Comparison of 'An American Werewolf in London' and ' 28 Days Later'

1) Write a comparision of the different ways in which the two openings define themselves as Horror Films.

'28 Days Later'

In 'An American Werewolf in London' there is a slow build up to any Horror or violence. This leaves the audience in suspense, awaiting something bad to happen. Whereas in '28 Days Later' the horror of the monkeys attacking, and Jim wakes up to find the city deserted. The horror hits the audience from the start of the film unlike in 'An American Werewolf in London'.Another difference between the two films is that in 'An American Werewolf in London' the two Americans are in an unfamiliar and desolate place, unlike America. Whereas in '28 Days Later' Jim wakes up in familiar surroundings, London, but in an unfamiliar situation, being that everyone has fled the city. 

'An American Werewolf in London'

The Similarities between the two films is the icons and themes they both explore. Both films show people dying with blood represented boldly which connotes, danger, threats and murder. The themes they both explore are isolation, as in both films the characters are isolated from what they are comfortable with and know. Icons in 'An American Werewolf in London'' are the howling wind, and heavy thunder, which show the characters vulnerability and come as a warning. Another warning is the moon, which looms in the clouds threateningly, which the audience begin to realise after the characters come out of the local pub. In '28 Days Later' the symbolic icons are the good and evil forces that have forced the people to fled London, disease and war.


The sound and special effects in both films draw the audience into the action through the use, for example, of an eery mist and heavy rain in 'An American Werewolf in London' this adds to the overall atmosphere of the film through the way they are introduced and faded out.
Overall the opening of 'Americans defines itself as a horror film by firstly not initially introducing the audience to Horror but by slowly building up the fear, tension and suspense. '28 Days Later' defines itself as a Horror film by its use of showing a threat to a whole city, and its use of blood as a threatening and vulnerable symbol.