This whole town is over-run with black and orange. It's not only World Series fever, it's also nearly Hallowe'en.
Le Boucher (1970)
aka The Butcher
directed by Claude Chabrol
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
directed by Don Siegel
I loved both of these films and I noticed similar tendencies on the part of the directors.
More contemporary horror films go in for the close-up - the better to highlight the special effects. Repeatedly in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and at the dramatic end of The Butcher, the principal characters are walking and running away from the camera. It felt really creepy, as though the protagonist didn't reciprocate the affinity I had with them and they were abandoning me to deal with the danger on my own. It was a much more chilling effect than all that blood and gore ever has on me.
Another Hallowe'en / San Francisco connection:
I also watched the 1978 remake of Body Snatchers, which was filmed in this city. It's the only film shot here that actually highlights the Transamerica Pyramid. It was controversial when it was built, yet today it's hardly referenced. It isn't even included in my books on local architectures. The focus in the film is a true slice of it's time.
Le Boucher (1970)
aka The Butcher
directed by Claude Chabrol
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
directed by Don Siegel
I loved both of these films and I noticed similar tendencies on the part of the directors.
More contemporary horror films go in for the close-up - the better to highlight the special effects. Repeatedly in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and at the dramatic end of The Butcher, the principal characters are walking and running away from the camera. It felt really creepy, as though the protagonist didn't reciprocate the affinity I had with them and they were abandoning me to deal with the danger on my own. It was a much more chilling effect than all that blood and gore ever has on me.
Another Hallowe'en / San Francisco connection:
I also watched the 1978 remake of Body Snatchers, which was filmed in this city. It's the only film shot here that actually highlights the Transamerica Pyramid. It was controversial when it was built, yet today it's hardly referenced. It isn't even included in my books on local architectures. The focus in the film is a true slice of it's time.
2 comments:
the principal characters are walking and running away from the camera. It felt really creepy, as though the protagonist didn't reciprocate the affinity I had with them and they were abandoning me to deal with the danger on my own. It was a much more chilling effect than all that blood and gore ever has on me.
That's a really great observation.
also, yay Giants!
I was shocked at how strongly I felt about being left behind. The technique worked really well - someone should try it today.
The Giants - I KNOW! The whole city went crazy with high-fives, stranger-hugging, throat-searing whoops of joy. I'm not much of a sports fan but it was hard not to get swept along. It sure was something to see.
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