The text is internationally distributed by New Line Cinema although outside the U.S. the company does not distribute its own films rather it contracts other entertainment film distributors. New Line Cinema was founded in 1967 and since has been one of the major American film studios. Though it initially began as an independent film studio, it became a subsidiary of Time Warner and is now a division of Warner Bros. Despite that, it continues to market, produce and distribute its films, however, it does so now as a part of Warner Bros. New Line Cinema is a Hollywood production house and most of the promotion for the forthcoming film is done via the trailer shown in multiplex cinemas and posters outside the cinema hall.
New Line Cinema is a commercial institution which is now a subsidiary of Warner Bros hence this makes the institutions more powerful as one company which means they have more control over the Hollywood productions and more influence on the media as to what they want the audience to see.
The president of Warner Bros is Alan F. Horn; New Line Cinema being a subsidiary of Warner Bros is also under Alan Horn who is one of the key people within the organisation. He is a key figure of hate amongst the Harry Potter comunity due to his rather controversial decison to change the release date of the upcoming Harry Potter Movie which also spoilt relations with companies such as EA, IMAX and entertainment weekly.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Media Audiences
Most slasher films have young target audience as the older population might not be able to handle the horrific scenes shown. The main target for all slasher films are young people aged 16-25 who mostly belong to E, D and C2 socio- economic group. On the other hand the secondary audience of the film would be the older proportion of the audience who are interested in this particular genre of film. The audience expectations are fulfilled as there is a lot of thrill and psychopathic scenes.
The scheduling, positioning and the certificate given to the text are a good indicator to what target audience the text is being aimed at. Now looking at Texas chainsaw massacre-the beginning it came out in October 2006 and was declared a box office hit in America hence the movie made a lot of money which also indicates that a lot of the younger audience enjoyed the film and it is also possible that the secondary audience which was the older proportion of the population would have seen the film. After being a success in the cinemas the film was released on DVD and TV channels to broaden the viewer ship of the movie and increase the total turnover made by the movie. Although the film could have been even more popular amongst the audience in the UK if it was bought by a national channel to show such as BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 or ITV. It would be very difficult to measure the exact viewer ship of the film although I have mentioned earlier the turnover made by the movie in US dollars.
There being masses of audience who follow the horror genre, there are bound to be different views hence there will be a number of oppositional and preferred readings of the text and they are likely to be on women. Most arguments linked with this topic will be that women are still being portrayed as sex objects and they have passive roles, this is because in TCM women are shown to be crying and asking for mercy whereas the male characters being in the same position are trying to fight back. The women are portrayed as sex objects and an example of that is shown at the beginning where a character is shown in lingerie.
I personally have seen a lot of slasher films and me being an active audience member I believe that the role of women within this film genre is changing as they are becoming more active and challenging although it could be argued that women have not completely developed as active characters in this genre as there are still some slasher films where women are portrayed as sex objects. My age and the society I live in has a major part to play in my opinion as the media portrays women as sex objects hence the saying “Sex sells”.
The scheduling, positioning and the certificate given to the text are a good indicator to what target audience the text is being aimed at. Now looking at Texas chainsaw massacre-the beginning it came out in October 2006 and was declared a box office hit in America hence the movie made a lot of money which also indicates that a lot of the younger audience enjoyed the film and it is also possible that the secondary audience which was the older proportion of the population would have seen the film. After being a success in the cinemas the film was released on DVD and TV channels to broaden the viewer ship of the movie and increase the total turnover made by the movie. Although the film could have been even more popular amongst the audience in the UK if it was bought by a national channel to show such as BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 or ITV. It would be very difficult to measure the exact viewer ship of the film although I have mentioned earlier the turnover made by the movie in US dollars.
There being masses of audience who follow the horror genre, there are bound to be different views hence there will be a number of oppositional and preferred readings of the text and they are likely to be on women. Most arguments linked with this topic will be that women are still being portrayed as sex objects and they have passive roles, this is because in TCM women are shown to be crying and asking for mercy whereas the male characters being in the same position are trying to fight back. The women are portrayed as sex objects and an example of that is shown at the beginning where a character is shown in lingerie.
I personally have seen a lot of slasher films and me being an active audience member I believe that the role of women within this film genre is changing as they are becoming more active and challenging although it could be argued that women have not completely developed as active characters in this genre as there are still some slasher films where women are portrayed as sex objects. My age and the society I live in has a major part to play in my opinion as the media portrays women as sex objects hence the saying “Sex sells”.
Media Values & Ideologies
Values and ideologies play a significant role in all films and Slasher movies are no different as there is always a message being sent out to educate and inform the audience. In this movie the message being sent out is a cruel one which can be argued that it is wrong or right. The message being that there are people in this world who are heartless and can do things as such, the main motive behind the film is to educate the audience about the past of Texas.
The values being put forward in terms of gender are that men are dominant over women. Women are portrayed being weak and helpless at most times as we see that they are crying for mercy from Sheriff Hoyt and Leather face. In the movie women are also represented as passive and promiscuous characters. Near the beginning of the film we see Diora Baird in lingerie which reinforces the point that women are still used in some Slasher films as sex objects for the male gaze. On the other hand it can also be argued that in modern day Slasher films roles of women are getting more active, for example in Texas chainsaw massacre itself the final character to be killed is a women who had been trying to rescue the rest of the characters hence this demonstrates that women are not only there for the male gaze, they also have a significant role to play.
The values being put forward in terms of gender are that men are dominant over women. Women are portrayed being weak and helpless at most times as we see that they are crying for mercy from Sheriff Hoyt and Leather face. In the movie women are also represented as passive and promiscuous characters. Near the beginning of the film we see Diora Baird in lingerie which reinforces the point that women are still used in some Slasher films as sex objects for the male gaze. On the other hand it can also be argued that in modern day Slasher films roles of women are getting more active, for example in Texas chainsaw massacre itself the final character to be killed is a women who had been trying to rescue the rest of the characters hence this demonstrates that women are not only there for the male gaze, they also have a significant role to play.
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Genre
Texas chainsaw massacre is a slasher genre film which has a sub genre of thriller. TCM being a slasher film obviously contains human flesh being cut up and eaten, on the other hand the film has elements of thrill which are shown through scenes where the victims are trying to escape but are conventionally unsuccessful.
The main generic conventions of the text firstly in terms of props would be weapons such as chainsaws, knives, guns etc. Secondly the generic conventions in terms of clothes are dirty clothes covered with blood. However in this movie there has been a noticeable cut down in the use of the chainsaw compared to the previous TCM which released in 1974. This change could be interpreted in many different ways but one of the most obvious reasons is that the increase use of guns due to the technology advancing makes the chainsaw some what a secondary tool diminishing its importance compared to the first part of the film.
As mostly given away by the film title ‘Texas chainsaw massacre’ the audience are automatically aware that it is a Slasher genre film and are already beginning to picture weapons such as chainsaws, knives etc and humans being cut up. The audience also have mercy on the characters even before they are in trouble. The film fulfils the generic expectations and treats them playfully. For example in TCM-the beginning the audience is expecting the villain (Leather face and Sheriff Hoyt) to terrorise and kill the other characters although the audience is also expecting one of the characters to escape and make an attempt to get Leather face arrested or perhaps even killing him to ensure no one in Texas has a experience like this again. The audience is rather left disappointed in terms of seeing a satisfying ending as the villain kills the final girl using a chainsaw and stays alive.
The director of the film Jonathan Liebesmen is strongly associated with the Slasher/ horror genre of movies. I can say this by looking at his carrier in the Hollywood industry so far as he has made a lot of movies associated with this genre. Jonathan started his Hollywood film making journey by directing a film called ‘Darkness Falls’ although the film did not get the very best reviews it was nominated for Best Horror/Thriller at the Teen Choice Awards in 2003. The films success brought him to the attention of Michael Bay and his production company, Platinum Dunes, who hired him to direct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. The production proved a hit at the US box office recouping the $16 million production cost with its opening weekend gross of $18.5 million. As of 31 December 2006, the film had grossed around $50 million worldwide, including over $39.5 million in the US.
The main generic conventions of the text firstly in terms of props would be weapons such as chainsaws, knives, guns etc. Secondly the generic conventions in terms of clothes are dirty clothes covered with blood. However in this movie there has been a noticeable cut down in the use of the chainsaw compared to the previous TCM which released in 1974. This change could be interpreted in many different ways but one of the most obvious reasons is that the increase use of guns due to the technology advancing makes the chainsaw some what a secondary tool diminishing its importance compared to the first part of the film.
As mostly given away by the film title ‘Texas chainsaw massacre’ the audience are automatically aware that it is a Slasher genre film and are already beginning to picture weapons such as chainsaws, knives etc and humans being cut up. The audience also have mercy on the characters even before they are in trouble. The film fulfils the generic expectations and treats them playfully. For example in TCM-the beginning the audience is expecting the villain (Leather face and Sheriff Hoyt) to terrorise and kill the other characters although the audience is also expecting one of the characters to escape and make an attempt to get Leather face arrested or perhaps even killing him to ensure no one in Texas has a experience like this again. The audience is rather left disappointed in terms of seeing a satisfying ending as the villain kills the final girl using a chainsaw and stays alive.
The director of the film Jonathan Liebesmen is strongly associated with the Slasher/ horror genre of movies. I can say this by looking at his carrier in the Hollywood industry so far as he has made a lot of movies associated with this genre. Jonathan started his Hollywood film making journey by directing a film called ‘Darkness Falls’ although the film did not get the very best reviews it was nominated for Best Horror/Thriller at the Teen Choice Awards in 2003. The films success brought him to the attention of Michael Bay and his production company, Platinum Dunes, who hired him to direct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. The production proved a hit at the US box office recouping the $16 million production cost with its opening weekend gross of $18.5 million. As of 31 December 2006, the film had grossed around $50 million worldwide, including over $39.5 million in the US.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Narrative
The main inspiration behind the film is to show the birth of the psychopath who was introduced in the first part of the film which was released in 1974. The film has a linear narrative even though the whole film is in flashback mode with the time going back to 1939 when Thomas Hewitt (Leather face) was born and the entire film is based in 1969. The linear narrative keeps the story organised which makes it easier for the audience to follow.
The audience does not have much of a relation with the narrative, unless the audience members were citizens of Texas when these horrific incidents took place. There can not be a personal relationship with the film for the masses of the audience as its set in an area of America which is considered to be quite dangerous. The audience can however relate to the text by putting themselves in the characters position.
The Heroes and villains are easy to identify as Sheriff Hoyt makes his evil intentions clear after he kills the real Sheriff and takes his uniform and later he finds Eric, Dean and their partners as victims. The main villain is Sheriff Hoyt even though leather face is the horrifying figure in the film. It almost like he is controlled by Sheriff Hoyt and does not have a brain of his own, all he has is physical strength. The film does not have a set hero or heroine from the start but we as the audience can assume that Jordana Brewster who plays Chrissie (Eric’s girlfriend) in the film is the lead heroine as she is the last one to die and much of the story revolves around her as she is not captured in the house by the Sheriff.
The main ideologies of the narrative are negative as the end of the film shows that Leather face kills the final girl as she is about to get help for survival and the voice over at the end states that this Texas family has killed 33 innocent people till date and the hunt continues. This scene demonstrates that villain wins over hero. Hence this also proves the theory of the final girl by Carol J. Clover wrong as according to that theory in Slasher films there is always a final girl remaining who kills the villain and manages to survive.
The audience does not have much of a relation with the narrative, unless the audience members were citizens of Texas when these horrific incidents took place. There can not be a personal relationship with the film for the masses of the audience as its set in an area of America which is considered to be quite dangerous. The audience can however relate to the text by putting themselves in the characters position.
The Heroes and villains are easy to identify as Sheriff Hoyt makes his evil intentions clear after he kills the real Sheriff and takes his uniform and later he finds Eric, Dean and their partners as victims. The main villain is Sheriff Hoyt even though leather face is the horrifying figure in the film. It almost like he is controlled by Sheriff Hoyt and does not have a brain of his own, all he has is physical strength. The film does not have a set hero or heroine from the start but we as the audience can assume that Jordana Brewster who plays Chrissie (Eric’s girlfriend) in the film is the lead heroine as she is the last one to die and much of the story revolves around her as she is not captured in the house by the Sheriff.
The main ideologies of the narrative are negative as the end of the film shows that Leather face kills the final girl as she is about to get help for survival and the voice over at the end states that this Texas family has killed 33 innocent people till date and the hunt continues. This scene demonstrates that villain wins over hero. Hence this also proves the theory of the final girl by Carol J. Clover wrong as according to that theory in Slasher films there is always a final girl remaining who kills the villain and manages to survive.
Media Language and Forms
In Texas chainsaw massacre- the beginning there are great levels of meaning as there are stories to be revealed within the film; however as the audience you feel some aspects are unclear for example why does the character ‘Leather face’ have such a cruel and inhuman personality.
There is a great significance of the texts connotations as that's where the mysteries within the text are unfolded, although there are some things which are left to one’s own interpretation. On the other hand there are examples in the movie of the questions being answered in the text which gives the audience satisfaction and better understanding of the entire text. For example the mystery which is revealed at the end of the film is that none of the main characters are left alive by sheriff Hoyt and leather face. Furthermore earlier on in the film there is a moment where anxiety builds up for the audience as the Protagonists try to break free from the house of horror but only a few minutes later the audience discover that breaking free from that place is almost impossible. This is one of many scenes in this film which engage the audience.
The non verbal structures of meaning like the facial expressions, props and the gestures are quite self explanatory as looking at the facial expressions of the characters the audience is able to identify and relate to the situation without the need of a dialogue. The facial expression which is most dominant in the entire film is the nervous and horrified look. The props such as chainsaw, knives, guns etc are a very important element of the film as it’s a Slasher film and weapons express the terror that words cannot. The costumes worn by the characters are very casual as they are on a road trip but once they have an accident and are taken away by Sheriff Hoyt to the house of terror all characters have some element of blood on their body and also their clothes.
The locations used in the film are very stereotypical as most Slasher films are set away from the city centre, in the countryside where hardly any human being is to be seen. The house being in such a quiet area gives it more significance and reinsures the audience that this is the house of terror where Sheriff Hoyt and Tommy terrorise their victims. Furthermore the old wooden furniture and low key lighting within the house make the location gory and horrifying.
There are many non-diegetic sounds included in the text although they are short sound effects rather than theme tunes. When there is an element of non-diegetic sound it plays an important part as it alerts the audience that something really intensive or violent is about to happen. Diegetic sound effects such as fierce movements, sound of chainsaw, character screams are also very effective in engaging the audience. Moreover the combination between the camera angles/movements and the sound is very interesting. For example there is a scene where Leather face is walking with a chainsaw, there is an extreme close up on his foot and the sound is of the chainsaw and foot steps.
There is a great significance of the texts connotations as that's where the mysteries within the text are unfolded, although there are some things which are left to one’s own interpretation. On the other hand there are examples in the movie of the questions being answered in the text which gives the audience satisfaction and better understanding of the entire text. For example the mystery which is revealed at the end of the film is that none of the main characters are left alive by sheriff Hoyt and leather face. Furthermore earlier on in the film there is a moment where anxiety builds up for the audience as the Protagonists try to break free from the house of horror but only a few minutes later the audience discover that breaking free from that place is almost impossible. This is one of many scenes in this film which engage the audience.
The non verbal structures of meaning like the facial expressions, props and the gestures are quite self explanatory as looking at the facial expressions of the characters the audience is able to identify and relate to the situation without the need of a dialogue. The facial expression which is most dominant in the entire film is the nervous and horrified look. The props such as chainsaw, knives, guns etc are a very important element of the film as it’s a Slasher film and weapons express the terror that words cannot. The costumes worn by the characters are very casual as they are on a road trip but once they have an accident and are taken away by Sheriff Hoyt to the house of terror all characters have some element of blood on their body and also their clothes.
The locations used in the film are very stereotypical as most Slasher films are set away from the city centre, in the countryside where hardly any human being is to be seen. The house being in such a quiet area gives it more significance and reinsures the audience that this is the house of terror where Sheriff Hoyt and Tommy terrorise their victims. Furthermore the old wooden furniture and low key lighting within the house make the location gory and horrifying.
There are many non-diegetic sounds included in the text although they are short sound effects rather than theme tunes. When there is an element of non-diegetic sound it plays an important part as it alerts the audience that something really intensive or violent is about to happen. Diegetic sound effects such as fierce movements, sound of chainsaw, character screams are also very effective in engaging the audience. Moreover the combination between the camera angles/movements and the sound is very interesting. For example there is a scene where Leather face is walking with a chainsaw, there is an extreme close up on his foot and the sound is of the chainsaw and foot steps.
Plot of the film
On one last road trip before they're sent to serve in Vietnam, two brothers and their girlfriends get into an accident that calls their local sheriff to the scene. Thus begins a terrifying experience where the teens are taken to a secluded house of horrors, where a young killer is being nurtured (Leather face/ Tommy). The tag line of the film is ‘Witness the birth of fear’ which relates to the film as in the beginning we are shown the past of July 1969 which witnessed the birth of Thomas Hewitt (leather face).
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