The Horde

Time: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
Box Office: $688K

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: The Horde (La Horde) 
2. Director & Producer: Yannick Dahan, Benjamin Rocher
3. Release Date: February 10, 2010 
4. Film Genre: Action, Adventure, Suspense

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: When the police officers launch a raid on a local Nigerian criminal, they originally plan on avenging their friend's death. However, while on their mission on seeking revenge upon them, the police officers are attacked by zombies and are forced to work together with the criminals in order to escape the chaotically stricken building filled with the horde of the living dead craving to eat their flesh. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: Canted angles are the main type of camera angle that is used throughout the film, including the beginning where they reveal a dead body. The angle gives the viewer an  uncomfortable feeling in order to have them scared for what will happen next. Low key lighting and loud and fast paced music is used when the police raid the criminal's base to seek revenge on them for killing their friend. Eerie and dramatic music is used along with establishing shots for the scenes that show the world at battle with the dead. Bird's eye view is then used to show viewers the number of zombies there are surrounding the building the characters are in. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film is suspenseful. 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is apocalyptic and dark. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The film uses low gloomy music in the beginning of the film to add to the grief the characters were feeling towards the loss of their friend. When the rest of the world is shown battling against the dead with all sorts of explosions going on in the background as the characters are on the rooftop of the building, dramatic music is used to make the scene look more tragic. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in the film are dramatizations, special effects, background noise, and color. 

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of the film may be that taking revenge is never a good thing to do even though it seems like it should be done to get even with someone.

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film has a lot of weaknesses in communicating its message. 

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to be taken by surprise when the zombies appeared out of nowhere since at first it seems like any ordinary action film. 

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? The film does not appeal to the viewer's emotion, it only startles them whenever the zombies would suddenly appear out of the shadows.

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: What happened outside of the building that caused the dead to rise while there was a dispute between the police and criminals? 

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would recommend this movie to my friends. It wasn't too bad for a foreign zombie film. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film an AP only because its central message really wasn't that clear. It was still an alright film despise the fact that it lacked the message. 

I Am Legend

Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes
Box Office: $256M

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: I Am Legend
2. Director & Producer: Francis Lawrence
3. Release Date: December 14, 2007
4. Film Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: An important moment is when Robert's watch alarm starts beeping and he leaves, taking Sam with him and after a bath, Robert shuts, locks and protects every door and window with massive steel shutters. He then sleeps close to Sam and remembers what happened when they sealed off the island and quarantined New York City. Robert is looking for a cure for the infection and discovers that a rat is decreasing in performing violent activity. Another important moment in the film is when Robert takes in the 18-20 year old infected female in to run some tests regarding KV. Fred is somehow placed in the middle of the city street which causes Robert to have a small mental breakdown. When Robert begins to shoot everything, it triggers a trap in which he stays stuck in overnight. Sam gets bitten by one of the infected dogs and Robert kills him, leaving him with no other companion and to be completely alone. Robert finally finds the cure for the infection but sacrifices his life in order to let Anna and her son live. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: Many establishing shots and close ups are used throughout the film. The establishing shots are used to show the ruined and lonesome city and the close ups are used to show Robert's expressions to anything that happens. Low key lighting is used for when Robert has locked up his apartment and everything so that nothing gets in and for when he is led to the place under the bridge. This causes the setting to look mysterious, unwelcoming, and unsafe. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film is sad, lonely, and hopeless. 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is apocalyptic and lonesome.

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The film hardly uses any music and sounds for when Robert is outdoors gathering supplies to show how lonely and and empty the city is. There is only faint background noise such as birds chirping to exaggerate the lack of sound and people within the city. When Robert hunts for food and is led to a dark place beneath the bridge, the sounds and music grow louder to add suspense in finding out what lives there. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in the film are dramatizations, background noise, special effects, flashbacks, and color.

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of the film could either have been to always share some light during the darkest of times or that even though you really want to save someone sometimes, there is nothing you could do to save them.

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?  The film communicates either of the two messages above very effectively. Robert is constantly shown trying to adapt to his post-apocalyptic environment when he talks to the mannequins as if they are alive and when he develops a friendship with his dog Sam. These characteristics show how lonely Robert is and how he is trying to keep himself from going insane. All throughout the film Robert looks for a cure and in the end he finally finds it and tries to save those that are infected but no chance in doing so is given. Therefore, the film ends with Robert sacrificing himself to allow Anna and her son to survive.
3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to feel depressed and scared with whatever happened to Robert throughout the film.

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? The film does appeal to the viewer's emotion. Being given the flashbacks on what happened to Robert's family I began to feel sympathy for him and thought how terrible it must feel to lose your family members. When the film shows Robert and Sam's relationship, in which Sam is Robert's only friend, it made me feel really heartbroken and sad when Sam is bitten. 
5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: Why did Robert decide not to go with Anna and her son to escape when he could have?
6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would recommend this movie to my friends, it was really good and pretty startling.

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film an AE because of the film's way in making its central message very effective with the emotional appeal. 

Diary of the Dead

Time: 1 Hour and 34 Minutes
Box Office: $958K

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: Diary of the Dead 
2. Director & Producer: George Romero 
3. Release Date: February 15, 2008
4. Film Genre: Horror

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments:As students and their professor are filming a horror film in the forest, they hear a television broadcast that declares that the dead are walking the Earth. Ridley and Francine decide to isolate themselves from the group, while Jason heads to his girlfriend's dorm. She fails  in contacting her family and they decide to travel to her house in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While driving, Mary witnesses a car accident and runs over a highway patrolman and three other zombies while trying to escape. Later in the film Mary tries to commit suicide by shooting herself. Her friends then take her to a hospital where they finally realize that the dead actually are reviving.
2. Atmosphere of the Film: The film uses low key lighting to make the incidents that occurred mysterious and shady. Loud and intense music is during the zombie attacks to make the scenes more scary. The film uses oblique angles for when there was an encounter with a zombie in which one of the main characters had to fight to stay alive. Close ups were used often so that the characters could document what happened at the time and to show their discomfort within their setting. 

2. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film suspenseful and mysterious.
3. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is dark and gloomy. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The music used in the film started off by being low and calm to growing loud and intense for the parts of the film in which the audience was being warned that something terrible was about to happen. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The film presented music, narration, black and white, color and dramatizations. 

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of this film could have been to always keep track of everything in order to learn. 

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film is effective in communicating its message by showing how badly Jason wants to document what happened as they were trying to film their horror film so that others could be informed on what happened. 

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to get startled by the sudden pop outs and feel uneasy with the style of 

4. Does this film appear more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? No, it didn't really appeal to the viewer's emotion. The acting was not as convincing as most films. It made me  feel a bit frustrated. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: What were they filming a mummy film for?

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? No, I would not recommend this film to my friends. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film an AP. I didn't really like it that much, I thought it was a bit too cheesy. 

Warm Bodies

Time: 1 Hour and 37 Minutes
Box Office: $66M

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: Warm Bodies
2. Director & Producer: Jonathan Levine
3. Release Date: February 1, 2013
4. Film Genre: Drama, Romance

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: The main character, a zombie, can't remember his name or anything about his previous life. An important moment is when R eats the brains of the living and is able to gain their knowledge and memories. Another important moment is when R meets Julie for the first time. He falls in love with her and his heart beats again. When R eats Julie's boyfriend's brains, he is given flashbacks of what he has been through up until he kills him. After R tells Julie that he ate her boyfriend's brains, Julie leaves and R surprisingly has a dream that leads him back to Julie. Julie then realizes that she misses R and that she has feelings for him. R meets Julie's dad and he tries to kill him thinking he'd harm his daughter. Julie and R escape and when seen, Julie's dad shoots him right after he's cured proving to him that he was in fact cured since he was bleeding.  Finally they all escape and the living and the dead get along and the creatures are killed.

2. Atmosphere of the Film: The film uses many close-ups, medium shots, and establishing shots. At times the oblique angle is used to show that something troubling is going to happen. Low key lighting is used throughout most of the film to show the gloomy feel of the apocalypse and how everything is a little chaotic. At the end of the film normal lighting is used to show that things have gone back to normal and for once, everything is at peace again.
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film is humorous and 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is apocalyptic and gloomy at first. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The music is upbeat during the scenes in which Julie and R are spending time together. When the zombies and living are fighting against one another is when the music is loud and intense. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in this film are color, music, special effects and black and white flashbacks.

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of the film is that everyone needs to work together and get along in order for the world to be at peace.

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film was strong in communicating its message because that was the cure for all the turmoil in the end: for zombies and humans to learn to live together. 

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to laugh and be open minded towards their whole central message. 

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? The film does appeal to the viewer's emotion it makes you feel happy for both R and Julie when they end up together. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: What were the other creatures and why did they act that way? 

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would recommend this movie to my friends. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film a P because of its central message and how well it was made. 

The Crazies

Time: 1 Hour and 41 Minutes

Box Office: $39M

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: The Crazies
2. Director & Producer: Breck Eisner 
3. Release Date: February 26, 2010
4. Film Genre: Horror

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: When a local sheriff, David is watching a baseball game, his deputy notices a man holding a shotgun entering the field. Being warned multiple times to put the gun down, he refuses to respond and David is forced to shoot the man. Other strange behaviors were begun to be noticed within their community. David and his deputy discover a pilot's body along with a cargo plane sunk deeply underwater. Soldiers arrive and take all residents to a high school to have them quarantined based on whether or not the pass an examination that shows their infected. Judy, David's wife does not pass. It is later revealed by a government agent that the cargo plane contained a biological weapon that can contaminate and is very contagious. Russel is then infected and is disarmed. At the end, it is shown that a large part of Cedar Rapids is infected. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: In the film, medium shots are often used, showing a certain character's position and the amount of trouble they are in based on what is set around them. Another common shot used is the close up which is designed to show the face of the character in order to help viewers determine what emotion they are feeling. As always, an establishing shot is used to set the location and display what is currently going on in the film. A technique that is often used for sound is complete calming silence and when the scene gets intense, the sound goes to a deep loud rumbling and the pace of the sound quickens. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film is hopeless and suspenseful. 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is dark and unsettling due to its abnormality. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: Calmness and even silence is used to make the audience unaware of what is going to happen, but when the sudden loudness of suspenseful music is played, it makes the audience jump and feel terrified throughout the film. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in the film are dramatizations, color, special effects that make the zombies appear as extremely stressed humans, and background noise that is used to make the viewer feel as if all of the events occurring inside the film are actually occurring in real life. 

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of this film could have been about rampant militarism. 

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film does a good job in making its message effective. When the military quarantines the residents could be support for this message based on the way they had treated them.

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? The filmmakers probably wanted the audience to acknowledge the fact that not everyone is trustworthy.

4. Does this film appear more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? It does appeal to the viewer's emotion. You feel bad for the residents when they are isolated from the rest of society. I felt very disturbed with the infected resident's odd actions. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: What was the infection? How was it started?

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would recommend this film to my friends. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film an AE. 

Fido

Time: 1 Hour and 31 Minutes

Box Office: $304K

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: Fido
2. Director & Producer: Andrew Currie
3. Release Date: June 15, 2007
4. Film Genre: Horror, Comedy

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: An important moment in the film is when the Robinson's buy Fido, the family's first zombie pet that is kept under control by a Zomcon collar. Timmy Robinson becomes best friends with Fido and at the same time their neighbor owns a young female zombie named Tammy as his girlfriend. Another important moment is when there is a malfunction with the Zomcon collar and Fido accidentally eats their neighbor. There is a zombie riot at Zomcon which leads to the death of Timmy's father for when Zomcon's security chief tries to throw Timmy to the zombies in order to keep the company's secrets safe. Fido however, rescues Timmy and kills the evil chief. Timmy's mom then discovers that she is happier with Fido than with her previous husband and Fido is restored into the family. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: The film uses establishing shots, close ups, and medium shots. In the beginning, an establishing shot is used to show the classroom being shown a video about Zomcon and another is used to show the home of Timmy Robinson. Close ups are used to show the character's reactions and emotions. Happy tunes are used throughout the film to give it an oldies sort of feel. The lighting is bright and sunny to add to the result of the society being content with the zombie pets. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film is happy and cheerful.
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film is vintage and family oriented. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The sounds used in the film are silly which adds to the family oriented quality. The music in the film has more of a happy tune to it more than anything. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in the film are black and white, color, music, and background noise.  Black and white was used for the video that was shown to the class in the beginning of the film, as it zoomed out of the video, the rest of the film was in color.  Background noise and cheerful music was often used whenever Fido and Timmy were spending time together around town. 

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message of this film could be about American culture and values and how it's absolutely ridiculous. 

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film communicates this message effectively because of the way their society is shown with everyone wanting zombie house pets and the Robinson's simply owning one because everyone else has one. 

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to laugh and be heart-warmed with the type of bond/relationship between Fido and Timmy and Fido and Timmy's mother.

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? Yes, it does appeal to the viewer's emotion. It made me feel happy with what the outcome was at the end of the film on how Fido was re-welcomed into the family after saving Timmy from the riot. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: How did the war between the humans and zombies begin?

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would recommend this movie to my friends. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film and AE for its creativity and for what it had to say about our cultural values. I found it interesting because of the time and the setting it took place in. The movie was also funny and cute.

Aaah! Zombies!!

Time: 1 Hour and 37 Minutes

Box Office: $1M

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: Aaah! Zombies!! (Wasting Away)
2. Director & Producer: Mathew Kohnen, Sean Kohnen
3. Release Date: January 1, 2007
4. Film Genre: Comedy 

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: A man is injected with a chemical that turns him into a zombie. The toxic chemical seeps through an ice cream container which is then served to a group of friends who then becomes infected by eating it. The group however, doesn't know that they are. They try to look for help but run into Nick Steel, who tells them that everyone else is infected (not them). Another important part is when they think that they were created into "super soldiers" and find out that the x factor is dairy. When Nick is captured, he is then showed his own reflection and realizes that he is not in fact a super soldier but a zombie. The infected are then cured. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: There were a lot of medium shots used within the film. There were a few establishing shots to show the setting of how the group/main characters appeared to the living. There were also close ups used to share the expressions of the characters when something odd occurred. As for the scenes in which the zombies confronted the living, the living was fast forwarded and the dead were slowed down. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film was humorous and silly. 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film was witty and adventurous. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: Fast intense music was played during the scenes in which the dead confronted the living. Slow music was played while the scene focused on the zombie's point of view. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: There were dramatizations, black and white flashbacks, color, and special effects used throughout the film.

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message could have been to never assume or misinterpret something. 

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film had a lot of weaknesses in communicating its central message. It was as if the filmmakers were trying a bit too hard to make it funny that there wasn't any room for it to have a serious tone. 

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? I think the filmmakers wanted the audience to laugh at their witty jokes.

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? No, it does not. It didn't really make me feel anything. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture: Who was the man in the beginning?

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? No, I would not. I thought it was horrible.

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film a CR. The idea was a bit creative but the storyline wasn't written well.