Halloween Film Analysis
Kaitlin Sutherland
991247405
Cinema of Horror MEDA 13672
November 10, 2014
In 1978 John Carpenter changed the landscape of horror cinema with the release of his terrifying new film Halloween. The film follows a group of young females as they are stalked, tormented and inevitably killed by an escaped lunatic wearing a Halloween mask and wielding a knife. The film was revolutionary for the many themes and concepts it introduced, (including the concept of the final girl) things that have been so often repeated they have become tropes of the genre. However the initial praise heaped upon Halloween for it 's portrayal of a previously unheard of strong female character may have been premature due to the almost insurmountable criticisms …show more content…
Although years have passed since it 's first release in 1978 Halloween can still be viewed by many as misogynistic and over sexualized. Presenting a negative outlook on women, judging them based on gender as well as showing them only as sex objects and devaluing their worth.
We are introduced to John Carpenters film 'Halloween ' through a subjective point of view killing of a young woman, a young woman, who without the directors intended perception of events, has done nothing to deserve such treatment. Throughout the opening scenes of this film we can sense the disapproval and contempt for the sexual actions that both Laurie and her boyfriend are partaking in, and while they are both equal participating parties. We watch as Michael allows the male to leave down the stairs and out of the house unscathed before continuing upstairs to murder his sister. These scenes so clearly illustrate who we are to believe is in the wrong, the male of course to is be applauded for exercising his sexuality but the female who should pride herself up her purity deserves to be punished for it. This gender inequality is only further enforced when we follow Michael upstairs to his …show more content…
Fortunately we mostly tend to see the poor portrayal of women in most of the western horror film and do have many European films to look to which often have women shown as the killer and predominant threat which is refreshing to see. We must hope to see the trend continue in future slasher film where we see women continuing to fight back against the years of mistreatment and
991247405
Cinema of Horror MEDA 13672
November 10, 2014
In 1978 John Carpenter changed the landscape of horror cinema with the release of his terrifying new film Halloween. The film follows a group of young females as they are stalked, tormented and inevitably killed by an escaped lunatic wearing a Halloween mask and wielding a knife. The film was revolutionary for the many themes and concepts it introduced, (including the concept of the final girl) things that have been so often repeated they have become tropes of the genre. However the initial praise heaped upon Halloween for it 's portrayal of a previously unheard of strong female character may have been premature due to the almost insurmountable criticisms …show more content…
Although years have passed since it 's first release in 1978 Halloween can still be viewed by many as misogynistic and over sexualized. Presenting a negative outlook on women, judging them based on gender as well as showing them only as sex objects and devaluing their worth.
We are introduced to John Carpenters film 'Halloween ' through a subjective point of view killing of a young woman, a young woman, who without the directors intended perception of events, has done nothing to deserve such treatment. Throughout the opening scenes of this film we can sense the disapproval and contempt for the sexual actions that both Laurie and her boyfriend are partaking in, and while they are both equal participating parties. We watch as Michael allows the male to leave down the stairs and out of the house unscathed before continuing upstairs to murder his sister. These scenes so clearly illustrate who we are to believe is in the wrong, the male of course to is be applauded for exercising his sexuality but the female who should pride herself up her purity deserves to be punished for it. This gender inequality is only further enforced when we follow Michael upstairs to his …show more content…
Fortunately we mostly tend to see the poor portrayal of women in most of the western horror film and do have many European films to look to which often have women shown as the killer and predominant threat which is refreshing to see. We must hope to see the trend continue in future slasher film where we see women continuing to fight back against the years of mistreatment and