How has the film (Cabin in the Woods) made interesting use of the conventions of horror and sub genres you have studied?

In the horror film ‘Cabin in the Woods’, there are multiple subgenres used throughout. For example, there are ghosts (supernatural), zombies/monsters/werewolves, as well as a lot of graphic gore (slasher). There was also excessive blood; this may have been for a comedic effect which is similar to ‘Braindead’. Also, the film made use of mise-en-scene by choosing specific points to use extremely bright lighting and low lighting. This was to demonstrate times of hope and safety in comparison to times of danger and horror. They also used clean, white surfaces with dirty clothes and people to show that the survivors do not belong in the safe building.

‘Cabin in the Woods’ also made good use of the conventional dumb, blonde character who was a ‘slut’. This was in contrast to the clever, brunette who was a virgin and also one of the last survivors whereas the blonde female was the first to die.

Furthermore, there was an effective use of a high angle, directly above the brunette getting out of the water onto dry land. This gives the audience false hope that she would be safe and survive however, she did not. There was also a close up to show the groups realisation of the danger they are all in, as well as a long shot which demonstrated the detail of the blonde ‘sluts’ graphic  death.

Also, the film made use of phallic and yonic imagery. There was a shot of an entrance to a basement which conveyed a yonic theme. All the answers to the film were inside the basement therefore, thios could suggest women have all the correct answers and have more power in certain situations. As well as this, there was phallic weapon (knife) used to kill a member of the group. This penetrated the skin of the victim, suggesting potential ‘rape’.

The film makes interesting use of Metz theory on genre development by deconstructing the typical horror genre and sub genres. Cabin in the Woods is not a conventional horror film; it is unclear what sub genre it is as it appears to be all of them. It breaks up the film and changes the typical rules and conventions within a horror film. For example, rather than the brunette be the only survivor the film allows the “foolish” character who is always high to survive as well.