Movie Conventions Research: Summer of 84

 Common CAMS in the movie  

Throughout the movie the most frequently used shot was a medium shot. This shot allows the audience to have a good view of all the characters in the shot as they interact with the environment around them. Another shot that was commonly used was close-up shots. This was used to show that character's reactions to different situations in a more dramatic way. This shot allows the character to convey some emotions more without saying a thing. Lastly, dutch angles were used at some times in the film. This creates a more dramatic effect in the movie by making the environment more suspenseful and full of tension. 


Common CLAMPS in the movie 

The costumes, for example, did not appear to be in style of the 1980s. It appeared to be clothing from the late 1970s or early 1980s. They wore some pieces of clothing including flannels and buttoned up collared shirts.  

The lighting was a mix with a brighter/natural and a darker one. In the beginning it was more of a bright and natural lighting from being outside in the neighborhood under the sun and then it got darker as the story progressed later on.  

Because the film relies so largely on familiar characters and hollow nostalgia, you can tell it's not creative or adventurous enough to be forgettable, so it's simply a lot of wheel spinning until the reveal that a serial murderer resides in the suburb. 

The makeup in this movie is more natural. It is supposed to be more of an everyday little to no makeup.  

Some examples of props used in this movie were a car, bikes, a walkie talkie, and a carton and newspapers showing the missing people.  

The film's events take place in 1984 in Ipswich, Oregon. Some examples of the setting include the treehouse, their neighborhood, and rooms inside the house.  


Common Sound in the movie 


Incidental music was used very frequently in this movie when there was an action scene to create a dramatic mood for suspense. Also, non-diegetic sounds were used very often to change the mood to create uncertainty. Lastly, in the beginning they use a voiceover as we see Davey pedaling his bicycle to homes in an idyllic-looking suburb. 


Common Editing in the movie 


Zoom in was a very frequent editing element used as they did it a lot of times to focus on a character's face or an object that was being focused on. Also, cutaways were used a lot to show a visual of what the character is seeing. One example of where this was used was when something crashed into the car windshield; this acted as an interruption of a continuous shot then it cuts back to the main shot. 


Elements of the Genre in the movie 


There is a threat, eerie music, fake-outs, and jump scares in this film. It also elicits a sense of nostalgia. There was an unnerving suspense in digging up the suspect's garden, as well as several unexpected revelations. 


What elements of the genre did the movie have that you like? 


I liked that they had all the incidental music placed strategically to create suspense and leave their viewers on the edge of their seats. Also, I really liked some of the camera shots that were used including the close-up ones, which really show the characters emotions well. 


What elements of the genre did the movie have that do not appeal to you?

 

This thriller stays on the surface, simulating thrills but failing to deliver them. It was very cliché with very generic dialogues. This includes, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” and “Nothing was ever going to be the same again.” 

Summer of 84 Movie Poster |Teaser Trailer

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