Alien the Beiginning of Horror

After the alien in-pregnated Kane, it then forced itself out of Kane

killing him; starting the horror and suspense of the film.

Alien being produced in 1979 was using the newest of special effects, one of the special effects being pictured above. However it wasn't just the special effects that made Alien one of the best movies of its time it was also the framing and score. The picture above shows how the frame used a focused image on things like the alien above or when the camera was focusing on the egg. The framing was also used when the camera zoomed out and showed the massive ship or the long dark hallways. The camera also used different angles to make the movie so great the angle looking down on the alien forcing itself on Kane adds an entire new effect.

This is a picture of the scene after the shipped landed and part of the crew left the
ship to check out the "distress" call that actually ended up being a warning call.

The score during the scene above was also very important. The music reminded of the music in Jaws. Also in this movie moments of silence were very important. Right before the hand grabbed Kane there was complete silence. The music was also very curious, it would get louder and then silent in times of danger. As the ship was landing there was a loud curious music playing, and once the ship was landed there was complete silence.

Alien was the true beginning to horror films. The special effects really started knew ways of filming movies, and knew ideas for the effects of movies. The costume for Alien also made the movie very good because the costume was so realistic looking. The score, framing, and special effects made the movie one of the best of its time.

pans

Pans Labyrinth was very hard for me to watch. I watched the movie at home and often found myself muting the movie because the music was so effective in the movie I was only able to watch the movie on mute. For example when the captain was torturing the stuttering man the music was slow and almost sickening. Also towards the end of the movie when the captain is chasing Ophelia the music makes the scene so much more intense. For me the lighting was also very effective one thing that really stood out to me was how luminescent the blood on Ophelia’s hand is at the end of the movie. The colors that are shown in different parts of the movie are also very interesting the end of the movie is dark because of all the terrible things. Edwards stated, "Labyrinth; thus it appears as a force of nature that is both creative and destructive." I believe the view of this realm would have not been able to be created with out the use of the music and lighting I mentioned above you could see the different views of the realm as the music or lighting would change. The luminious lighting that was used really changed the effect on some of the scenes for me. The picture below shows the use of the lighting very well I think.
Smith stated,

"Del Toro’s camera swoops up over the tragic tableau (shot like much of the film in unnervingly thick shadow) but dissolves to a shot of the dead tree, now with a magical flower blossoming on its sterile bough. The eternal stick insect buzzes by.While the suggestion of innocent sacrifice and redemption is disturbing, the image remains a worthy symbol of del Toro’s achievement."

To me this quote really summed up the way the lighting affected the movie. The dark shadow mentioned was really a major part of the movie because he only time the shadow wasn't there was when Ophelia seemed truly happy and during the movie this didn't occur often. Ophelia seemed very dark and unhappy in this new place with the captain. The lighting used in the movie i think really reflected Ophelia's charecter in the movie.

Edwards, Kim. "Alice's Little Sister: Exploring Pan's Labyrinth." Web log post. Metro Magazine. Film as Text, 2008. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2010.
Smith, Paul J. "Pan's Labyrinth." Web log post. Film Quarterly. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2010. .