Media Coverage on A Women in Black

This assignment discusses the media coverage on the movie A Women in Black and its portrayal of horror elements. It explores the narrative structure, setting, props, and costumes used in the film. The assignment also delves into the themes of death, murder, revenge, and the supernatural. The analysis highlights the codes and conventions of horror movies and how they contribute to creating an eerie atmosphere. The assignment concludes with a discussion on the impact of the film's dark and suspenseful ambiance on the protagonist's journey.

Running head: ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
Media coverage on the movie, A Women in Black
Name of the student:
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Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Horror movies generate the aspect of suspense among the audience. Mention can be
made of Susan Hill’s A Women in Black (1983), which is considered as one of the inspiring
horror movies of the genre of traditional gothic novel. The form and texture of the movie
relates to the classic British form, which aptly portrays the settings of nanny telling stories to
her grandchildren in the fireplace in the cold nights. The “shrilling anachronism voice of the
titular figure, stalking the house inhabitants to the foggy moors projects the tragic death of the
children, which is ominous. The critics are of the view that the horror novel cannot be
directly placed in the category of the quintessential horror novels. Projection of blood
curdling scenes on the screen fulfils the purpose of the entertaining and scaring the audience
at the same time. Foggy moors, dark forests, death are the symbols, segregating horror from
the other movie genres. There are certain codes and conventions, which shape the horror ofb
genre are narrative, character, setting, props, color, costume, lighting and sound. The
assignment attempts to evoke the supernatural spirits for providing the readers with an eerie
feeling.
Discussion
The narrative structure and theme of A Women in Black (1983) are death, murder,
revenge and supernatural. Application of the Todoroy’s narrative theory, it can be said that
the horror movie runs in the sequence of equilibrium, disruption, recognition, repair and
transition from equilibrium to disruption. Mention can be made of the instance, where Daniel
Radcliffe goes into the deserted house and encounters the shrilling voice of the titular figure.
This disrupts the equilibrium with which the movie starts.
The protagonist would be portraying the role of a lawyer, suffering from a disease.
He pays a visit to a doctor, who recommends him to stay under observation in the outhouse

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adjacent to his house. This is the first part of the novel would portray normal sequence of the
events, where the protagonist is unaware of the impending threat. During his stay regular
encounters with the “frightful” ghost would reflect the initiation of the horror. The ghost
would be shown to have encountered a tragic death due to the absence of proper treatment for
the disease, which the protagonist suffers from. The terrifying events, which follows would
compels the protagonist to leave the House with the instruction of the doctor, incapable of
controlling the situation. After leaving the House, the protagonist would feel that the
horrifying phase of his life is over. However, this would not be the case, as he would
encounter paranormal activities in his own house. It can be said that the unconscious mind of
Arthur, which yearns to believe that he has overpowered terror. The tragedy continues, as he
is forced to witness the tragic predicament, that is, the death of his parents. This would be
blended with the tragedy, which the ghost encounters in past. This would reflect the theme of
revenge, to which the audience can relate themselves.
According to the codes and conventions of a horror movie, Mise en Scene is an
important aspect. This aspect sheds light on the setting on which the film is portrayed. In
most of the horror films, the setting is a house wearing a deserted look or house located in the
middle of a dark forest. This setting generates the feeling of suspense within the audience.
The horror movie would also be portrayed in an old, shabby looking house located in the
middle of the dark forest. The roads to the forest would be covered with trees, having long
branches. This would be supported by the ominous signs of “thunder, lightning, sharp
shrilling voice, women crying” add to the feeling of suspense. Low lighting techniques would
be used in the halls for creating the “eerie” environment. The foggy moors of the dark forest
would act as a hindrance in carrying out the tasks for securing their present life, especially in
case of protagonist, who is compelled to experience the tragic death of his parents. The house
in which the protagonist is told to say would be accompanied with “broken gates”, shedding

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of the paints from the building, creating horror at the initial sight. Moreover, special effects
through artificial intelligence would intensify the horror, sending a chill down their spines”.
Costumes add to the role of the character, making them more presentable to the
audience. Light color clothes would be given to the antagonist for generating the feeling of
mystery and hope regarding the events, which are to take place. For example, mention can be
made of scream masks, which would be worn by the ghost for scaring the protagonist while
he would wake up from sleep to take his medicine. Black, long frock coats, heavy lace
dresses would be given to the parents of the protagonist, representing the typical culture of
the Victorian society. The protagonist would be shown in frockcoat, waistcoat with high
waist trousers and top frock, which is double breasted, while he visits to the doctor.
Howeverm in house, he would be shown to roam about in lose fitting clothes, which would
give him the ease needed while in the treatment process. The symbols of “grand staircase,
dirty stained glass windows” aptly establishes a blood curdling situation for the audience.
Props are also effective in projecting the codes and conventions of the horror films.
Typical example of this are fake blood, knives, chairs, and dolls among others. In most of the
cases, “rocking chairs” indicate the sense of an impending danger, creating suspense among
the audience. “Rocking chairs” would be used for indicating the presence of the ghost in the
room of the protagonist. In one of the instance, it would be shown that the doctor hears the
shouts of the protagonists. Upon entering the room, it would be scene that supernatural
powers dragging the protagonist to the chair and rocking it beyond control. Sensing the
presence of the doctor in the room, the ghost would tie a rope around the neck of the doctor,
pulling him very fast, making him unconscious. This incapability would make the scene
extremely scary.

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The colours used in the horror movies are mainly red, black and white. Red
symbolizes blood, devil, threat and violence. Sometimes, fake blood is used for creating eerie
feeling among the audience. However, white and black are mostly used in the horror movies.
Black represents mystery, darkness among others. This colour upholds the aspects of
negligence, isolation and depression. The stained glass windows of the guest house would be
apt in terms of projecting the eerie ambience. However, black would be the dominant colour
in the movie. The red color would be projected when the doctor’s neck would be tied with the
rope and he would be incapable to release it.
Low rhythmic and thudding sound when the protagonist is sleeping would create a
horrifying ambience, disrupting the equilibrium. The sharp shrieks of the ghost would compel
he protagonist to wake up, disturbing the sleep, which he needs for curing the disease. The
cries of ravens would follow the scene along with an eerie voiced engine running into the
room of the protagonist creating havoc. The loud horn accompanied by the straw gelled
rotating objects gets simulated by the passing trains. These symbols emerge out of nowhere,
making it more terrifying. When the light is projected on the face of the ghost wearing an evil
smile, the protagonist, for the first time, would realize the true form of horror, which he is to
face during his stay in the house. This is supported by the thunder and lighting destroying the
equilibrium of the events.
Conclusion
Dark eerie atmosphere compels the protagonist, to walk out of the house. This acts as
disruption to the intention of getting the treatment for the disease from which he badly
suffers. In such a situation, he is in need of a comfortable environment, which he does not
get. Rocking chairs, dark ambience creates tension in his mind, indicating the sense of an
impending danger. Even he cannot sleep at night due to the creepy and horrifying sounds. In
this, the ghost cannot be blamed, as she longs for taking revenge against the situation, which

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she underwent in her past. Stream of consciousness would be implemented in the sequence of
the events. Travelling from the doctors’ house and to his own house would compel the
protagonist to encounter paranormal activities. During this journey, he would face the ghost
in the train and the garden of his own house. In one of the scenes, the protagonist, under the
dominance of the ghost would lie down on the grass upside down. And when somebody
meets him, he would tie the rope around his neck and drag. Even the doctor would fail to
control the protagonist. The environment, full of inadequacies would aggravate the
complexities for the doctor to concentrate on curing the diseases of the patients. As a result of
this, he would encounter depression, for which he would isolate himself to a secluded portion
in his own house.

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Bibliography
Brooks, K.D., 2017. Searching for Sycorax: Black Women's Hauntings of Contemporary
Horror. Rutgers University Press.
Harrington, E., 2017. Women, Monstrosity and Horror Film: Gynaehorror. Routledge.
King, R., 2015. A regiment of monstrous women: Female horror archetypes and life history
theory. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 9(3), p.170.
Platts, T.K. and Clasen, M., 2017. Scary business: Horror at the North American box office,
2006-2016. Frames Cinema Journal, 11.
Snead, J., 2016. White screens/Black images: Hollywood from the dark side. Routledge.