Narrative Theory- Secret Window

Q1) Who is the hero and who is the villain? How do you know?

A1) There is not really a hero or a villain in a psychological thriller, but more on the ideas of a good versus bad duel. This is evident in the Secret Window where you have the good person, which is the main character`s mind, who also advises him to make the right move, and the bad person which is the main character`s body, who` s actions results in him finding out about his wife` s infidelity causing him to live on his own with his dog. This idea is based on Claude Levi Strauss` theory of binary opposites- night and day, good and bad, light and dark.

Q2) Where is the story set? What does this tell you about the genre of the film?

A2) The story is set in a modern cottage, in the middle of woodlands and fairly adjacent to the nearby shores of the sea. This is typical of a psychological thriller because it adds a feeling of isolation for the main character as well as for us the audience because it creates suspense, especially when tension occurs.

Q3) How many characters are there in principle?

A3) In principle, there are 3-5 main characters that have key roles in the film, which is also the theme in most of the other psychological thrillers.

Q4) How is the story told? Chronologically?What is the effect?

A4) In the Secret Window, the story of the film is not told chronologically because there are a few nightmares and flashbacks so the audience would find it easier to relate to incidents, when they are unsure about what the character/s on screen are talking about. This too occurs in psychological thrillers. This also relates to Tszvetan Todorov` s theory of the five stages of the narrative:

• an equilibrium
• a disruption of this equilibrium by an event
• a realisation that a disruption has happened
• an attempt to repair the damage of the disruption
• a restoration of equilibrium- which may be a new equilibrium

Q5) What questions are you left with?

A5) The questions I am left with after the first scene is; Why does the main character always in a constant battle between his body and his mind? Does this fight between the mind and body ultimately lead to his life being taken away, because it seems he always takes the wrong advice?

Narrative of The Shining

Q1) Who is the hero and who is the villain? How do you know?

A1) During the exposition of the film, we learn that the the first character shown in the film, is most likely going to be the hero of the film. This is not because he is intent on gaining revenge on someone, or saving someone, because that is not included in the storyline. It is because he is innocent, and was informed that someone who also shared the position he was under, had committed suicide due to too much stress. The villain therefore is the interviewer who informs him about the tragedy. We also learn that he is a villain because of his red tie and his tone when speaking suggests he is playing mind-games. Another possible villain, could also be the protagonist` s wife, whom also wears a red jumper. She is a "horror and gothic film addict" and her dark, dim tone connotes a very suspicious woman.

Q2) Where is the story set? What does this tell us about the genre of the film?

A2) The story is set in a highly-polished, middle class building, and of those who work there, they are well educated citizens, therefore earning a good salary, presumably. There are a lot of offices in the building, in which many of the people working there might find themselves stressed, especially staying in that one room for the majority of the day, it has the potential to disrupt your mental state. This already hints at mind-games being played, and the fact this film is classified as a psychological thriller, seems to confirm this.

Q3) How many characters are there?

A3) In principle, there are five characters involved at this stage of the film, who play key roles in the next sequence of events.

Q4) How is the story told? Chronologically? What is the effect?

A4) The story is told chronologically, because in the first scene, we are shown a car driving in an isolated area from a birds-eye view shot, causing us to ask; Why is this car so important? Where is the driver destined to go? The second scene shows the main character enter the main building, and when he asked by the interviewer how long the journey was, the protagonist replies " Just under three and a half hours". By having the story told chronologically is effective because in that way it keeps the audience in suspense and concentrated on the film, especially as the tension increases.

Q5) What questions are you left with?

A5) What is going to happen to main character after being informed about the man who died after suffering from a mental breakdown? How is his wife going to react once he gives her the news? These are the questions we are left with after part one of `The Shining` .

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