Comparison of Horror Films

            The films “An American Werewolf in London” and “28 Days Later” are defined as horror films. This can be proven by a number of things.

            One of the most common conventions of horror films is their location. The film “An American Werewolf in London” is set in a rural and isolated place. “28 Days Later” on the other hand is located in a laboratory. Furthermore, later the character wakes up in a familiar location, London, except that instead of being packed with people no one is around. Though these films differ, they give the same feelings: isolation. In “An American Werewolf in London” the two characters were strangers in a strange place, and later on they walk the dessert alone. On the same note, “28 Days Later”, the character are in a strange laboratory, and later on the character is alone in London.

            Another common convention in horror films is the characters. In both “An American Werewolf in London” and “28 Days Later”, there are 2 kinds of people the ‘normal’ and the ‘strange.’ For example, the two American in “An American Werewolf in London” and the people inspecting the laboratory in “28 Days Later” would be the ‘normal’ people. The strange people would be the people in the pub for the “An American Werewolf in London” and the enraged monkeys in “28 Days Later”. This shows clearly the contrast between the characters.

             Both films also used symbolic icons. In the film “An American Werewolf in London”, they used werewolves and “28 Days Later” used the enraged monkeys and violent images on the screen. Both of the icons on these films appeal to the fear of the targeted audience.