Identifying genre Lucy durham

Identifying genre

The genre characteristic features which are recognised by the audiences

Semantic approach:

INSIDIOUSInsidious is a gripping story of a family in search of help for their son, Dalton, who fell into a coma after a mysterious incident in attic. Little do they know that there is much more to this endless sleep than meets the eye as they explore the paranormal, and rediscover the past; the key to getting their son back once and for all.

Insidious portays a typical horror film through the genre with the use of children in the narrative as this is a loss of innocence. It is set in a modern society which provokes anxio-genic behaviours and this differs to The Women In Black, which is set in the early 1900’s. The setting within modern days could create more fear for the audience as it could happen to anybody. In a contrast to the Women In Black, Insidious is located in the protagonists own house, therefore the loss of a safe environment is distressing whereas with The Women in Black, a gothic mansion is a worldwide horror genre location.

insidious

The film is set in a small suburban town in American , which is becoming more common and stereotypical of the horror genre as it is diverting away from the unrealistic and venturing towards the possible and realistic areas in society which evokes fear to the audience.

Having the victim as an ill and vulnerable child creates fear as their innocence is in the balance, however in Insidious, the child is possessed by a demon like spirit trying to get into his body which gives the audience fear to someone as it is unexpected. The use of a child’s drawing to represent the ‘’otherness’’ is creepy as the child’s drawing reflecting upon the horrors of the un-natural world is not to be expected.

INSIDIOUS

THE WOMEN IN BLACK

• Voice over – often used in the horror genre, childs voice, loss of innocence. Something that is a possibility.