Testing Burton's Theory

In order to test Burton's Theory I look at four different film plot summaries and highlighted the different aspects of the theories key elements. However, because the summaries below are so short they do not include any of the films background and décor or themes.

Testing Burton’s Formula

Protagonists

Stock Characters

Plot and Stock Situations

Icons

Background and Décor

Themes

Candyman (1992)

In Chicago, Helen Lyle and her friend Bernadette Walsh are researching for their thesis about urban legend in the University of Illinois, where Helen's husband Trevor Lyle gives classes. Helen becomes obsessed by the legend of the Candyman, a son of slaves whose father became rich in 1890 after inventing a device for mass producing of shoes. The educated Candyman was an artist, but when the daughter of a powerful man got pregnant of him, her father hired some men to kill him. The Candyman "lives" in the legend that says that he would appear if his name is spoken five times in front of the mirror, and the skeptical Helen attempts to summon Candyman. Helen and Bernadette go to Cabrini Green, where two unsolved murders had happened, and the dwellers blame Candyman for the crimes as Helen tries to prove his existence.

Scream (1996)

A peaceful town in California turns into a bloodbath when a masked killer haunts the town. Sidney Prescott, a young teenage girl, whose mother was killed a year before, becomes the target of the mask killer! Her boyfriend Billy Loomis becomes the main suspect along with Sidney's father. Local Tabloid News Reporter Gail Weathers and Woodsbroro's Deputy Dwight "Dewey" Riley investigate and try to figure out who the killer is and if it's the same person who killed Sid's mom the year before!

New Nightmare (1994)

It's nearing the 10th Anniversary of the film 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' and one of the stars, Heather Langenkamp is being scared by a voice on a phone, sounding very similar to the film's villain, Freddy Krueger. When Heather's husband is killed in a car accident and is discovered with slash marks on him, Heather starts to wonder something. Especially when she discovers that Wes Craven is writing another 'Nightmare' film. Soon, she realises that Freddy has now entered the real world, and the only way to defeat him is to become Nancy Thompson once again.

Halloween (2007)

In Haddonfield, Illinois, the nine years old Michael Meyers is raised by a dysfunctional family: his mother Deborah is a stripper in a night-club; his foster father Ronnie is an alcoholic bum; his sister Judith is a easy girl; and he is connected to his baby sibling. On October, 31st, after an incident in school where he is bullied by a schoolmate, Michael overhears the conversation of the principal and the psychiatric Dr. Samuel Loomis with his mother. They had found pictures of Michael torturing animals in his backpack and Dr. Loomis would like to send Michael for psychiatric evaluation believing that the boy is deranged. This revelation triggers Michael that escapes from the school and kills the bully, Ronnie, Judith's boyfriend Steve Haley and his sister Judith. Michael is held in custody in the Smith's Grove Sanatorium under the treatment of Dr. Loomis. Eleven months later, during the visit of his mother, Michael kills his nurse and his stressed mother commits suicide. Fifteen years later, Michael escapes from the mental institution leaving bloodshed behind, and heads to Haddonfield in the Halloween's night.

What has Burton's Theory taught me?

From looking at four different Horror plot summaries to test Burton's Theory I have found that Horror films consist of very similar key elements. The first similarity I noticed between the four different plot lines is that each film is set in a small quiet town where nothing bad ever happens, for example 'Haddonfield', 'A peaceful town in California' and 'Cabrini Green'. The small quiet town creates a sense of isolation and being unable to escape as there is no where to hide. Another similarity is that the protagonists try to figure out a way to stop the killings that are happening in the peaceful towns where they live or at least figure out why they are occurring, 'try to figure out who the killer is' and 'Helen tries to prove his existence' are both example of this. In addition to this, there are also numerous stock characters in each plot summary along with a protagonist. Moreover, each film either has a memorable date, '31st October', or a title that says who or what the film will be about, 'New Nightmare'. Finally, Burton's Theory shows that each killer must have an intention or a reason for why they are killing, for example Michael Myers is from a 'dysfunctional family'. However, each killer also has a way of killing, for instance Freddy Krueger leaves 'slash marks' and scares his victims 'on the phone' whereas Candyman appears if his 'names is spoken five times in a mirror'. 

The trailers also proves Burton's Theory as it has everything that I have stated above about the plot lines except it is shown in visual form.

Burton's theory will be beneficial in helping me plan my own horror trailer as it has furthered my general knowledge on film trailers and shown me what is needed in an effective film trailer. For example, I may use a masked killer in my trailer to dehumanise him/her and create a more intense feel of terror and fear, I may also use a significant date. Overall, Burton's theory has enabled me to recognise what will need to be in my trailer so the audience knows it is a horror trailer and to make the trailer more authentic.