TCM ESSAY

Similarities and differences TCM- OLD VS NEW
Sims:
Both films are slasher =]
Same genre codes, such as the girl screaming
Use the chainsaw to present a phallic object
A psycho killer- from a family of cannibals
Have group of friends- which get lost...
SEX= death theory

Diff:
Made in different eras- therefore their target audience expectations are diff
The new one is not censored
The ending is very diff
The family members-younger wants to save the friends



The two films, TCM 1974 and 2003, are both from the slasher genre; therefore have the same generic conventions, such as the final girl and the stereotypical male killer. However, since they are both produced in different eras, their target audience expectations would be different; therefore their filming and plot are slightly different. The 1947 film is target to an audience of males and females of 18-35, C1, C2, D Class, and the newer one has an audience of males and females 16-40, of B,C1,C2 D class, as the effects is more interesting. Also, the 1947 version was censored, as a result it was not as gruesome as the 2003 version, none the less, it did meet its audience expectations as they, back then were not used to films like this.

The first difference that is noticeable from both films is the beginning, as they both open differently. The original film opens with a brief narration by John Laroquette, as his words scroll down the screen; his voice his very deep, as a result setting the eerie atmosphere amongst the audience. Then there are many flashing shots of rotting hands and teeth, which is followed by darkness and a corpse, with a close up shot if the sun to set the scene, of a hot summer’s Texas day. The new version, on the other hand opens with gritty black and white footage of police going through gruesome contents of a house, none the less John Laroquette’s role as narrator is used again; which can suggest that this is an homage to the original film, and showing the audience the aftermath of what’s to come. This can also suggest that in the era of the 1974 film, there was a patriarchal society, where males were more dominant. This theory is also evident in the newer version, thus suggesting that there is still a patriarchal society.

Another difference that can be seen is the narrative of the films; the original opens up of a dead armadillo, and then there is a medium shot of the five friends, who are going to check on relatives graves in a cemetery where grave robbing and desecration has recently been a problem. They pick up a hitchhiker man, who is crazy. In contrast, the new one there is also five friends but they are on their way to see a Lynyrd Skyynyrd concert and instead of a male hitchhiker it is a female, who shots herself.

The old version is also different as Todorovs narrative theory can be applied throughout, as there is equilibrium at the beginning and a disequilibrium, and finally there is a slight happy ending, where the final girl survives. The new one has a disequilibrium throughout.
The theory of sex= death is applied in the original version, as the couple die, because they have sinned. There is great emphasis on the couple and their action, such as the close up of them walking up the stairs to have sexual intercourse; as a result it suggests to the audience that they may die. This is similar to the new one, as the couple also die, thus suggesting religion is an important aspect of society, and that people have to follow a set of rules.

The final girl is evident in both films, and can suggest they are more superior to males, because they are the survivors. It opposes the stereotypical view of the women staying at home and being subservient to men. Finally the outcome of the two movies were similar and different in some ways as the final girl in both relied on someone to come in an distract leather face but in the 2003 version Erin got away on her own without being hitched hiked like in the first movie, she also got her revenge on the sheriff in the process by running him over in his police car.