That's Not What I Heard!

Those mean girls....

"Do The Mash, Genre Mash!" (Horror Trailer to a Romance Story)

Story Structure and Genre

Story Structure and Genre

Genre: Horror

            Something about mysterious phone calls, psycho killers, and old curses seem to interest me, along with many other horror movie viewers. I find horror movies to be the best genre and that is why I chose my favorite horror movies to analyze. The three films I re-watched are When A Stranger Calls, The Grudge 2, and Saw 2. I think, to different audiences, these films could be categorized under either the act structure or the story structure. Personally, I think all three films fall under the story structure. All three of these horror stories have an inciting accident that leads to a bigger problem or situation, and there are many turning points throughout the story but ultimately the initial problem is resolved.

            This structure is most obviously presented in my favorite movie, When A Stranger Calls. When A Stranger Calls tells the tale of a young high school girl who innocently takes on a babysitting job. While at this house, she begins receiving mysterious phone calls. In the beginning of the movie we are told about a bonfire for all the seniors being held at a local lake. This sets up the young high school girl to believe they are just pranks calls from her friends. When one of her friends, whom she was earlier arguing with shows up at the house and calms the girl down for a moment. After she leaves, all seems to be going well and the phone calls become less frequent. Another turning point is placed in the film when the young girl finds her friend murdered in the guest bathroom. From here things get worse and worse as she tries to escape a killer. In the end, it is resolved when the police take the man into custody and the young girl is taken to the hospital. Yet, when you think she’s safe, another turning point hits again as she shows signs of post-traumatic stress. Similarly, The Grudge 2 and Saw 2 have plot lines where things appear to be okay, but soon enough mishaps and suspense is used to keep the viewer entertained and to continue watching. Although, with these two movies, they continue from previous films and the story takes pieces from the prequels. Unlike When A Stranger Calls, these movies also don’t get completely resolved in preparation for sequels. Yet, they still do follow a story structure.

            Overall, these three films take the story structure and use it in a way to grasp audience attention. With these story structures, the films can use many turning points to create suspense and drama. This keeps the audience guessing and alive along with the movie. There are many aesthetic techniques used to pull at viewers’ emotions in horror movies. Methods that involve scaring the audience and creating anxiety, even for short movements, are frequently used throughout horror films. This gives them their genre title. Ultimately, this makes the story structure the best set up for this genre.

Icon Switch

"Party In The USA"

I hopped off the plane at L.A.X.
With a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame excess (whoa),
Am I gonna fit in?

Jumped in the cab,
Here I am for the first time
Look to my right and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous,
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
And a Jay-Z song was on
And a Jay-Z song was on
And a Jay-Z song was on

[Chorus:]
So I put my hands up
They're playing my song,
The butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like yeah
Movin' my hips like yeah
I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA

Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like, "Who's that chick that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from out of town."

So hard with my girls not around me
It's definitely not a Nashville party
'Cause all I see are stilettos
I guess I never got the memo

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the DJ dropped my favorite tune
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on

[Chorus]

Feel like hoppin' on a flight (on a flight)
Back to my hometown tonight (town tonight)
Something stops me every time (every time)
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright

[Chorus 2x]

1.     And an Iron Maiden song was rocking

And an Iron Maiden song was rocking

And an Iron Maiden song was rocking

      "Don't Let Me Get Me"

Never win first place, I don't support the team
I can't take direction, and my socks are never
clean
Teachers dated me, my parents hated me
I was always in a fight cuz I can't do nothin'
right

Everyday I fight a war against the mirror
I can't take the person starin' back at me
I'm a hazard to myself

Don't let me get me
I'm my own worst enemy
Its bad when you annoy yourself
So irritating
Don't wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else

I wanna be somebody else, yeah

LA told me, "You'll be a pop star,
All you have to change is everything you are."
Tired of being compared to damn Britney Spears
She's so pretty, that just ain't me

Doctor, doctor won't you please prescribe
somethin
A day in the life of someone else?
Cuz I'm a hazard to myself

Don't let me get me
I'm my own worst enemy
Its bad when you annoy yourself
So irritating
Don't wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else

Don't let me get me
I'm my own worst enemy
Its bad when you annoy yourself
So irritating
Don't wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else

Doctor, doctor won't you please prescribe
somethin
A day in the life of someone else?
Don't let me get me

Don't let me get me
I'm my own worst enemy
Its bad when you annoy yourself
So irritating
Don't wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else

2.     They try to cut my hair, it’s a national virus like Miley Cyrus

She’s so quirky, I just can’t believe

"Moves Like Jagger"
(feat. Christina Aguilera)

Oh, yeah
Oh!

[Verse 1:]
Just shoot for the stars
If it feels right
And aim for my heart
If you feel like
And take me away and make it OK
I swear I'll behave

You wanted control
So we waited
I put on a show
Now I make it
You say I'm a kid
My ego is big
I don't give a shit
And it goes like this

[Chorus:]
Take me by the tongue
And I'll know you
Kiss me 'til you're drunk
And I'll show you

All the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger

I don't need to try to control you
Look into my eyes and I'll own you

With them moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger

[Verse 2:]
Maybe it's hard
When you feel like you're broken and scarred
Nothing feels right
But when you're with me
I'll make you believe
That I've got the key

Oh
So get in the car
We can ride it
Wherever you want
Get inside it
And you want to steer
But I'm shifting gears
I'll take it from here (Oh! Yeah yeah!)
And it goes like this (Uh)

[Chorus:]
Take me by the tongue
And I'll know you (Uh)
Kiss me 'til you're drunk
And I'll show you

All the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger

I don't need to try to control you (Oh, yeah)
Look into my eyes and I'll own you

With them moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger (Yeah yeah)
I've got the moves like Jagger

[Bridge:]
You wanna know how to make me smile
Take control, own me just for the night
And if I share my secret
You're gonna have to keep it
Nobody else can see this

So watch and learn
I won't show you twice
Head to toe, oooh baby rub me right
But if I share my secret
You're gonna have to keep it
Nobody else can see this (Ay! Ay! Ay! Aaay!)

And it goes like this

[Chorus:]
Take me by the tongue (Take me by the tongue)
And I'll know you
Kiss me 'til you're drunk
And I'll show you (Yeah yeah yeah!)

All the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
(Oh, yeah)
I don't need to try to control you
Look into my eyes and I'll own you

With them moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger

3. I got style like Beyonce, Making moves like Beyonce, I rule like Beyonce