“The raw style of the film also impacted on the sensory responses elicited from the spectator both to the narrative action and to shocking acts, which more often than not centered on the living dead munching hungrily away at still-living humans as well as not so living corpses.” (Ndalianis, 2012)

The Evil Dead (1981)

During Week 5 we started to explore the genre of Horror and it’s impact on the viewer as a form of immersion. Generally looking at the sensory responsiveness of the individual to gore and blood-splatter experiences which was pioneered within the Night of the Living Dead (1968) directed by George A. Romero. Then later refined by Italian film-makers such as Lucio Fulci, Lamberto Bava and Bruno Mattei.  Especially prevalent within the film Zombi 2 (1979) directed by Lucio Fulci.

“Hearing a noise, Darkened rooms that evoke an oppressive atmosphere”

“Spectator has a growing fear in anticipation and what the room may hide”

Moans of horror and suspenseful music as protagonist pushes against the door and the zombie, evokes a feeling of tension and resistance within the spectator which locks them onto the screen. Constant feeling of tug-of-war which horror films specialise within, tells spectator when they should be looking and when they shouldn’t. Somewhat of a reward system of which, the audience’s experience mediated by when they do look and don’t.

Throughout the lecture we were shown forms of Horror/Splatter films from different eras of production. With most agreeing that earlier adaptations of gore seemed to be less effective within today’s modern society. Horror produced within the 21st century needed to be both ‘Gorerish’ in imagery and closes enough scenarios within the realities of today. “While most of us are born synesthetes “perceiving the world as a primordial soup of impressions,” as we grow the senses begin to specialise and connections between sense modalities are lost; the cinema has the capacity to mimic the synaesthetic encounter.” (Ndalianis, 2012)

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