This document provides a comparison of the horror film Zombieland (2009) and the musical film Sing Street (2016). It discusses the narratives, genres, audience expectations, and use of cinematic techniques in both films. Zombieland is a horror-comedy that follows characters trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Sing Street is a backstage musical that tells the story of a boy who creates a band to impress a girl. Both films follow typical narrative structures for their genres and include conventions that their target audiences would expect.

1. Comparison Essay – Zombieland And
Sing Street
WithinthisessayIam goingto compare the horrorfilm Zombieland (2009,FleischerUSA) withthe
musical SingStreet(2016, CarneyIreland/UK/USA).Iwill evaluateandexplain,the narrative,genre
audience expectationsandthe use of cinematictechniquesinthe twodifferentfilms.
Firstly Zombieland isahorror,whichhas elementsof comedythroughoutarguablybeingclassedasa
comedyhorror.It is setina fictional presentday,where we are show differentcharacterstryingto
survive azombie apocalypse.Incontrast SingStreetisamusical,andclassedmainlyasa backstage
musical.Itfollowsastoryof a boyfallingfora girl,andcreatinga bandin orderto winherover,
while strugglingathisnewschool whichhe movedtoo.
The narrativesof both films,followTodrovsideas,of anarrative structure. Zombieland followsfrom
start middle end.Eventhoughtheydo addelementsof flashbacksbutdoesnotoverall disruptthe
linearstructure of the film.The narrativesfollow particularpeople asthe castinwhichare presented
are verysmall,andonlybreaksthisonce or twice isa flashback where arelevantcast rememberis
shown.The mainnarrative threadisto show the purpose of the filmwhichisa sense of unityand
howtheyhave a viewonhow to enda parasiticplayland,andto finda Twinkie.While Zombielands
equilibriumisnotpre-zombiestage,itshowsthe maincharacters(Columbus)methodsof survival.
Thisis firstinterruptedbythe arrival of the nextmain characters(Tallahassee) andthenthe other
twocharacters (WichitaandKansas).These new peoplebeingin Columbus’s journey changedhow
hisequilibriumpansout,ashisattitude startsto change,andhis methodforsurvival change ashe is
not onlylookingoutforhimself anymore.Thischangedthe equilibriumashe now seeshimself asa
herofigure – while still livinginthe same narrative justwithanextendedgroup/family.
HoweverSingStreetsequilibriumisbrokenasthe filmopens –the maincharacters (Connor) normal
life isdisruptedbyhavingtomove toa new,toughschool. Thoughthe narrative,we see the fantasy
of the boywhowe follow (Connor),become more clear,andtheyshow areflectiononhow he
wisheshislife tobe,compare tohowhislife isinreality,whichblursthe twopartsalmostfully
together. The scenesof fantasyare portrayedtous as a real happening,sowhenwe realise itwas
justhisfantasyhappeningandnota scene,the audience alsofeel the brokenequilibriumwhichis
present.
As Zombieland isahorror, itdoesfollow typical elementsof the codesandconventionswhichare
present.The monsterswhichispresentin thisgenre,isazombie,whichisn’tone inimitable
monstersbuta more generalisedversionof amonsterwhichcreatesalessof a threat due to them
alwaysbeingpresentcompare tootherhorrorfilms,where the monsterisn’tusuallypresentand
createstensionbythe secrecyandhidingof the monster.Normallyhorrorfilmsare associatedwith
dark atmospheres,andlowlightwhile zombie landispresentthoughoutthe dayand followsto
nightand evenwhenitisnight,isn’tasbigof a threatdue to the lightingbeingwarmand
comforting,

2. While some codesandconventionsof SingStreet(beingamusical), isthe musicof the film.One
beingthe upbeatMusic,and the stereotypicalgenericboybandwhichwouldrelate tothisera.This
helpstoportray the key elements of the film, of romance andfantasywhichiseffective towardsits
audience withthese convention’sasisa familiargroundforthemto create theirownideasand
theory’sbehindthe film.
Furthermore some microelementsof bothfilmsgoasfollowed.Firstlylookingintothe audience
expectationszombie horrorfanswill expectdeathandloSingcharactersasit isa genericfurther
howevernomaincharacteris lost,apart froma short character of Bill Murray dyingas theymistake
himfor a zombie, whilenobodywouldbe expectedtobe lostwithin SingStreet,butthe music
element.As Zombieland,asitisa veryspecificgenre withinthe horrorcategory,itrelatestocertain
fansof the zombie horror,whofollowall zombiefilm,butdue toittakingon an additional genre of
comedyitopensupits targetaudience alot more fluidly. SingStreetagainwillhave anaudience of
musical fansso,theywouldexpectkeyelementswithinthisgenre.
The purpose behindZombie Landisof course comparedto everyotherfeature filmisprofitandhow
the entrainmentcancreate a profitforthe mediacompany.Entertainmentisthe nextpurpose of
Zombie Landwhichalsotiesinwithprofit,theywanta filmtobe able to appeal toa particular
audience,whichcreatesmoneyfromthatniche.Youcouldsuggestthatit was to reinventthe
comedyhorrorscene,whichtiesintwogenres. While incontrastSingStreet. The purpose of Sing
Street,asa feature filmisalsoprofit,andentrainment.As SingStreetisamusical,musicisa main
thingas the movie sothe mediacompanycan make moneyfromthe soundtracks from the film.
Also,youcouldsuggestthatbecause itis inIrelandyoucouldinferthatitis alsoto boostIrish
cinemaandits recognitionof Ireland,from the nationalfilmindustryof Ireland.
The message andimportantbehindzombie landare very,diverse tothe type of filminwhichitis.
While itisa comedyhorror film,the message of itisfindingasense of unityamongst.While Sing
Streetisa look back, on life andhownoteverythingfallseasy,sojusttake a leap,andtrustyour
surroundingandfromthiseventuallyeverythingwill make senseandfall intoplace.The endingis
not fantasyending,asitdoesn’tsolve real problems,itjustfeelsbetterandmore free.
PersonallyIdidenjoyzombieland,asitshowsyourtypical blood,gutsandgory horror film, ina
more lightheartedandcomediclight.Zombie landwasalsoenjoyedbymanyotherasit broughtina
lotof moneyinfromthe box office fromitssuccessand new popularityfrommanymore fans.Due
to itssuccessit isclear that itworkstowardsthe audience.Inmyopinionitdoeshelptodevelopthe
horror/comedygenre,asitsone of the firstof itskindwhichisan actual success,andis able toreach
audiences,whetheritwaseffectivedue tothe fact itwas a zombie filmratherthana paranormal,or
any otherkind,andI wouldargue that witha zombie filmyouhave alotmore freedom, inorderto
make the comedicside effective.
I enjoyedSingStreet,due toitsretroreflectionandstoryline. SingStreetdidmake itwell inthe box
offices.Ithinkthe filmitself isveryeffective toaudienceIbelieve itsItalyaudience isteenagersbut
due to it beingsetinthe 80s manypeople whogrew uparoundthemtimescan relate andenjoythe
filmtoo.Theyimplode,whichisaverytruthful story. SingStreetisa fantasyfilmaboutthe American
Dream,in a sense.It'sjustdressedupas an Irishfilm.Iwouldargue thatit didhelpthe Irishfilm
industryasit isputtingout a successful film,andputsotherIrishfilmindustry’sintothe running,
almostas if SingStreethelpshighlightawarenessforit.