Draft 
Presentation script:

Presentation script: 

Slide 1, Projector: Image taken from The Omen (1976) of Damien, and a Guardian image from The Babadook (2014) With Title…Children in Horror: The Innocent and the Evil. Quote ‘the normal boundary between innocence and malevolence has been broken’ by Peter Hall, Producer. 

Slide 2, Projector: Summary of title and key points of investigation, timeline image from each film cover. 

Presenter: My investigation area is on the different archetypes of children in modern day horror and how it is now compared to classic horror films. My project is based on genre and the elements that are portrayed from the child characters. I have been looking into the two popular character archetypes which are; the innocent victim and the evil monster. that are typically used in horror, particularly modern horror and I am comparing two modern style horror films to a classic horror that was very successful and well known for its main character/plot.  

These films include my focus film; The Babadook (2014, Jenifer Kent) which portrays an innocent, a shy boy who turns into a hero at the end of the film. The Omen (1976) a classic horror film that was very popular at the time of release (in the 70s, same decade as The Exorcist). A rise in horror films with children being the antagonist. My second related film is Case 39 (2009) another modern day horror with a young female antagonist who seems to dominate and terrify her guardian, fitting in to this antagonist character type.  

Slide 3, projector: How children are represented in horror, examples of modern and classic films that contain evil children and innocent children.  

Presenter: Children in horror are represented through two character archetypes; Innocent and/or evil and the idea of children turning ‘evil’ goes against the norm of society as its unusual and threatening (particularly to adults/parents). There is a longer list of evil archetypes because it is more common in modern day horror to feature ‘creepy’ children than it is to have innocent children. Another pattern that I noticed in my research is the contrast between modern horrors compared to classic horror. The most popular and successful film ‘The Exorcist’ that came out in 1972 has started a chain in the film industry by introducing this new character archetype that goes to the extreme level as it was given an 18 rating.  

I think this has opened a door to a whole variety of how horror films are formed in modern day horror, it is more violet and children are becoming more popular. However this wasn’t the beginning for children playing the antagonist, e.g. The Innocents (1961) features two young children behaving oddly due to supernatural causes, making their mother anxious and suspicious. 

Slide 4, projector: My Focus film, The Babadook featuring an image of the DVD cover. Brief summary of the film and the characters included. 

Presenter: My chosen focus film, The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent in 2014 (item 1). This film crosses some boundaries because it is an independent modern day film that is quite recent. I analysed a particular sequence from this film, the characters adapt to strong roles within the film. The son, Sam is very sheepish and anxious around his mother as if he is defenceless matching him to this innocent archetype that a majority of children are associated with. Whereas his mother, Amelia gradually changes her behaviour towards herself and Sam becoming careless and threatening. There is minimal lighting to set the atmosphere and the OTS shot, low angle to capture the mid close up of the Amelia in distress connotes to her situation and how shes dealing with it. We are put in her shoes through POV shots along with handheld and shaky camera that raise tension. There is rapid transformation of Sam in a vulnerable state, quickly sticks up for himself towards Amelia and changes his attitude boldly which creates enigma codes. This film portrays the realism of children in horror and rapid character transformations that are created throughout films, different character archetypes can be adapted to set the tone of the film. Children are popular because its what gets an audience hooked as its not the 'norm'. 

Slide 5, projector: My related film, The Omen 1976 directed by Richard Donner. Statement on the archetype used in the film and the time it was made.  

Presenter: The Omen is one of my related films because it is a 'classic' horror film that dates back to the 1970's, which is the same decade that The Exorcist was released (1972). It takes a similar approach to the horror genre but breaks into a boundary of sinister actions undertaken by a child.

Catalogue

Films:
Item 1: Focus film, The Babadook (2014, Jenifer Kent)
The Babadook is a modern day horror film with many representations of character archetypes that go against the norm in modern horror. The film has a couple of strong characters that play very overwhelming parts in the film. It portrays a young boy who plays the innocent, helpless victim who is targeted by the antagonist (Babadook & his mother) that eventually protects himself from the monster and fights back to become the 'hero'. The unusual fear from the mother is built up as she becomes more scared of her child and herself as she becomes more unstable. This rapid transformation of character types is enough evidence to analyse and compare to other modern horror films as well as classic to support my investigation on children in horror.





Item 2: Supporting film, Case 39 (2010. Christian Alvart)
Its key themes and values also represent the idealistic scary films through many horror conventions such as strong characters archetypes. The story of a social worker and monster who disguises itself as a ten year old girl convey many ideas as to why they have chosen to use a child as a disguise. This film not only supports the idea of femininity in modern horror but also the themes of violence and destruction in a film that involves children playing the antagonist. This supports my argument as to why children are featured as villains and are particularly female.





Item 3: Second supporting film, The Omen (1976, Richard Donner)
This classic horror cult film is an excellent comparison to The Babadook due to its similarities and differences even though they are nearly twenty years apart. The Omen is an old horror set in a different period, where it was becoming more common to feature children as the antagonists in horror films since The Exorcist (1973, William Friedkin) With different character types, but similar intentions from the film compared to the modern day, it is quite similar through its conventions of horror and values.

Books
Item 4: Del Toro, Guillermo (2013) Children of The Night 'Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film
Edited by James Bell, England: BFI
Pages 106- 112

This book by Del Toro describes the effects that horror films with a child antagonist has a disturbing effect on the audience, more specifically adult spectators. This chapter explores the depths and reasoning for children to appear in horror films overall, with many examples including one of my related films such as The Omen. With the mentioning of the 'end of innocence' and how these roles for females can become empowering, it takes out the context of the norm because we see children as vulnerable and incapable of most things, and when something challenges this such as film it can be effective and engaging because its not the norm. It is reliable because it it written by a filmmaker and prodoucer (Del Toro) who produced The Devils Backbone (2001)







Item 5: J.Renner, Karen (2013) The 'Evil Child' in Literature, Film and Popular Culture, published in USA, Evil children in Film and Literature, pages 7- 9

With most films in modern horror, many show representations of characters through the narrative which is what the chapter 'Possessed child' explains. The possession of a child has more to do with the 'spirits' than the actual child, this is interesting because it supports my idea of the use of children horror. Meaning that children are usually victimized because their incapability to commit crime due to their lack of experience and vulnerability. These pages also include the theory on gender narrative by Carol Clover.

Internet


Item 6: B*tch Flicks 
http://www.btchflcks.com/2014/11/little-girls-in-horror-films-setting-the-stage-for-female-double-standards.html#.WBYyBOCLTIV 
Young girls in horror films
Novemeber 2014, Accessed on 6th October 2016
A website that review films through a 'feminist lens'. This article is based on young girls and how they are represented in horror and how they are more frequently used to scare than young boys. It also gives an insight on how this creates a double standard for women in film. 

Item 7: Empire
http://www.empireonline.com/movies/babadook/review/
The Babadook review
August 2014, Accessed on 29th September 2016
This is a film review by Kim Newman, a film critic. Newman analyses the behavior and actions of the specific characters in the Babadook. Goes into detail about how this has an effect on the viewers and twists the story line unexpectedly. Useful because it goes into detail about certain characters such as the young boy, it is reliable because its on Empire (British film magazine) and written by the film critic Kim Newman.



Item 8: Hopes and Fears
http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/culture/film/216733-creepy-children-girls-dolls-clowns-horror-movies
'Why are there so many creepy kids...in horror'
October 2015, Accessed on 6th September 2016
Explores the opinions of writers, directors, actresses and actors, It includes some quotes from directors and has lists of different films containing 'creepy' children. This is useful because it gives me a variety of opinions and the ideas behind children being horror from many writers and producers.
There are also comments on the reasoning behind props that a related/linked to children such as toys, songs etc. and why this is also effective.

Item 9: Horror-Movies
The Evolution of Children in Horror Films
http://www.horror-movies.ca/evolution-children-horror-films/
June 2014, Accessed on 30th October 2016
This website explains why audiences love the 'creepy kid' in horror films and how it has become a trend in recent, modern day horror films. Not only this but it also goes on to explain how children represent innocence and factors of this such as children's laugh, screams etc. This website is useful because it mentioned one of my related films The Omen, and how these are favourite types of characters because of their sinister/creepy representations.



Item 10: Movie Pilot
http://moviepilot.com/posts/3895711
May 2016, Accessed on 1st November 2016
A useful website/blog about the reasons why children are used in horror and an explanation as to why. Not only this but it focuses on a specific gender such as females and why they have a bigger effect on the audience, particularly adults. 'The Destruction of Innocence' is a very useful section to my investigation because it mentions one of my related films (The Omen) and goes on to explain the ideas of how we loose this innocence.


Item 11: Regan MacNeil
http://exorcist.wikia.com/wiki/Regan_MacNeil
Accessed on December 2016
Website that is based on The Exorcist hence the 'Exorcist Wiki', gives information of the character of Regan MacNeil who is possessed in the film and how this effects her and makes the film what it is in modern day times. I have also noticed that there has been no remake of The Exorcist film, there have been spin off shows and sequels but no remake of the first classic film.

Item 12: YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovGF9MUt84Y
Video, Mark Kermode reviews The Babadook
October 2014, Accessed on 6th October 2016
Reliable source as it is reviewed by Mark Kermode, a well known film critic. It is also easy to access as it is on YouTube which is also reliable. Kermode explains the depth of the film and that it is based of initial childhood fears people experience in their childhood.

Film analysis of:  'The Omen'
Sequence time code: 21:18- 23:00
Source: DVD
Micro Techniques and relevance
 

• Over the shoulder and point of view shot to position the spectators
• Digetic sound- ‘blood curdling’ screams to portray the shock of Damien
• High angle to show how little Damien and ‘child like’ he is- and little we think he is capable
• ECU, LS, establishing shot
• Rapid cuts, shaky camera both create distortion and an unclear view as to what is going on
• Composition- all characters are fitted in the middle of frame and Damien is in the middle (suggests importance, vulnerability as his parents sit either side)
• Soundtrack is high pitched to create a tense atmosphere and a build up to what will happen next
• Zoom and CU to Damien (portrays his trouble facial expression)
• Dress code is smart and presentable- suggests maturity
• Location shot/establishing shot
• Some handheld camera shots to capture the parents in the shot and show the family in the frame

Characterisation and relevance

• Damien’s parents- (Cathy) dressed formally, very protective as they sit either side of
• Damien, affectionateDamien- petite, ununsual due to his reckless behavior towards his mother, violent and aggressive. Represented as quite petite through the high camera angles suggesting he’s not capable of much

Messages and values

• Horror (music, style, conventions)
• Religion
• Family values- going to church together

Narrative devices/features and relevance

• Transformation in the narrative- as Damien rapidly changes from an innocent child to aggressive and reckless
• Enigma codes- raises many questions as to why he is behaving in this particular way

FILM TITLE: The Babadook (2014) 

SEQUENCE TIME CODE: 1:14:06- 1:18:27 

SOURCE: DVD (Netflix)  

Micro techniques and relevance

• OTS shot, low angle to capture the mid close up of the mother in distress 
• Dim, minimal lighting to represent the mood and atmosphere. Bland grey and black colours also represent the situation (creepy, frightening, anticipation) 
• Some rapid jump cuts to show the stabbing of the mother 
• Digetic sound- dialogue interrupted by non digetic music that syncs in with the stabbing scene 
• Darkened shadows create silhouettes  
• Soundtrack matches the mood of the scene (when the mother is being beaten by her son) 
• Use of blood and bruises- connotes to violence 
• Costumes/dress code is ragged and grubby- suggests lack of care and self awareness /hygiene  
• Handheld and shaky camera raises the tension 
• POV shot puts the spectators in Amelia's position

Characterisation and relevance 

• Sam- very sheepish towards his mother, defensive and speechless, apprehensive. Keeps himself to himself. Quite brave and has a moment where he is fearless
• Amelia- Opposite of motherly, careless due to how strange she Is acting, possessed. She is very frightened of herself and also Sam (and Babadook

Messages and values

• Themes of violence, murder 
• Gives the message of a mother who is scared of herself and her child, scared of what she might do to home
• Sam feels the need to step in and stick up for himself

Narrative and relevance

• Rapid transformation of Sam, sheepish and vulnerable then quickly sticks up for himself towards his mother and changes his attitude very quickly
• Creates enigma codes- why is the mother acting this way? Who is possessing Amelia? 

FILM TITLE: Case 39 (2009) 

SEQUENCE TIME CODE: 1:30:27- 1:34:10 

SOURCE: DVD (Netflix)  

Micro techniques and relevance

• Use of direct address engages the spectators. As if she is staring directly into the camera at them 
• High angle, pov shot looking down at Lilith showing that a person so small can be very intimidating 
• Pov shots put the spectators in Emily's, we feel the same fear as her because we're watching it from her perspective 
• Very high angle shows how small Emily is compared the room and how she is trapped with no way out 
• Rapid jump cuts portray the suspense and build up tension in the scene as Lilith is getting closer and closer, high anticipation 
• Close ups and ecu portray the emotional response from characters, particularly Emily as she is frightened, look of torment and horror 
• Diegetic sounds- banging gets louder and louder and reacts with Emily which builds up the tension as Lilith is approaching in a forceful manner, change in volume and pitch in Lilith's voice is very sinister

Characterisation and relevance 

• Lilith is very stubborn, manipulative and likes to get her own way whether it effects others or not. 
• Emily acts very courageous by standing up to Lilith when she is being manipulated and intimidated by her, however she quickly cowers to strong actions performed by Lilith in the event to scare Emily. Attempts to stick up for herself- brave 
• Its relevance tells the audience who is more powerful and holds dominance

Messages and Values

• It gives off a message that children can be quite manipulative and stubborn towards their parents/guardians. Its relevance shows how it links to everyday life/the norm because some children can be like this. 
• The look innocence, children can get away with more because of their innocence and vulnerability  
• Parents fears come to life, their child turning on them 

Narrative and Relevance

• Rapid change in characters for Lilith, her sinister and demonic side appears the angry she gets making the story more interesting as it is unexpected 
• Enigma codes 
• Restricted narration, we only see her feet but not her face