To explore how the themes of isolation and fear are represented in Howl (2015) and The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

In this essay, I will be exploring how the themes of isolation and fear are represented using micro techniques in Howl (2015) and The Cabin in the Woods (2011).

The Howl (2015) is a British monster movie and the BBFC certificate is 18 for this film. This film is directed by Paul Hyett and starring Ed Speelers. The film is released on August 5, 2015. The Howl is a British horror film specifically targeting male audience of age 18+. The main star actors of this film are Ed Speelers, Holly Weston, Shauna Macdonald, Elliot Cowan, Amit Shah, Sam Gittins and Rosie day. This film is about a group of train passengers journey to their home. On their journey, their train breaks down and they face misery in their life. A monster hunts for everyone in the train. They all need to stay together and survive that night in the film.

The second film I have picked is The Cabin in the Woods. This is a 2012 American horror comedy film and directed by Drew Goddard. The BBFC certificate is 15 for this film. The film starts Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemswoth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams. The film is about five friends who go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they more than they bargained for. The five friends, together, must discover the truth behind the bain in the woods.

In both films, the theme of fear and isolation is presented by the use of mise en scene. Both film uses sound to emphasis horror, the characters mood and their feelings. Most audience likes horror movies because it gives the audience tension which is created through shock, mystery and terror. Both films shows fear and isolation. I will be exploring how, through the use of cinematography, editing and mise-en-scene. Scene 1

In the film Howl, the opening scene starts at a train station. The story starts off with Ed Speeler, he finishes his work and gets ready to go home. Then he gets night shift. At the beginning, the background theme song is peace and slow. The director uses many shots at the beginning. At the beginning, the camera focuses in Ed Speelers face. The camera is focused into his face to give to audience an idea what is going to happen. The main actor Ed Speeler wears a black color blazer throughout the film. The colour black connotes authority and power towards his job and role in this film.

Scene 2

In scene 2, Mise en scene is significant throughout this scene. The location of the scene gives a sense of horror; it clearly gives the audience an idea that something bad is going to happen. The scene was taken place inside the train in middle of a journey. The train breaks down and the passengers struggle inside the train. The fact the train broke down suggests that something out of their control is going to happen. Also the location is like a forest, which implies its spooky and terrifying. The scene opens in a wide shot of the train. The darkness gives a sign to the audience that a negative incident is going to occur. The noise level in the train is really low, this illustrates that something unexpected is going to happen all of a sudden.

The lighting in the train scene has been edited with darker tones of blue and black. This clearly shows the atmosphere of horror and fear. The isolated setting of the train also presents the theme of isolation in this film. The train is dilapidated; this presents fear to the audience.

Scene 3

Sound is used to present fear in this scene. The ladies are shouting in the scene when the wolf creature kills one of the passengers in the train. Diegetic sound is used through dialogue to present the theme of fear and isolation. When the lady gets taken by the creature, the volume level in the train gets louder and everyone gets scared. The director has used camera angles to present fear and isolation. The two shot between the two characters is used to make the scene more terrifying and to express the theme of horror. The contrast of the two colours in this scene shows that one is a safe side and the other is the cruel side. The colour inside the train is white and outside the train is black. This strongly suggests that if the passengers leave the train, they are in the risk to lose their life. Low key lightning in this scene also presents the theme of horror and fear. It indicates that the characters are scared and also are scared because of the situation.

Scene 1:

In the film, The Cabin in the Woods, fear and isolation is presented through the use of mise-en-scene. The story is about five friends going for a break in a building made out of wood. Then unexpected things happen. The director uses location to present isolation in this film. The building is isolated in a country side. There are no around in the location, this shows that something unexpected is going to happen in the film. The building is made out of woods; this suggests that the building is not strong. The characters wears casual clothing in this scene, this

suggests that they wanted to have fun and a good time in the house. The isolated location of the cabin foreshadows that the characters will be isolated from each other soon or later in this film.

Scene 2:

In this scene, diegetic sound is used to present the theme of fear and isolation. The characters hear a loud sound coming from the underground; this gives them a sense of fear. This scene was taken place in the cabin. The lightning in the cabin is not bright, it’s dark. So this clearly gives the audience an idea that something bad and something unexpected is going to happen. Camera shot is used in this scene. The camera is zoomed out getting all five characters into the shot. This is done to express the character’s feelings and mood towards the situation. The facial expression of the characters presents horror in this film. Dialogue between the characters also shows fear in this scene. The characters speaking to each other show that they are scared so they need each other to help themselves. The characters position also clearly states that they are scared. The character’s are all together because they will need each other’s help if anything unexpected happens all of a sudden. The characters are putting each other self in danger by going next the place where the sound is coming from but they are panicking so they want to find out what is going on.

Scene 3:

In the last scene, diegetic sound is used to present fear. The character shouts ‘Someone please help, please help’. Dialogue has been used by the director in this film to show how the characters are panicking. Also the theme of isolation is shown in this scene by taking the character away from his 4 friends. Long show has been used; the camera is zoomed into the character to show his feeling towards fear. Mise-en-scene has been used throughout this scene to express fear and isolation. The character’s clothing shows that the character is in the risk to lose his life. The colour black represents death, evil and mystery. There is a clear

indication through the use of location to present the theme of fear and isolation. The character is located in the middle of trees around him. This connotes that the character is trapped in middle of a forest with no one surrounding him to help him. The director has used editing by using blood on the character to show that the character is in a really dangerous situation. This scene was taken place in night time so this also strongly suggests that someone unexpected is going to happen. Props have been used in this scene to present fear and danger. The character uses a metal weapon in this scene to defend himself anything against him. This shows that the character is scared of the surrounding around him. The characters position shows that the character is in the risk of losing his life.

Finally I would like to come to a conclusion after my analysis of the two horror films. Both films use mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound and editing to present the theme of fear and isolation. The use of body language shows how scared the characters are to the surrounding. For example body language of the character in the last scene of Cabin in the Woods shows that the character is scared because he knows his life is in a big risk. I believe that light and dialogue has been used to express the characters feelings and the dangerous situation. Overall I would say both directors have used mise-en-scene to present fear and isolation.