FINAL SCENE ESSAY

ATTACK THE BLOCK IS A SUCCESSFUL HYBRID OF ACTION AND SCI-FI. DISCUSS, WITH REFERENCE TO THE FINAL SCENE.
[12 MARKS]

Attack The Block could be categorised as either an action or sci-fi film because it contains the codes and conventions of each. These are both examples of genre, which is a way of classifying media based on its individual characteristics - usually to the end of better marketing the media product in question. There is a slight issue with the statement at hand in that, whilst this film is indeed a hybrid - a media product that doesn't quite fit into one genre in particular - it spans more than just the two genres mentioned. Attack The Block is an example of a hybrid of three different genres, those being action, sci-fi and horror.

We are able to discuss the lengths to which each genre shows up in Attack The Block by first taking a look at the mise-en-scene. Colour is a very important aspect of this film; it can convey a great deal of meaning and influence a reader in certain ways. This film uses a noticeable amount of blue lighting - a popular convention of sci-fi films and media, and an effect created with coloured gels. It gives the events of the film an ethereal quality, which contrasts well with the down-to-earth location that was chosen for its setting. In the scene where Moses leaps over the aliens, the multicoloured lighting effects convey this same feeling. There are, however, conventions of other genres conveyed through colour in this film - although a little bit more subtle. In one shot, we see that Pest's shoes are black and yellow along with the warning labels on his firework rockets. Black and yellow are aposematic colours, usually seen conveying danger in nature (if you've ever noticed the colours of bees and wasps). In action, black and yellow are often used to convey danger and are very noticeable to top it off. Action conventions can also be spotted in further props, such as the sword Moses carries. However, the alien head strapped to his back could be seen as both an action and sci-fi convention. It paints Moses, who carries it, in a heroic light whilst also being unsettling to look at. One feature in particular that can be attributed solely to action is the use of the Union Jack that essentially saves Moses' life. In action, we can often see a strong sense of patriotism - many American action films feature the president of their country or a good many flags. It's interesting to see the Union Jack being used in this way, almost as if to parody or comment on the patriotism we see in Hollywood blockbuster action films.

Sound is used in this film to great effect, and it is here where we find the boldest horror conventions. Diegetic effects in horror films can create or break tension and really mould the experience a viewer has with the media product. The most effective example of this convention is when Moses steps into his apartment. The sounds the door makes are heightened to build tension and, in the crucial moment, the lighter won't light - this is when the sound design tells its own story. The loud sounds of the lighter combined with the closed in, claustrophobic camera create a distinct feeling of tension that could either be attributed to horror or sci-fi. The music fits action conventions quite closely; it's variable throughout the last few minutes to allow characters to speak and dramatic moments to happen, but there is a crescendo at the very end paired with chanting from outside the van Moses and Pest are sat it. It influences viewers' emotions in a way often identified in action films, with the glory of defeating monsters at the very end. Attack the block is, however, unconventional in this regard as well. The cut to silence and black at the very end of the film, before the credits, will likely leave viewers unsatisfied and questioning.

The editing of Attack The Block is crucial to the overall feeling of the film. It uses a particular sequence of slow motion wherein Moses leaps over the aliens; this use of heroic movement combined with the slowed down pace is blatantly attributed to the action genre. There's an invisible cut in this sequence when an alien runs by the camera, contributing to the overall smoothness and epic scale of this sequence. Quite a bit of the editing contributes to the element of sci-fi in Attack The Block, such as the blue tint to the film, the alien teeth effect (notably, a bright cyan-blue) and the strobe lighting on the stairwell as Moses hurtles down it. These combine into a hybrid, as has been said, between sci-fi and action.

The camerawork in Attack The Block is very reminiscent of action films on the whole, certainly in the shot in which Moses is stood in central composition with leading lines framing him on either side.  It's very heroic and certainly looks like action. The film definitely feels more like an action than any other genre once you get into all of the camerawork, for example: lots of static wide shots that zoom inward are used to create a sense of the epic and exciting. This kind of larger-than-life effect is attributed to action. The film also uses closeups, although sparingly, for moments of emotion or reaction that give a sense of raw honesty. They contrast well with the ultra-action wide shots and influence the viewer into sympathising with the characters. There's a scene nearer the end in which the camera tracks downwards to reveal Moses hanging from a Union Jack flag. This downward motion, as well as revealing his position, creates the illusion of movement that grips attention and feels quite action-oriented. There is a technique used that could be considered a horror convention - the focus pull. One famous example of a focus pulls in Jaws, a very popular horror film.

To conclude, Attack The Block is most definitely a hybrid - one between three genres. Action conventions are very bold and noticeable, which influences the feel of the film very distinctly towards the action genre. Deborah Knight's theory on audience pleasure states that audiences enjoy predictability, so long as the journey to the conclusion is interesting. Action films may be predictable - we knew that Moses would triumph at the end - but the way we got there was interesting enough to carry the film to successful status. In fact, the ending dodged total predictability by having the open-ended and bittersweet arrests at the end (more a convention of sci-fi or horror). There is certainly, on that topic, no denying the sci-fi editing techniques or the telltale sounds and closeups of a horror film. All three work together in a blend to convey a very unique story that anyone would be hard-pressed to replicate. Hybrids may not be the best way forward in a marketing sense, but makes for interesting viewing.

NOTES FOR LATER, PLEASE IGNORE:
is there a reference to the shining?? when Ron (nick frost) opens the door???