Movie Monste

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FILM 352: Monster Movies

DEFINING MONSTERS

Towards a Definition of Monstrosity:

Characteristics of the Monster Exists outside of both nature and culture

Both biologically & ontologically “unnatural” Defies/rejects social mores and conventions Breaks social & cultural taboos

Is controlled by impulses (aggressive and sexual) rather than exercising control over them

Lacks control over body, which is subject to grotesque physical abnormalities & transformations Also ruled by bodily appetites and desires

Lacks a soul or is tormented by the fear that the turn to monstrosity has forfeited its soul

Poses threat to the social order, not only through destructive behavior but through its very existence

Lycanthropic transformation in The Company of Wolves

(1984)

MONSTER MOVIE SUB-

GENRES

Vampire Films Characters become vampires either by being

bitten by another vampire, drinking the blood of another vampire, or through viral infection

Themes of human/non-human divide, the nature of humanity, and damnation & redemption explored through ontological status of vampire as “undead”

Themes of monster within explored through vampire’s craving for human blood (which is necessary for it to survive) Serves as metaphor for both aggressive and

sexual drives Vampire’s body is abnormal, although not always

grotesque (see images on left) Sometimes represented as seductive, as well

as possessing powers of seduction

Nosferatu (1922)

Dracula 2000 (2000)

New Moon (2009))

Werewolf Films Characters become werewolves either by being bitten

by another werewolf or by being cursed Themes of human/non-human divide and the nature of

humanity explored through ontological status as simultaneously human and animal

Themes of the monster within explored through werewolf’s animal impulses (particularly the impulse to hunt and kill human prey)

In recent films transformation involves violent breach of bodily borders (elements of body horror, see slide 22) In some films transformation is tied to the cycles of

the moon; in others werewolves are able to change forms at will

There is also a subgenre in which lycanthropy is a metaphor for puberty and/or menstruation

Often gain strength, speed, enhanced senses & enhanced sexual prowess, as result of lycanthropy

Ginger Snaps (2000)

Cursed (2005)

Blood and Chocolate (2007))

Zombie Films Characters become zombies either by being

bitten by a zombie, by being cursed, or by being infected with some kind of virus

Themes of human/non-human divide and the nature of humanity explored through ontological status as animated corpses without consciousness or will

Themes of monster within explored through zombie’s killing of human prey, which also carries connotations of cannibalism

Zombies often possess bodies that are progressively decaying, resulting in grotesque representations (elements of body horror, see slide 22)

Zombies sometimes used as metaphors for mindless conformity, as well as fears of illness/contagion

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

28 Days Later (2002)

Shaun of the Dead (2004))

Genetic/Scientific Mutations Monsters that appear in science fiction-horror hybrids,

which mix narrative and stylistic conventions from both genres

Monstrosity is the result of either biological mutation, scientific intervention, or exposure to radiation or other biohazards

Horror themes of human/non-human divide and the nature of humanity, as well as sci-fi themes of the dangers of “playing god” through scientific experimentation, explored through ontological status of monster as scientifically engineered being rather than natural being Also explored through stories in which monsters

exhibit greater humanity than the humans Themes of monster within explored through narrative

connections between biological mutation and unleashing of the id

Frankenstein (1931)

The Fly (1986)

Teeth (2007))

A Note About Genetic/Scientific

Mutation Films There are a lot of horror-science fiction

hybrid films that are NOT monster movies They only count as monster movies if

human characters are transformed into non-human creatures or into human-creature hybrids Can also sometimes be the result of

exposure to a parasite or to some kind of infection that alters human DNA

This also introduces elements of the body horror sub-genre (see slide 22)

Alien (1978)

District 9 (2009)

Trolls, Gremlins, and

Other “Creature Features” Films that feature monsters that are

borrowed from the fantasy genre The difference is that in monster

movies these creatures attack, maim, kill, or otherwise terrorize humans

“Creature Feature” is also an umbrella term for monster movies that feature monsters that don’t fit into these other categories

Gremlins (1984)

Troll 2 (1990))

Gothic Romance

Films Films that blend genre conventions from romance and horror genres Roots in gothic romance

literary tradition of Nineteenth Century

In these films, the monsters are either cured of their monstrosity or spiritually redeemed through the love of a human

Twilight (2008)

Beastly (2011))

HORROR FILM SUB-GENRES

THAT ARE NOT

MONSTER MOVIES

Movies Featuring Witches,

Warlocks, or Sorcerers These are films about human beings who

possess supernatural powers Plot and story conventions center on

characters coming into their powers and then either learning how to control them or being punished for refusing to control them

While some of the themes (such as giving in to the darker side of human nature) are the same as in monster movies, those themes are given expression in different ways

Iconography = spell books, special effects to represent spell casting (lightening, wind, etc.), animal familiars such as the owl or black cat

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

The Craft (1996)

Demonic Possession

Movies These are films about human beings who are possessed by demons Sometimes also toys that are inhabited by

evil spirits Plot and story conventions tend to center on

exorcism Character types include exorcist who is

either priest of some kind or a specialist in the occult

Themes tend to focus on issues of faith, morality, good v. evil, and/or acceptance that demons are real rather than abstract concepts

Iconography = books containing demonic lore as well as instructions for exorcism; religious or occult symbols, texts, objects, etc.; special effects to represent both possession & exorcism

The Exorcist (1973)

Child’s Play (1988)

The Last Exorcism (2013)

Poltergeist Movies Movies set in places that are haunted by ghosts,

restless spirits, or evil spirits (sometimes built over disturbed or desecrated burial grounds) Sometimes it is a character who is haunted

rather than a place Plots focus on laying ghosts/spirits to rest Themes tend to focus on issues of the afterlife,

making amends for past wrongs, confronting past traumas, vengeance, and redemption

Character types sometimes include psychic or occult specialist who is brought in to deal with the poltergeist

Iconography = books or other documents that reveal the legend behind the haunting; religious or occult symbols, texts, objects, etc.; special effects to represent the poltergeist, as well as poltergeist activity

Poltergeist (1982)

Mama (2013)

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Vengeful Spirit

Movies Similar to poltergeist movies, but in vengeful spirit movies the spirit manifests in order to seek vengeance for past wrongs Vengeance frequently

motivated by persecution during life and/or circumstances surrounding death (often execution at hands of angry mob or corrupt justice system)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Candyman (1992)

Slasher Films Movies about homicidal characters (sometimes

serial killers) who go on violent killing sprees While the themes of the “monster within” and

are also present in slasher films, they find expression in different ways than they do in monster movies

Additionally, while the slasher figure also commits “monstrous” acts, these characters are always human beings who are damaged in some way (psychologically, physically, or both)

Slasher films do not feature actual, literal monsters Monstrosity is always only metaphoric, as

opposed to monster movies where it is both metaphoric and literal

Halloween (1978)

Friday the 13th (1980)

“Monstrous” Animal Movies Movies about animals attacking humans

Sometimes animals are mutations caused by scientific or environmental abuses

Themes tend to focus on issues of environmental contamination/conservation, the dangers of “playing god” through scientific experimentation, and/or the tensions between the human world and the natural world

While similar in many ways to monster movies that deal with genetic or scientific mutation, the “monsters” in these movies are animals who are allegories for abuses against nature Unlike monsters, these animals exist within

nature They are part of the natural world (and

within the plots are often taking vengeance against humans on behalf of nature)

Them! (1954)

Tremors (1990)

Jaws (1975)

Body Horror Films As mentioned above, some monster movies

incorporate aspects of the body horror sub-genre, however NOT ALL BODY HORROR FILMS ARE MONSTER MOVIES They are only monster movies when they

feature humans who turn into literal monsters

Themes focus on the horrors of embodiment (being “confined” within human bodies); bodily excesses, mutations, and/or contamination; the mind/body split in Western philosophy Mind/body split sees mind as pure and

body as site of sin and/or excessive appetites and desires

Iconography = graphic representations of bodily excesses, grotesque bodies, and the breach of bodily borders

Dead Ringers (1988)

Antiviral (2012)

The Blob (1958)

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