Denotation & Connotation of Horror Film Stills

I looked at denotation and connotation by annalysing some stills from a variety of different well known, classic Horror/Thriller films. Denotation is the literal analysis of a picture, by literally just saying what you see in the picture without giving your opinions or outside knowledge. Conotation is when you give your opinion and/or your interpretation of the image and explain  the denotations of the movie stills.

 Still from Gothika:
Denotation-
Girl facing a wall with red writting on, reading 'Not Alone', with her back towards us.Wearing a hoody.
Connotation-
'Not Alone' symbolises how shes probably not alone. Highlighting mental problems or to contradict that she isnt the only person there. Her tracksuit highlights simpleness and possibly youth. The red writing may be perceived as blood, therefore showing murder and death and the colour red, showing danger.

Still from The Exorsist:


Denotation-
Girl with red hair, blood and scars covering her face. She is wearing a white gown. She is slightly smiling and she has glaring eyes, looking straight into the camera.
Connotation-
Her white gown symbolises innocence and child like nature. The red shows danger and by her appearence she has been harmed but does not look in pain to show she may be possessed.





Still from The Ring:
Denotation-
Young girl in an all white room with a white dress and white socks with black shoes and long, black, greasy hair. She is sitting on a wooden stool and there is a microphone next to her on the floor.
Connotation-
The white symbolises innocence  and the black may symbolise there is an element of evil in her maybe a dark side. The white room may signify something clinical, like a hospital or a mental institute.


Still from Scream:

Denotation-
A figure with a black cloak, a white mask and holding a knife, looking through a window at a blonde woman on the phone who is facing away from us but looking at the person dressed in the scream outfit.
Connotation-
Cloak and mask show danger and hidden identity. Woman may be on the phone to police. Perhaps he has broken into her house. Mask shows fear of the unknown

Still from Pyscho:

Denotation-
Black and white, Woman in shower, wet because of water, mouth open.
Connotation-
Naked shows her vaunrability and her mouth may be open due to shock as there may be somebody else in there with her. The black & White shows it probably isnt a modern movie.








Still from H20
Denotation-
Man with white mask looking through a window at a woman with her mouth open.
Connotation-
Woman has her mouth open as she is probably shocked to see him which means he is not meant to be there signifying his danger. Also the fact thay he does not show his face means hidden identity which reinforces that he is evil.
The window is circular indicating it may be on a boat which highlights the name 'H2O' which is the chemical symbol for water, meaning the even probably happens under water.



Still from Halloween

Denotation-
Man with white mask looking over a banaster, holding a large knife looking down.
Connotation-
Low angle shot, looking up at him shows he has power and shows authority. Maks once again signifys hidden identity, highlighting danger which is also reinforced by the knife.





Still from It

Denotation-
Man with a painted white face, with red hair, red nose and long sharp teeth.
Connotation-
Painted face symbolises a Clown. Red hair shows danger - contrasting with the white face, when white usually symbolises innocence. Clowns are meant to symbolise child friendly, happy, jokey people which juxtapposes with the sharp teeth and angry face, making him look threatening and dangerous.