Satan v domě - Hyperreálné pojetí hororu

Mgr. Zdeněk Flam

Bachelor's thesis

Satan in the House - Hyperrealistic Conception of Horor

Abstract:

V této práci se zabývám filmem Vymítač ďábla režiséra Williama Friedkina. Nejdříve se zabývám samotným žánrem hororu, a snažím se nastínit jeho vývoj. V další práci se zabývám reakcemi diváků na tento film v sedmdesátých letech, a zvlášťním případem reakce, tzv. "Filmovou neurozou". V nejobsáhlejší části se věnuji neoformalistické analýze filmu, s důrazem na stanovenou dominantu - snaha o hyperréalné pojetí.

Abstract:

In my work I focused on the movie The Exorcist from the director William Friedkin. Firstly I tried to explain what is genre horror. In this section is short history of the genre. In the section of The Exorcist I described a reactions of the audience in the seventies. I wrote about one special phenomenon called „cinematic neurosis“. This is a strange reaction after seeing a horror movie (Jaws, A nightmare on Elm street, The Exorcist), which causes psychological a physiological problems like nausea and anorexia. I subscribed an original true story, on which is book and later movie based on. In the theoretical part I was investigating structural and narrative components of The Exorcist, using a concept of neoformalistic analysis. As a dominant I determined hyperrealistic conception. This concept is based on the assumption, that Friedkin was trying to make absolutely „realistic“ movie. It is obvious in all parts of the movie. Naturalism is sometimes so strong, that it evokes the interpretation of the documentary movie. He used voyeuristic camera, authentic surround, etc. On the set he was „sadistic“ to the crew, to make them look realistic. This realism is mostly evident in the comparison with the movies made before The Exorcist. That´s why this movie raised so strong reactions of the audience and consecutively fixed new conventions of the horror genre.

Keywords

William Friedkin, horor, horror, Vymítač ďábla, The Exorcist

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 21. 5. 2008

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 5. 2008
• Supervisor: Mgr. Patrik Vacek

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor programme / field:
General Theory and History of Arts and Culture / Film and Audio-Visual Culture Studies