HALLOWEEN
How do the theories of the 4 well known theorists, Bordwell and Thomspson, Propp,
Levi-strauss and Todorov apply to "Halloween".
Todorov - The theory that all film storylines begin with a state of equilibrium, before some kind of disturbance disrupts the equilibrium, and the subsequent portion of the film is the characters trying to rectify the situation, with the film ending in when a new state of equilibrium is reached, often different from the first.
This theory does not strictly apply to Halloween because the very first scene in the film is a disruption to the equilibrium in the form of Michael Myers killing his sister. There is no equilibrium to start with. It could be argued that the 3 girls planning a night out is the equilibrium, since they have no idea of the fate they are soon to suffer, and the disruption is the systematical attempts to kill them by Myers. The one part of the theory that does apply to the film is the fact that Sam Loomis spends most of his screen time on the trail of Myers, and Laurie trys to eliminate Myers, both trying to restore equilibrium. Even the ending does not restore equilibrium because miraculously after being shout 6 times Myers gets up and walks away, probably to return one day and destroy them all. On the contrary, 'The Crazies' starts, all be it not for long, with a peaceful, secluded American town, where evryone is happy and content with their simplistic lives. The disequilibrium starts when the first "crazy" comes on to the baseball pitch. It is then shot, and death ensues from there on in. They have to leave their town, which is later nuked, and supposedly the two main characters find salvation in a suppsedly safe city. But the story does not end here because after they seem to be safe, the camera zooms out and it becomes clear that the city they are heading for is going to see the same fate as the town they left. So Todorov's theory does not apply strictly to either of these films.
Levi-Strauss - Recognised that binary opposites such as good vs evil are often used in films and each film has certain binary opposites that others might not.
Halloween obviously has aspects of good and evil - Laurie and Myers, the fact that Laurie is an innocent, rule abiding virgin, and she survives while her slut freinds who are the complete opposite of her die adheres to this theory. Additionally, Myers as a child vastly differs from the other boy Tommy, as Sam Loomis is constantly saying, 'he is pure evil' referring to Myers but Tommy is shown as a good natured, vulnerable and innocent young character who gets bullied. These two characters are a perfect example of binary opposites of good and evil. In 'The Crazies' there are actually two forms of evil and only one form of good. We have the infected people, who pose the most immediate threat to the heroes due to the violent tendancies they seem to take on after becoming infected; but also the government and the army pose a threat because they dont differentiate between the humans and the crazies, they just kill everything that moves.
Bordwell and Thompson - the time that elapses off screen that we never actually see, but we are aware has happened. Often this time is integral to the storyline and influences what decisions the characters may make.
Halloween has a really nice example of this, Sam Loomis is constantly referring to the time he spent with Myers as his physiciatrist while he was inside the mental institution. In these 17 years Loomis learned about Myers and hens is the only one who really undertsands him and it is often frustrating as a viewer to see characters such as the sheriff not listening to him. So these 17 years that we never see are important to convey how "pure evil" Myers is. There are 3 events in 'The Crazies' which happen off screen that are critically important to the storyline as it progresses; Firstly, Judy being pregnant - she is already pregnant when the film starts and it is the pregnancy which causes the fever that the government screening equipment picks up on, causing them to think she was infected. Secondly, the purposeful development of the virus by the government, meant to control the population by culling some people, and thirdly the plane crash with the virus on it, that releases it into the water and drinking supply of the town.
Vladimir Propp - There is a set list of positions and roles characters will fit regardless of genre or story.
1. Villain - Battles the hero (Halloween - Michael myers, Crazies - The infected people and the government)
2. The Donor - Prepares the hero or gives him something to help him on his way (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - the marine they capture in the barn, he gives them a chance to escape)
3. The helper - Helps the hero in the quest (Halloween - Sam Loomis, Crazies - Deputy Russell Clank)
4. The princess - The one the hero saves and then marries (Halloween - Laurie is the hero so she can't marry a princess, Crazies - The sheriffs wife, Judy
5. The false hero - Originally perceived as good but turns evil (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - The deputy, but only briefly)
6. The dispatcher - Character who sends the hero on his way (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - N/A
This theory does not strictly apply to Halloween because the very first scene in the film is a disruption to the equilibrium in the form of Michael Myers killing his sister. There is no equilibrium to start with. It could be argued that the 3 girls planning a night out is the equilibrium, since they have no idea of the fate they are soon to suffer, and the disruption is the systematical attempts to kill them by Myers. The one part of the theory that does apply to the film is the fact that Sam Loomis spends most of his screen time on the trail of Myers, and Laurie trys to eliminate Myers, both trying to restore equilibrium. Even the ending does not restore equilibrium because miraculously after being shout 6 times Myers gets up and walks away, probably to return one day and destroy them all. On the contrary, 'The Crazies' starts, all be it not for long, with a peaceful, secluded American town, where evryone is happy and content with their simplistic lives. The disequilibrium starts when the first "crazy" comes on to the baseball pitch. It is then shot, and death ensues from there on in. They have to leave their town, which is later nuked, and supposedly the two main characters find salvation in a suppsedly safe city. But the story does not end here because after they seem to be safe, the camera zooms out and it becomes clear that the city they are heading for is going to see the same fate as the town they left. So Todorov's theory does not apply strictly to either of these films.
Levi-Strauss - Recognised that binary opposites such as good vs evil are often used in films and each film has certain binary opposites that others might not.
Halloween obviously has aspects of good and evil - Laurie and Myers, the fact that Laurie is an innocent, rule abiding virgin, and she survives while her slut freinds who are the complete opposite of her die adheres to this theory. Additionally, Myers as a child vastly differs from the other boy Tommy, as Sam Loomis is constantly saying, 'he is pure evil' referring to Myers but Tommy is shown as a good natured, vulnerable and innocent young character who gets bullied. These two characters are a perfect example of binary opposites of good and evil. In 'The Crazies' there are actually two forms of evil and only one form of good. We have the infected people, who pose the most immediate threat to the heroes due to the violent tendancies they seem to take on after becoming infected; but also the government and the army pose a threat because they dont differentiate between the humans and the crazies, they just kill everything that moves.
Bordwell and Thompson - the time that elapses off screen that we never actually see, but we are aware has happened. Often this time is integral to the storyline and influences what decisions the characters may make.
Halloween has a really nice example of this, Sam Loomis is constantly referring to the time he spent with Myers as his physiciatrist while he was inside the mental institution. In these 17 years Loomis learned about Myers and hens is the only one who really undertsands him and it is often frustrating as a viewer to see characters such as the sheriff not listening to him. So these 17 years that we never see are important to convey how "pure evil" Myers is. There are 3 events in 'The Crazies' which happen off screen that are critically important to the storyline as it progresses; Firstly, Judy being pregnant - she is already pregnant when the film starts and it is the pregnancy which causes the fever that the government screening equipment picks up on, causing them to think she was infected. Secondly, the purposeful development of the virus by the government, meant to control the population by culling some people, and thirdly the plane crash with the virus on it, that releases it into the water and drinking supply of the town.
Vladimir Propp - There is a set list of positions and roles characters will fit regardless of genre or story.
1. Villain - Battles the hero (Halloween - Michael myers, Crazies - The infected people and the government)
2. The Donor - Prepares the hero or gives him something to help him on his way (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - the marine they capture in the barn, he gives them a chance to escape)
3. The helper - Helps the hero in the quest (Halloween - Sam Loomis, Crazies - Deputy Russell Clank)
4. The princess - The one the hero saves and then marries (Halloween - Laurie is the hero so she can't marry a princess, Crazies - The sheriffs wife, Judy
5. The false hero - Originally perceived as good but turns evil (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - The deputy, but only briefly)
6. The dispatcher - Character who sends the hero on his way (Halloween - N/A, Crazies - N/A
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