MC: Film Analysis 2: Zombieland (Fleisher, 2009)

NARRATIVE

Entire opening sequence disabled for copyright reasons

Second half of sequence 

The opening sequence of Zombieland (Fleisher, 2009) is organised in a way that audience positioning is prominent. Stereotypically the audience identify with and experience the un-effected people as the protagonist characters. In the opening sequence, a variety of slow-motion shots. This time expansion displays a variety of social groups and class definition of people positively and negatively represented. The audience identify with the uniformed characters, connoting working class, ordinary people. For example, we relate with the police with riot shields. The framing of this shot places the audience on the side of the shields, as if we are wielding off a rabid animal.

Other shots of those at a wedding, a mechanic, fathers and sons at a park, as well as a repenting Christian stereotype and a girl spilling a pink milkshake. 

All these characters are being chased by zombies - the audience sympathise with these characters heavily due to a combination of these costumes and props with the connotations of fear in their expressions. In addition, a POV handycam places the audience with the unaffected. Other representations in this opening sequence alienate the infected people from their disgusting and disturbingly unattractive details such as projecting black blood from its mouth.

However, the negatively represented characters in this opening are not only zombies, but the men running away from a stripper zombie. They are clutching money and alcohol in their hands and the audience experience schadenfreude as we might oppose their hedonistic and cynical ways. High amounts of tension and levels of aggression are derived through the montage of extreme action. People are running for their lives and the tension is supported and maintained through the use of fast-paced rock music, performed by a renowned metal rock band Metalica. They are widely known for screaming and shouting during their aggressive songs.     

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

      -   The main protagonist and star Jesse Eisenberg is used for the sole purpose of being an unconventional hero and character that ‘get’s the girl’ (Emma Stone) in this film. He is an adolescent, cautious American; arguably a misfit of society. He also provides a sardonic voice-over throughout the film, connoting a self-conscious character but also providing an insight into his thoughts. Being the only character to do this, Eisenberg is given prevalence and the audience are able to relate to this him.

       -   Industrial film company Relativity Media produced the film, with the producer Ruben  Fleischer.

      -   In the opening, there are four rules on ‘how to survive zombieland.’ These are provided with a voice over from Eisenberg, coupled with text graphics on screen, as if they are video game titles. These titles are rendered in 3-D and interact with the series of images surrounding them; being cut through with an axe or splattered with blood. In this instance, the title ‘#1 CARDIO’ pulses as if it is a beating heart.