Exam Question

Compare how key messages and values are explored in the two American films you have studied in reflecting the period they were made.

Both films make points about society at the time that they were made. Invaders Of The Body Snatchers explores the USA during the time McCarthy was senator and his followers became the majority of American citizens, the ‘pod people’ represent the people who supported him whilst Miles was the only person to oppose the ideologies of the pod people, representing those who disagree with McCarthy – the minority and who we see as the protagonist. War of The Worlds makes a point about terrorism and post 9/11 society. The tripods are aliens, used to represent terrorists.

Ultimately, IOTBS makes a point about how McCarthy should be opposed rather than followed. The director uses paranoia to generate fear in the film, such as how many people seem to suspect something is wrong with their loved ones but can’t exactly pinpoint what it is. People slowly turn into the aliens representing how McCarthy’s followers slowly became the majority in the USA and those who did not share the same beliefs were seen as the minority and a threat to dominant ideologies. As the audience we see Miles as the protagonist, we are seeing the story from his POV as he is recalling what happened. Technical devices have also been used to make the audience accept him as the protagonist, such as close up’s – we’re physically close to him. There is also voice over from Miles, as if he is speaking directly to the audience establishing a connection and we are also unable to access any alternative POV’s, meaning that we are more likely to agree with him. The fact that Miles refuses to give up makes the audience like him too. IOTBS uses the fear of losing identity to, again, generate fear. This means that if Miles were to be turned into a pod person, he wouldn’t have any human emotions or free will, suggesting that those who share the same ideologies of McCarthy have been robbed on their humanity for believing in corrupt and immoral ideologies. We know that Miles has a love interest, Becky, so we don’t want him to lose his ability to love and this makes us feel more hatred towards the pod people. This makes McCarthy’s followers seem ruthless for not caring about whose lives their ruin or who’s loved one’s they take away, such as how artists and directors etc. were committing suicide in fear of the ‘others’.

War of The Worlds was created around 50 years later and comments on post 9/11 society. The tripods are used to represent the terrorists and plays on the fear of others. There are elements of 9/11 in WOTW such as the handheld camera represents how people recorded the attack on the world trade center, this means that low angled camera shots creates an eye line match for both 9/11 and the tripods adding a sense of realism. Everyone was covered in grey ash when the towers fell and the director has made the decision