The music that is played at the beginning and throughout the film gives us the feeling that something bad is going to happen and that the music is always and only played when the killer is around to do something. The music is also very high toned and eerie, making the audience feel on-edge and tense. The long opening scene to Halloween was a POV shot which means we are restricted to what only Michael can see. Being able to only see what Michael see's makes us as the audience feel as though something is going to be around the corner or something is going to pop up and make us jump. We were restricted even more when Michael put the clown mask on to kill his sister.
2. How does the setting fit with the horror genre?
The fact that the film is set and named on a specific date/occasion during the year that relates to horror fits in perfectly. The film had been set in a suburb town in Illinois which you would expect to be quoted and safe, with no trouble making like in the major cities. The town also has a graveyard which represents and connotes the dead/death signifying the horror genre. Having the majority of the film shot during the night time makes the audience feel spooked and on-edge as we can only see what has been lit up, it also gives us the sense of realism. One of the scenes at the beginning of the film Michael has been kept in a mental institution which represents killing/death and the feeling of being un safe and fear.
3. What iconography of 'innocence' do we hear or see early on?
As it has been set on Halloween weekend, kids are out and about dressed up to look scary and shout the stereotypical phrase on Halloween 'Trick or Treat'. This shows the signs of innocence of the young children. One of the main characters Laurie Strode has been labelled or named the Golden Girl in the film because she's only interested in doing well in school, life and isn't bothered about going out to parties with her friends or having any kind of sexual relationship. Her innocence shows because she doesn't go to parties and she still has her virginity.
4. What was the main industry impact of Halloween?
Halloween was a very cheap film to make (hense the really bad acting) but it was then really successful and profitable after being released. Having being so successful this means they will want to make more of the same films (sequels) just to make it yet again profitable and make a load more money on them. One reason why it was so cheap to make was because they had no big hollywood stars in itso they didn't have to pay the actors/actresses a load of money. Another reason to why it was so cheap was because of the special effects - meaning not so much gore.
5. Name some 'slasher' films which followed on from Halloween?
Some slasher films that followed on from Halloween are;
Friday 13th, Prom Night, Terror Train, Bloody Valentine, Night School and The Burning.
6. What are the four plot rules of the 'slasher' film sub-genre which Halloween began?
Rule 1. Traumatic event from the past relating to the killer.
Rule 2. Killer returns to the place of the event from the past.
Rule 3. Killer stalks and kills a group of teens.
Rule 4. Final girl survives amd killer is still alive.
7. Give three ways in which Laurie is adrogynous?
Androgynous means that the female shows some sign or any kind of aspect of a male. Laurie shows many signs of being the opposite gender, one of them is very minimal and lack of makeup - her make up is very simple and boring. She doesn't put any kind of effort into her hair, it's just natural and big. Her clothes is the main part to why she looks like a boy, she doesn't dress in bright girly colours, she dresses in faded and washed out colours - very much like tom boy clothes. Comparing her to her friends and other girls that speak, they all have high tones voices which is a girly aspect. However, when Laurie speaks she has a very deep toned voice which makes her even more like a boy rather than a girl. Her facial features such as her nose and her jawline is very masculine too.
8. What does the extract mean by 'a reactionary sexual agenda'?
A reactionary sexual agenda means when someone is not sexually active they are the ones that survive throughout the film (Laurie), where as those who are sexually active and go out to parties are the ones that die by the killer (Michael). This was a common thing in slasher movies during this era when they decided no sex before marriage.
9. How does the director, John Carpenter, counter the suggestion that Halloween had a reactionary sexual agenda?
John Carpenter's intention was to kill those who were sexually active and not those who weren't. Laurie didn't die because she was aware of her surroundings which was shown when she saw Michael at the window and was then able to answer the teachers questions. To those who wasn't paying attention and was only interested about sex, boys and parties - died.
10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?
No body knows why exactly Michael killed his sister, but people believe and understand that it was because she had sex or that he was re-ennacting the movements of sex with his knife.
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