'Shaun of the Dead' Film Still Analysis

This scene from Shaun of the Dead features Shaun, Liz and Ed attacking the pub’s landlord, who has recently been turned into a zombie. The fight is violent but when the three batter the zombie with snooker poles, in time to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, the scene becomes comical and surreal. The use of contrapuntal music and ridiculous props adds to the humour, whilst the bloodied zombie retains the aesthetic of a stereotypical horror movie. Whilst encircling the zombie, the camera moves along with them in a dizzying effect which makes the audience feel like part of the action.

As the three heroes circle around the pub landlord, another member of their surviving group, David, is trying to cut the power on the jukebox. At the same time, Dianne and Shaun’s mother watch on from the side and can be seen swaying in time to the music whilst Liz hits the man over the head with a fire extinguisher and then blasts it in his face. To join in the fight, Dianne starts throwing darts at the zombie’s head and, due to her idiocy and bad aim, plants one in the side of Shaun’s head. To add to the comic elements, David flicks the switches on the fuse box and we see the lights go on and off outside the pub, aggravating the forceful zombies. Ironically, the music doesn’t stop until Shaun lunges the zombie into the jukebox’s glass case.

Within the group there is the male hero (Shaun), his ‘sidekick’ (Ed), a female victim (Dianne) and a female survivor (Liz). What is strange, however, is that the character of Liz is an attractive, blonde, young female character, yet she is not the victim. Throughout the scene, and the film, she acts as a strong woman, not afraid of fighting back. Through a combination of these anti-stereotypical features, this film uses normal horror conventions in unexpected ways for a comedic outcome.

'Dawn Of The Dead' (2004) Film Still Analysis 3

This scene from Dawn of the Dead (2004) is the closing moment of the film where the remaining survivors escape on Steve’s boat. The soft focus and streaming light makes the scene look serene. In actual fact the scene is very bittersweet. Anna has just had to leave Michael with the Zombies and go without him. Her expression is calm but she has a dazed look on her face, staring off into the distance. The setting of the gentle boat on calm water is oxymoronic to the on-going drama. This is made even more ironic by the wedding ring on her left hand and the fact that she is grieving for a man who isn’t her husband.

The addition of the American flag is also symbolic. It connotes ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’. This patriotism resonates throughout the entire film and is a social comment on the acts of terrorism taking place during the time of this film. In addition to the condemnation of the Muslim believers at the start of the film, there is a consistent sense of America always winning against the bad guy and good triumphing over evil.

Anna, along with Kenneth, Nichole and Terry, has survived the attack. After this shot, the film cuts to the credits, leaving the film with an ‘open ending’. This allows the audience to wonder what happened to the others when they escaped and if any of them survived. However, after a few seconds of credits, the film cuts back to video footage from a handheld camera. The footage shows the group’s time on the boat. After a few trivial shots things start to become tense when the film shows the island they have sailed to. On the island are even more zombies coming to attack them. The camera stills and goes grainy before cutting out completely. With this alternate ending in mind the audience is now introduced to the idea of an unhappy ending in which all the characters die and the zombies eventually win.

'Dawn Of The Dead' (2004) Film Still Analysis 2

This scene from Dawn of the Dead (2004) highlights the representation of conventional characters in the horror genre. The sequence brings the characters together in a small, confined elevator which dominates the frame. Because of this, the strong characters become more prominent due to the contrast in their nature and mannerisms. From left to right: Monica is the stereotypical blonde female victim. Earlier in the film she is seen having sex with Steve. This act seals her fate (as a character that will later die) and this is the last time we see her properly before her untimely end. Next we have CJ the security guard who adds humour to the situation. Just before they entered the elevator they were running from the zombies in a dramatic build-up of suspense and music. Then, when they enter the elevator, collision cutting takes place and the elevator goes very quiet and still. The only sound comes from the elevator music (‘All Outta Love’ by Air Supply). This is when CJ says the line, “I love this song”. The contrapuntal music, dramatic drop in action and CJ’s deadpan line makes this moment comical and unexpected for the audience.

The next character is Kenneth. In the original DOTD (1979) this role would have been similar to Peter. He is the only surviving black character at this point and he acts as the leader of the group, helping as many people to safety as he can (including Andy who isn’t even in their group). The next character is Anna, the female survivor and main protagonist. Everything about her stance and mannerisms suggests she is the ‘tomboy’ of the group who will be the ‘final girl’. Her sporty attire and hair pulled back in a ponytail shows she is ready for action and not afraid to get stuck in. This is reiterated by her job as a nurse and the care she has given others in the past. Next in the line-up is Glen. Glen is by no means the stereotypical horror character. He is the older, gay organ player at the local church with a very sweet disposition. His age works against him in the sense that all of the other older characters have already died because they couldn’t keep up or they weren’t sensible. In the end, ironically, he accidentally kills Monica and himself with a chainsaw, not dying at the hands of a zombie.

The next two people, Nichole and Terry, are the archetypal young couple brought together by unrequited love. They each survive by the end, only through their struggle to stay together. The same is almost true for Michael (on the right). His love for Anna keeps them fighting and in the end he dies trying to protect her and the others. He may be the male hero in this sense but as he doesn’t survive, Kenneth has to take over at the end and become the new hero.

'Dawn Of The Dead' (2004) Film Still Analysis 1

This screenshot from Dawn of the Dead (2004) is taken during the opening credits of the film. In a montage of clips we see news reports and mobile phone footage to set up the narrative of the story: a zombie virus spreading around the world. During this montage we hear the song “The Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash. This song tells of the apocalypse and who God will judge in the reckoning. Although the lyrics to the song are very apt, the jovial nature of the guitar and piano in the background makes the music feel contrapuntal to the action on screen.

Within this particular scene of the montage we see an American news reporter addressing a grainy camera about the spread of the virus. From the setting and the buildings surrounding him we can assume this is an Islamic country in the Middle East (which is outside of his, and the audience’s, CDI). As he is talking panic sets in and they are attacked. Due to restricted narration the camera cuts in and out in a series of collision cuts and we see a quick glimpse of the attackers: men and women in burkas, presumably Muslim. It ends with a close up of one of these people. This links back to the first part of the montage, a shot of a mosque and hundreds of people bowing in one direction. From these clues we can assume that the virus supposedly started through religion, more specifically in the Middle East. At the time in which the film was made, terrorism was a main concern. This relates to the historical context of the film and the theme of violence and fear of death within the wider horror genre.

'Dawn Of The Dead' (1979) Film Still Analysis 3

This screenshot comes from the final scene of the film in which the two remaining characters are planning to escape: Fran and Peter. Challenging all horror conventions with this ending, George Romero kills off the two characters most likely to survive: the young, white, male heroes (Stephen and Roger). Instead, we have Fran, the typical female victim, who is also pregnant, survive. Although she began the film as a helpless character, she quickly builds up a strong defence and learns how to fly the helicopter which will lead them to safety. Throughout, she has been the one least affected by the consumerism and at one point even voices these fears when she asks, “What have we done to ourselves?” Although she was often told not to strain herself she showed independence by caring for Roger when he was bitten and setting up their ‘home’ inside the mall.

 
The character of Peter has always been shown to be the cool, laid back type (e.g. hitting the coffee machine at the hangar) and at the end he continues this by giving himself up to help Fran escape. However, through his good decision making and precision with a gun, he is able to escape. At the time of this film having a black hero was completely going against convention and Romero was determined to show that being either female or black did not put you at a disadvantage or mean you deserved to die. Throughout all of his films, this is a common part of his auteur style as a director: making the underdog the hero. Although the pair does escape, they are running low on fuel. This means that the ending is unhappy (the deaths of their friends) and also very open (did they ever make it out of the country?).