Textual Analysis

The Stepfather was made 2009 and directed by Nelson McCormick. I’ve chosen this horror thriller opening as it was very eerie and intriguing. It uses low key lighting and different types of shots to make you want to watch on, as there is a variation of enigmas. I will be analysing the first four minutes on the film.

The Stepfather is about Michael Harding coming back from military school, to find his Mum has found a new love whilst he was away. As Michael and David, the mother’s boyfriend, slowly get to know each other Michael realises that there’s something suspicious about David, he is always giving a helping hand and possibly taking over the father figure in Michael’s life. Michael sees a violent side to David and begins to worry about the safety of his family. Michael then finds out a previous case where a stepfather has killed the family – and the portrait looks exactly like David.

The opening of the film bombards you with different enigma codes as we want to know the characters motives for his actions.

My first enigma code that I thought was why has this person cancelled their order? Did they move home? Did something happen to them? By using a close up shot, it directly focuses the audience’s attention onto the sheet as well as by highlighting the name. This instantly shows that this piece of information will help us understand the film a bit more.

Secondly, I wanted to know why this man was changing his appearance. Was he changing identity? What had he done to make him want to change identity? Also, the grooming tools have all been set out very neatly and in position which reflects how the protagonist is very strange and makes you wonder if he has mentally unstable. Also, this reminds me of how a profession such as a surgeon would work which suggests that whatever he does, he does it in a very cold and organised way.

By using a tracking shot to reveal that the people living at the house were a family, and the pictures present how the family was happy. This creates enigmas as it made me think who are the family to this man? Is he their father? Why were they so happy? By showing that the family are happy, it instantly tells me that something has happened to them.

David, the protagonist, then goes on to make coffee and breakfast. Why after changing his identity would he go and act so normal? Is it a normal occurrence for him? He acts so normally and naturally it becomes suspicious, which builds up suspense and we know that something has happened.

Both these screenshots use the same enigmas. Are they dead? How did they die? Did David do it? Why did he do it?

Where is David going? Is he going to another family? By David being very natural it makes me think that he has done this before, which means he could be going to another family.

Character Establishment and Representation

David Harris is shown to be a typical thriller antagonist, a middle aged man who is mentally unstable.

David can be considered mentally unstable with this shot here, the close up of the cut and the way that he doesn’t flinch from the pain tells me that he is strange which connotes that he’s oblivious to pain and suffering – explaining why he can kill

so easily.

David then turns on the radio and is playing Christmas music which reveals how he’s character is very calm. He has packed his bags and is leaving but yet he slowly walking around the house, eating breakfast and so on.

By David walking past the dead body and disregards it shows how he’s used to death and dead bodies. This reflects and foreshadows to the audience that him killing families is actually a regular occurrence and is what he sets out to do.

By the antagonist wearing dark clothing it symbolises how the character is dangerous.

Before this shot, we are shown a screaming girl. By him turning around quickly and looking confused/scared it shows how he may be haunted by something from his past, which shows that this may be

his character’s motivation.

Locations

The sequence opens with an establishing shot to show where the film takes place. By using a white house, it conveys a theme of innocence and that danger could be ahead for the family ahead.