Day 10 part 3 : Carrie (1976) vs Psycho (1960) and Male Gaze

Carrie is an American Highschool Horror hybrid based on Stephen King's novel. The film was directed by Brian De Palma and written by Lawrence D. Cohen. The plot revolves around a young teenage girl called Carrie, who's a social outcast who then returns home to be bullied by her heavy religious mother. Carrie eventually discovers her telekinesis power which results in the prom from hell for her peers.

Here's a diagram I made which represents the influence of Psycho on Carrie.

Analyzing Opening Scene - "Showers" CARRIE :

Analyzing the Opening shower scene from Carrie links back to Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory.

Laura Mulvey believed women are shown as unequal as the camera presents women as "sexualized", for

the pleasure of men.

She constructed the Male Gaze theory through 3 looks which includes:

1. The look of the camera as it records the filmic event. (The use of the camera to objectify)

2. The look of the audience as it watches the final product. (The way the audience perceives from the way the camera presents)

3.How the characters look at each other in the visual images. (The way characters view each other and how we view them because of this)

The 3 looks of Male Gaze theory are presented in Horror of Dracula with the Vampire Bride   

There are high angle shots of her chest almost as if from the perspective of Harker, which highlights his feelings towards her. She's wearing a revealing dress and red lipstick which is visually pleasing for male viewers, as she's presented as seductive and sultry. This would result in the audience viewing her as an object, as even Harker's body language suggests he enjoys looking at her as her femininity and sexuality is focused on by the camerawork. However even though she is presented this way you could argue, that she goes against conventions since she then tries to bite him and acquires the power in the situation.

This reinforces the theory of Male Gaze which all genres of film can maintain including Horror.

The shower scene in Carrie highlights what a male would imagine it to be like in a changing room, however women would not view a changing room from this perspective. Horror often presents women in the pleasure of men, which is why the idea that it's a heterosexual male dominated industry is highlighted.

Viewing Horror movies from different theories and perspectives allows me to gain a deeper understanding of what makes Horror, Horror but also what could be improved and what should be changed in the industry.

This will be specifically important in the creation of my trailer.