Stylistic Analysis of Zombieland

“Zombieland” is a film where a lot of stylistic choices were made. Especially the opening scene says a lot about the film and the characters. Mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound shape the film’s effect on the viewer. The film begins in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The first shot is unbalanced to prime our expectation that something will change position. The shot is of the American flag, which is focused while the background is unfocused which means it indicates that the flag is of importance.

From the close-up of the American flag we get a handheld panning shot of a car crash, this shows us a deeper meaning: America has fallen. While the actor stands up with his body-mounted camera it creates an illusion of a point of view shot, tracking what the eyes see. This illusion is emphasized after a zombie is attacking the character. The point of view shot transitions into a close up of the zombie breaking the fourth wall by looking right into the camera. The entire opening scene has titles in them that change every few seconds as the previous actor has destroys them.

The filmmakers used bold red font for the titles. Red is used because it symbolizes blood and death, which represents the gore within the film. The titles are the actors/actress, production and filmmaker’s names. Another artistic choice is the use of ramping; the entire sequence is slowed down to slow motion. This gives the sequence a dramatic effect and it increases the intensity of the moment created subsequently the picture fade away. When it fades back; the first scene of the movie is shown. The exposure during the whole movie is half a stop darker than a usual exposure.

The color of the film is natural, which gives the movie a more realistic tone. It shows the world as it is. What also becomes visible in this film is the unrestricted narration. Meaning that we are only confined to what the character sees and since it takes place in the time of a zombie apocalypse, it gives the story a realistic feel, this because we function unrestricted too. We only see something when we are directly looking or sensing it. For instance Columbus; we see the world mainly through his eyes. Columbus narrates the entire story. Herewith we built up a relationship with this film character.

We feel sympathy for him. Big motifs in the film are his rules of survival and a parallelism where Columbus is talking about the death (of a zombie) of the week with Tallahassee. Columbus mentions these things quite a few times in the film. Sound is also a big part of the film. There is a non-diegetic soundtrack used throughout the title sequence, which is rock music and when the American flag appears, the music changes to the American anthem, which is slightly lower pitched and distorted. This adds to the whole imagery of the film. Then you also have Columbus’s observations and comments that run throughout the film as well.

Director and editor also used diegetic sound, which is mainly used for the growling of the zombies when they are attacking people. The sound of the zombies growling is low pitched and the amplitude of the vibrations is loud. Another big part of the film is mise-en-scene. For instance the setting; throughout the film the filmmakers made use of a lot of local areas like on location settings. “Zombieland” was filmed in Atlanta, GA so they used a lot of practical locations like the grocery store and the amusement park in which a big fight between the living and the undead played out.

The settings the director and producer have chosen are not typical for a horror film since they’re well lit daily life locations. The lighting is mainly high key, which emphasizes the use of the setting since this kind of lighting gives an upbeat mood to the scene. The establishing shot of the post-apocalyptic world is mainly lit low-key to show how annihilated the world is. Natural light is not often used. Although the setting and lighting are not stereotypical horror they are all stereotypical for television, like sitcoms and comedies, which is what the film is going for since its main genre is Comedy.

The overall lighting in the film makes the situation of the people in more realistic. It seems that this could happen in the real world. Another part, which is also important for the mise-en-scene, is makeup and the costumes. Costumes and make-up are different for the humans and the zombies. The zombies are covered in blood; their body seemed to rot and their costumes are ripped away from their body. The humans are dressed in everyday clothes with simple make-up. The make-up of the zombie is mainly paint-brushed realistically, reflecting the stereotypical Horror genre.

The Comedy in this film is shown through facial expressions and body language. During the whole film the axis of action is maintained, ensuring that the position of the person in the frame remains a consistent screen duration and eyeline. If the axis of action would not be maintained it could create jump cuts this could also affect the mood and sphere of the film, which could distract the audience. The temporal continuity in the film is in complete continuity. None of the sounds are elided; this makes the scene more intense because the viewer is not distracted by the sound that is slightly jumped over.

The flashbacks cause certain disunity in the film, since they are not elements that fit in the already established pattern. Columbus is geeky and neurotic character, as is shown through his narration during the film. It reveals that he is lonely, and through the cinematography it becomes clear that his loneliness is the gravity of the film. This by showing how the world to him became to: “Shit storm”. The way it was shot shows his view on the world and how terrible it became. This makes him even more aware of how lonely he is since there is nobody he can interact with. He can’t even escape into his virtual world like he used to.

Even low-key lighting shows how grim the world became to him. The setting also contributes to show his loneliness, like the freeway, which is abandoned. His facial expression during the movie is expressing one mood: anxiety. Even when he is with Tallahassee he carries around the feeling of anxiousness and desolation until he meets Wichita. This is when the setting changes to a more colorful and saver surrounding: Bill Murray’s house. All in all, this film is about Columbus’s loneliness and how that develops throughout the movie with the help of numerous techniques as cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound and editing.

Calculate the price
Make an order in advance and get the best price
Pages (550 words)
$0.00
*Price with a welcome 15% discount applied.
Pro tip: If you want to save more money and pay the lowest price, you need to set a more extended deadline.
We know how difficult it is to be a student these days. That's why our prices are one of the most affordable on the market, and there are no hidden fees.

Instead, we offer bonuses, discounts, and free services to make your experience outstanding.
How it works
Receive a 100% original paper that will pass Turnitin from a top essay writing service
step 1
Upload your instructions
Fill out the order form and provide paper details. You can even attach screenshots or add additional instructions later. If something is not clear or missing, the writer will contact you for clarification.
Pro service tips
How to get the most out of your experience with MyStudyWriters
One writer throughout the entire course
If you like the writer, you can hire them again. Just copy & paste their ID on the order form ("Preferred Writer's ID" field). This way, your vocabulary will be uniform, and the writer will be aware of your needs.
The same paper from different writers
You can order essay or any other work from two different writers to choose the best one or give another version to a friend. This can be done through the add-on "Same paper from another writer."
Copy of sources used by the writer
Our college essay writers work with ScienceDirect and other databases. They can send you articles or materials used in PDF or through screenshots. Just tick the "Copy of sources" field on the order form.
Testimonials
See why 20k+ students have chosen us as their sole writing assistance provider
Check out the latest reviews and opinions submitted by real customers worldwide and make an informed decision.
BUSINESS LAW
excellent job made a 93
Customer 452773, March 22nd, 2023
Business and administrative studies
excellent job
Customer 452773, March 12th, 2023
Business and administrative studies
Thank you for your hard work and help
Customer 452773, February 21st, 2023
Human Resources Management (HRM)
excellent job
Customer 452773, June 25th, 2023
Psychology
Thank you!
Customer 452545, February 6th, 2021
English 101
great summery in terms of the time given. it lacks a bit of clarity but otherwise perfect.
Customer 452747, June 9th, 2021
Business and administrative studies
Excellent job
Customer 452773, March 17th, 2023
Business and administrative studies
Thank you for your hard work
Customer 452773, October 19th, 2023
Leadership Studies
excellent job
Customer 452773, August 3rd, 2023
Business and administrative studies
excellent paper
Customer 452773, March 3rd, 2023
Business Studies
Thank you very much for a good job done and a quick turn around time.
Customer 452615, March 31st, 2021
10th grade English
very good
Customer 452773, March 26th, 2023
11,595
Customer reviews in total
96%
Current satisfaction rate
3 pages
Average paper length
37%
Customers referred by a friend
OUR GIFT TO YOU
15% OFF your first order
Use a coupon FIRST15 and enjoy expert help with any task at the most affordable price.
Claim my 15% OFF Order in Chat
Close

Sometimes it is hard to do all the work on your own

Let us help you get a good grade on your paper. Get professional help and free up your time for more important courses. Let us handle your;

  • Dissertations and Thesis
  • Essays
  • All Assignments

  • Research papers
  • Terms Papers
  • Online Classes
Live ChatWhatsApp