Deconstruction of Horror Film Names

Horror film titles usually feature one or two words which, only slightly, indicate what the film is about. I want our film title to be either one or two words long as it is easy to remember and more catchy.

The film Se7en which is the main influence for our film's idea is simple and features one word. This word does not tell the audience much about the film, however once the audience discover the context of the seven deadly sins, they are able to identify how the film's name links to the plot. I like this title, especially the use of the '7' in place of the 'V' because it reiterates the storyline, is easy to remember and slightly indicates what the film is about without giving away too much.

Saw is also a simple one-word title which links to the first trap where the man is chained to the wall by his ankle, and the only paraphernalia within reach is a saw. He resorts to using this saw to take off his foot in order to free himself. As the opening scene clarifies the film name, I believe that this name is effective and memorable, as well as being very simple. Also, it immediately signifies horror and gore as a horror convention is for killers to use DIY tools such as saws (e.g. Texas Chainsaw Massacre) to kill, and often mutilate, victims.

Final Destination consists of two words, again making it easy to remember and signifying what the film is about. 'Fate' slowly comes for each victim; they die in extreme, and somewhat unrealistic, ways such as killer laser eye surgery, a fan slicing through their head and being burned alive in a tanning bed. When initially hearing the title, it makes me think the victims are travelling somewhere because of the 'Destination', and that they are going to die because of the 'Final'. This is somewhat true, the victims do die but they are not travelling anywhere and then get killed - instead they are going about their daily lives and get killed spontaneously. I think this film title is good because it the use of the word 'Final' makes the film sound sinister and 'Destination' makes it sound complex and entertaining.

Devil is a one-word film title about a group of people in a lift who get killed one by one, and none of the people in the lift are doing the killing - it is instead the Devil. The use of just one word tells the audience that this film will be playing with morality, which is true, and will end in death, which again is true. However, whilst watching this film the audience are made to believe it is not the Devil killing these people, instead, in turn, each character in the lift is made to be the scapegoat. It is only at the end when the true killer is revealed that the film's title makes sense. I think this film title is clever because it tells the audience who the killer is, however it is not made to seem like the devil is the killer in the film.

Overall, from the film titles I have just deconstructed, my 2 favourites are Seven and Devil because they are short and the film's plots link to the title. However, the audience only properly realise this in around the second half of the film which, I believe, is effective because then at the beginning the audience only have a rough idea of what the film is about from the title. Therefore, I would like our film title to be made up of one word (two words maximum) as this is memorable and recognizable.