Convention between two movies - Isolation

*ROSEMARY'S BABY*

*SCREAM*

Isolation is a convention that is used in horror films which is relatable to most. However, there are two types of isolation - mental and physical, which are both equally terrifying. In the film Rosemary's Baby directed by Roman Polanski, the main character 'Rosmary' has to endure immense mental isolation. In the film Scream directed by Wes Craven, however the isolation is purely physical for most of the characters.

A solid example of Rosemary's isolation is at the end of the film in the time period after she has had her baby. Rosemary is left in a bedroom with nobody to talk to and she is in such a drugged up / dazed state she is isolated within her own thoughts. She has no idea what has happened to her and her baby or what is happening to her, the only way she can get any answers is through her own drug impaired judgement. In the film, Scream, there is isolation for every character as the scenes are either set in the small town or in the country areas surrounding the town. An example of the physical isolation is in the end killing scene. It is set in a large multi-leveled house in the countryside - out in the middle of nowhere. 

The convention of isolation is used in Rosemarys Baby to convey to the audience that no matter what Rosemary may try to do, or say, at the end of the day she is alone with noone around to help her. Ian Johnston wrote, "After Rosemary becomes pregnant, Polanski's mise-en-scene stresses her absoloute isolation" this quote explains when the isolation begins and conveys to the audience Rosemary's feelings. An example of how isolation is shown throughout the movie is; whenever rosemary trys to reach out for help or question what is happening to her she will always get stopped or reassured that nothing is wrong. It scares the viewer into believing that however hard you may try to get out of a situation, you are always going to be alone, The thought of being isolated in that sense is a terrifying thought, and that is what makes Rosemary's Baby a great horror. The link of isolation is present throughout the film especially when her good friend 'Hutch' falls into a coma and eventually dies when he tries to alert Rosemary as to what is happening around her.
Isolation in Scream is very different. The physical isolation was used to show that there was no way anybody could escape the killer easily by calling the police or screaming out for help. It would be hard to get immediate assistance because the police would take too long to arrive at the scene and your screams would fall on deaf ears.
The audience response to both forms of isolation was very different, as they both create different atmospheres and thought patterns. The film Rosemarys Baby was a very slow pace film which made you quiestion Rosemarys sanity as well as naturally diverting your thoughts into thinking similarly to hers. The audience's response to Rosemarys Baby was very odd. By the end of the film some viewers were left wanting to get a clear image of the baby, whilst other viewers were left wondering if these occurrences happen in reality. Both are frightening thougths to have, however, I believe the second reaction is the worst as it makes you question what does happen in the surrounding world, as well as wondering if you could ever end up in Rosemary's situation. The isolation Rosemary shows / endures conveys that fear all to well to the audience. Throughout the film however, the audience were usually well ahead of Rosemary's thoughts until the ending. Rosemary decided to be a mother to the devil child she had given birth too, and it left the audience questioning if that decision was a result of the isolation. The physiological isolation was very different to what we had seen in the past from horror movies films such as  Cat People  where the main character 'Irena' always had somebody around whom she could confide to honestly.  However, Rosemary did have that to begin with (Hutch), however, as soon as he posed a threat to the neighbours plans, a ritual was performed which lead to his death.

However, Scream was quite a fast passed movie that makes you jump throughout especially when the masked killer pops up and starts killing. The audience's response to Scream  was very good because Scream conveyed that anyone -even your boyfriend, could be a raging serial killer. It clearly showed the audience that killing does not need a motive, and physical isolation is never a good thing. This puts the fear into the audiences minds that there isn't a way you could judge who is a killer or who is not a killer. Scream used Isolation as some horror films had in the past such as Physco directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In that respect the physical isolation was not an original element.

The impact in both films although completely different, was an effective convention as isolation symbolizes the fear that every individual has hidden somewhere inside of them. Fear is the basic survival mechanism that occurs in response to the threat of danger. In both films we see this regularly and i believe it would have added to the commercial success because it is easily relatable. Without the isolation in either of the films it would be very ordinary and to put it plainly; not as scary. If a viewer pays to see a horror film, they want to be frightened, isolation definitely adds the frightening aspect - therefore provides more commercial success. It leaves society living in fear, and asking the questions that regularly play on their minds.