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Module 1: Discussion: Name Instructor FMS 360 Date

The document provides a summary and analysis of the film The Cabin in the Woods. It discusses how the film has helped modern horror films appeal to both cult and mainstream audiences. It also analyzes some of the key elements used in the film, such as "fun horror" and satire. Additionally, the document discusses the film technique of Expressionism and how it was used in early 20th century German films to convey inner fears and desires through techniques like deep shadows and impossible sets.

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Mac Kole
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37 views

Module 1: Discussion: Name Instructor FMS 360 Date

The document provides a summary and analysis of the film The Cabin in the Woods. It discusses how the film has helped modern horror films appeal to both cult and mainstream audiences. It also analyzes some of the key elements used in the film, such as "fun horror" and satire. Additionally, the document discusses the film technique of Expressionism and how it was used in early 20th century German films to convey inner fears and desires through techniques like deep shadows and impossible sets.

Uploaded by

Mac Kole
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 1: Discussion

Name

Instructor

FMS 360

Date

1
Module 1: Discussion

The Cabin in the Woods is the film has been the driving force for the renaissance of

modern horror genre. It contributed a lot in ensuring that films confined to cult would be

accepted by larger audiences (mainstream), and also critics. Indeed, it has been proven that great

horror films attract viewers and thus should be made accessible.

One key element of the film is ‘fun horror’. Additionally, it utilizes satire as evidenced in

slasher flicks. It thus comets out as scary yet hilarious film. The role of the ‘harbinger’ in

offering a warning to the protagonists’ early one is a classic example (Lockett, 2015). There is

use of the spooky basement, the cellar, which is a common horror trope. This is due to its

darkness, having of just one way out and being underground. This somehow links it with the idea

of death, subconsciously. The cellar is crammed with creepy items such as occult orbs, ancient

journals and dolls. The smorgasbord of the scary stuff is conjoined with a funny scene (Lockett,

2015). There are several terrible decisions in the film, a good element of the horror genre. For

instance, getting frisky in the damp and cold of the great outdoors, which hardly ends well.

Indeed, The Cabin in the Woods embodies all the elements of the horror genre.

Expressionism, as the name suggests, implies the use of hyper-expressive presentation

and visual distortion to convey inner fears, turmoil and desires of that moment (Figura &

Jelavich, 2011). It uses deep shadows, extreme tilting of camera, high angles and impossible sets

among other characteristics. These seem to be wildly geometrical and non-realistic absurd sets. It

was utilized particularly in the 1920s to reflect the inner conflicts of the German audience. This

was done through giving their afflictions an inexorably external presence. Some films that

utilized this art movement include The Student of Prague (1913), Metropolis (1927), From Morn
to Midnight (1920) and The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari (1920) among others. It is a great artistic

style that has ever been popular.

References

Figura, S., & Jelavich, P. (2011). German expressionism: the graphic impulse. The Museum of

Modern Art.

Lockett, C. (2015). ‘we are not who we are’: Lovecraftian conspiracy and magical humanism in

The Cabin in the Woods. Horror Studies, 6(1), 121-139.

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