Analysis of Dog Soldiers (neil Marshall 2002)

1.) What key features of editing, Mise-en-scene, sound and cinematography can you identify?

In the film ' Dog Soldiers' the editing created a fast paced atmosphere and tone. They did this by making short duration shots, this created a fast pace which matched the genre of the film which is a mixture of Horror and Thriller. The sound effects created suspense and tone to the atmosphere for example the backing music was disturbing and made the audience on edge to whats going to happen next. Furthermore the sound effects of the werewolves was amplified to make the scene seem more gory. The sound effects of the blood splattering was also to amplify the genre of horror. There was also a lot of close ups of the victims of the film, for example before they were going to die there would be a close up of them to create a emotional connection for the audience. There was also a lot of medium long shots of the area of which where the action was happening. This i feel created the stage for the action to happen and set the scene and made it the film more believable due to the fact that the actual film was about fictional characters, werewolves. The cinematography in the film also created suspense and created a tone and atmosphere for the film to be targeted to there target audience, people who like horror and Thriller. Mise-en-scene in this film is also used well, they choose not to show the werewolves at all time at the beginning which created suspense of the unknown.

2.) How do the technical elements you have identified help indicate the genre of the film? What other conventions do you think are evident in 'Dog Soldiers'?

The elements such as the camera shots and the types of shots help to create the genre of the film by creating suspense and to produce a targeted atmosphere. For example when the characters in the film are about to be killed by the supernatural, werewolves, there is a close up which is a controversial choice in shot type due to the fact in most thrillers or horrors, its left to our imagination to see what happens to the victims however in this film we see what happens exactly, which could in turn make the film seem a low budget film. Furthermore the use of showing shadows instead of the actual werewolves helped create a set tone for the film, which is sinister and the thought of being caught of guard. Other conventions that are evident in this film is the use of fake blood. This is used a lot to indicate death of a character, however the colour of this blood looked very fake, and maybe it went over the top, due to how much of it there was. Furthermore the use if high pitched sounds and tones, give a chilling feeling to the atmosphere of the film, before we even see anything on the screen.

3.) Are there three clear stages to the film's narrative? Does it have an equilibrium, dis-equilibrium and a new equilibrium structure?

The three clear stages of narrative are, the soldiers being found and helped, the soldiers being defeated and then becoming the defeaters. ?????

4.) How do you think the gender is represented in the film?

The gender in this film is clear. It is a male orientated cast of actors that seem to be rescued by the female heroin. But later on she was a false heroin, and was in fact there on purpose. Due to a male character being on top at the end, being the only one alive, it makes gender represented all the more, to be the stronger gender. Also due to the male actors/characters dialogue, for example them saying there going to have to stay and fight, it makes them seem stronger and a group.

5.) How does Dog Soldiers represent the armed forces?

Firstly the physical appearance of the characters such as the Camouflage costumes and the shaven heads also the names of their ranks in the army. They also had a range of guns which represented them being a part of the army. They also appeared to be a close unit relying on each other especially their sergeant. The scene towards the end where the sergeant "Martyrdom" represented himself being a true leader in the army.

6.) Who do you think the film is aimed at?

I think if the film where to be a Thriller / Horror it wasn't exactly aimed at the adult audience where a horror film can be really scary as the main evil characters where CGI werewolves means it can be attracting the young sci-fi audience.

7.) What certificate do you think the film would get and why?

I believe the film aimed itself at a youngish target market. As the Horror wasn't that gory and disturbing and had certain sound ans special affects that made it fine for a 15 certificate rating as i don't think it is eligible for a 12A as it is too much horrific suspense that may scare a young child.


                                         Laura Mulvey 

'What counts is what the heroine provokes, or rather what she represents. She is the one, or rather the love or fear she inspires in the hero, or else the concern he feels for her, who makes him act the way he does. In herself the woman has not the slightest importance.'

Laura's point is that in many films created by Hollywood that the female role in films is of little significance, even though the role of a woman in the film is to be a 'Damsel in De-stress' if the female actor wasn't in it, it wouldn't make a huge change. Films like 'Spider man' and 'Batman' this is a subplot to the actual plot, which proves her point. Its very uncommon to find a female heroin. 

She also then goes on to say that women are just 'Eye Candy' for the male viewers, and that women are the main key to erotic scenes. She states "In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness,"

Laura identifies three perspectives, the first is the perspective of the male character on screen and how he perceives the female character, and this is shown by the way he acts towards her. The second is the perspective of the spectator as they see the female character on screen. The third "look" joins the first two looks together: it is the male audience member's perspective of the male character in the film. This third perspective allows the male audience to take the female character as his own personal sex object because he can relate himself, through looking, to the male character in the film. Mulvey also states that things need to change, and the voyeurism between a the male spectator and the female character.

 In 'Dog Soldiers' Laura Mulvey's theory applies. The woman in the film at the beginning is quite controversial due to the fact that she saved the army men, which is usually found the other way around, the male saving the female character. However Laura's theory applies due to the woman wearing little clothing, and not actually having a major part to the plot. She as Laura says is just 'To-be-looked-at-ness'. This shows that what Laura is saying is true to this particular film. However the ending is also      quite controversial again, due to the woman ending the film on a twist, and actually being part of the werewolves team. This shows that not all of what Laura Mulvey is saying applies at every point during the film, because with out this twist the film may become just another horror/thriller movie.