters are acting normal and
living normal lives.
9. Camerawork:
Low angle shot of the woman walking into the room showing her dominance at this time, possibly
anti- stereotypical, but also to show her legs and that she is wearing a night gown possibly for the
pleasure of the male gaze which relates to Malveys theory. Close up of the woman face with a focus
pull of a baby’s mobile, this shows a stereotypical representation of the woman as she is seen to be a
child bearer and this is natural for a woman. Camera shows a scene happening in the other house of
a woman being killed, the woman then sits up and the scene behind disappears, this shows that she
in out of control and she is venerable. It also means that the audience know more than she does and
this makes her seem less dominant. Wide shot of the woman showing a man behind her, this again
shows her being more venerable and in the unknown. Zoom up and close up onto doll showing that
the doll is the main thing affecting the horror that is going.
10. Mise en Scene:
Dark lighting while the couple sleeps shows their vulnerability at
this time and the fact they are in the unknown. Woman see to
be putting dressing gown on to cover herself up this possibly
proves Maluvey’s male gaze theory that women are more
venerable when more of themselves are revealed. Dark lighting
from the antagonist woman as she is standing in shadow making
her more dominating and concealed.
11. Conclusion
Overall all three films follow similar conventional stereotypes that audiences can recognise.
Sound is represented in all three films in similar ways, for example in The Cabin in the Woods
sound is used t represent the dominance of male characters and the submissive and timid role
that the blonde character plays all conventional of their stereotypes. The woman especially
follows Malvey’s theory of the Male Gaze, as seen within the images I have supplied the
character is represented as a blonde bimbo and is provided for the late gaze, through her small
clothing which shows a lot of flesh to her provocative dancing all of which is highlighted in low
camera angles to make her more notable and take up more of the screen. This is also seen
within Annabelle where the short night dress is seen and the low camera angle shows off the
legs of the woman making her more attractive to the male gaze. This also relates to
Baurdrillard’s Hyperreality theory, where the audiences are able to recognise these
stereotypes because they have shown within various media and therefore allows us to
recognise them in all characters. The Cabin in the Woods is a film based on stereotypes and
therefore make it very clear of the various stereotypes shown. Stereotypes are also enhanced
through the film Oculus where the ginger girl stands in front of the boy as she older and
therefore audiences can recognise through media portraying this idea that adults are the
protectors over children. This therefore leads to the theory of Dyer, who says that stereotypes
legitimise inequality. Even though the girl stands in front of the younger boy in the Oculus
trailer, even though she is older she is still a girl and therefore is the one that needs protecting
which is seen in both Annabelle when the male character tells his wife to stay here so he can
protect her and in The Cabin in the Woods when the women are ones screaming and the
males are the one fighting.
