AS media film analysis

1. Film Analysis: Zombieland
AS Media
Rebecca Kerley

2. Set/Location
Zombieland starts just outside the White House in America, this
allows the audience to become familiar with the country the film is set
in. Despite its familiarity, in front of the White House there are lots of
overturned cars on fire and there are no people, this creates an
unsettling feeling inside the audiences mind. The second location is
an American Football Stadium, this reiterates the location of the film
and continues the uneasiness because the stadium has all of its
lights on but no one is there except from the person and the zombie.
The next location is New York, cars are everywhere and are mostly
on fire, this implies that something serious is going on. A toilet stall is
the next set, it is dark and dirty, the fact that there is only one stall
shows an element of vulnerability, it also suggest something is about
to happen because it is creepy and solitary. The final scene is in the
suburbs of a town somewhere in America. The big family homes
create comfort for the audience because it is something they are very
used to.

3. Costumes
One of the costumes in the opening of the film is a man in an
American police uniform, although it tells us the location of the
film it also tells us that the cinema is set now or in a time very
soon to come because it is a normal uniform with nothing added
on like an earpiece. All of the people are shown in average
clothes, this gives the an impression of ordinariness and makes
the audience feel at ease. As well as this the costumes put
people in stereotypes for instance the woman with a bob and a
pink jumper is that annoying mum, this makes the actors easy to
relate to because everyone knows at least one person who fits
the stereotypes shown. The zombie costumes are not ripped
however are caked with blood and dirt however underneath are
peoples day to day cloths so although they are zombies the
audience can relate to them on some level.

4. Colour, Props and Lighting
In the opening scenes there are lots of greys and darker
colours, this makes the scenes dismal and washed out.
However the things that are important like the flag are in
bright colours so they stand out.
Props are used only to sow important thing in the opening of
the film. The flag is used to set the scene and the gun is
used to create tension and demonstrate one of the rules the
voice over is speaking of.
The lighting in the movie is very low key, this makes the
audience anxious as it creates a weird feeling to the scenes.

5. Cinematography
The opening scenes include lots of different camera
shots to create an effect and an element of reality. The
close up shot allows the audience to see the terror in
peoples face and the details of the zombies faces. The
hand held point of view shot creates tension because
the audience feel like they are the person trying to run
away from the zombie. Establishing shots in the scenes
are used to set the scene and show the audience
where they are. Panning shots show the damage that
ultimately were caused by the zombie apocalypse. The
high angle shots allow the audience to feel like the
zombie on top of its victim, it is also used to show
vulnerability of the man sat on the toilet.

6. Sound and Editing
Sound is used to show many things in the opening of the
movie. The voice over although unknown in the beginning
brings an element of seriousness at first but then humour as
it tells us its rules to surviving 'Zombieland'. The zombie
burping also brings something comical to the scene as
although it is burping from eating a human, it is so
unexpected it is almost funny. The screams and gunshots
however bring the seriousness back to the scenes because
it implies something bad is happening.
The editing of the scenes are quickly cut, this could be to
divide the audiences attention to different thing or it could
also be to create and build tension.

7. Sound and Editing
Sound is used to show many things in the opening of the
movie. The voice over although unknown in the beginning
brings an element of seriousness at first but then humour as
it tells us its rules to surviving 'Zombieland'. The zombie
burping also brings something comical to the scene as
although it is burping from eating a human, it is so
unexpected it is almost funny. The screams and gunshots
however bring the seriousness back to the scenes because
it implies something bad is happening.
The editing of the scenes are quickly cut, this could be to
divide the audiences attention to different thing or it could
also be to create and build tension.