The document summarizes and analyzes several short horror films using various film theory concepts. For the film "Zombie", it discusses how the opening establishes codes for the audience to understand what is happening from the protagonist's perspective. For "The Rattler", it discusses how the opening establishes the protagonist being harassed by an unknown caller, conforming to theories of villain/hero roles, and subverts expectations of equilibrium. For "Night Swim", it discusses how the opening sexualizes the female protagonist through her attire while swimming but challenges expectations through upbeat music. For "Amy's Torch", it discusses how the opening establishes the monster under the bed as the villain and questions the hero status among the mother and torch

1. Ella, Phoebe and Harry

3. The beginning of Zombie conforms with Barthes theory that every
film has different codes in which an audience tries to make sense
of. These codes are shown in ‘Zombie’ where the protagonist tries
to understand what is going on. This allows the audience to be in
the same position as the protagonist in their and our short films. In
the opening scene the audience are set up to believe that they will
see who turned the protagonist into a zombie. Applying these
theories enables the audience to connect, relate and feel
comfortable in watching a film when they know what’s going to
happen.

5. The opening of ‘The Rattler’ shows the protagonist in the initial
scene, being pestered by an unknown caller (the villain). This
conforms with Propps theory of villain/hero.
The film also countertypes Todrov’s theory that there is always
an equilibrium at the beginning of a story followed by a problem.
In ‘The Rattler’ the problem is seen to be the unknown caller and
when she accepts an incoming call from the unidentified caller,
she comes face to face with a video of herself; which is strange
as although she is identified as the hero, it is now questioned as
to whether or not she is the villain. This leads to the protagonist
being attacked (after she decided to cower in the bathroom- a
typical convention in a horror film) and is killed by The Rattler.
The audience finally, is put through an uncomfortable viewing
experience, as when the protagonist dies there is a strange
editing process of black cuts to filter some of the graphic scenes.

7. The opening scene of Night Swim conforms with Mulvey’s
idea of The Male Gaze as the protagonist is a female,
swimming in a bikini. Although her attire conforms to the
typical weakness of a female in a horror film (making her
vulnerable) the diegetic sound challenges these themes, as
in a horror film you don’t expect to hear such upbeat jazz
music.
Levi strauss’ theory is used here as binary opposites. In the
opening of the film, the protagonist is clearly seen as the
hero and vulnerable, whereas this changes as the
protagonist is later on seen over the pool (clearly been
drowned) looking over the innocent girl in the ppool

9. The opening of ‘Amy’s Torch’ shows the protagonist in the
initial scene, with a torch, that protects her from a monster
under her bed. The monster under her bed is clearly seen
as the villain. One could question the status of the hero in
the short film; it could possibly be the mother until she is
killed by the monster, as she tries to protect her daughter.
In addition to this, the torch could be seen as the false hero
in this short film as it protects Amy from the monster under
the bed. This conforms with Propps theory of villain/hero.