This was for my college assignment for Film Studies

1. Popular Film & Emotional Response
Brokeback Mountain
(2005)
& The Exorcist
(1973)
• Directed by Ang Lee • Directed by William
• A Drama/ Romance about two Friedkin
cowboys that accidently fall in • A Horror/ Thriller about a
love with each other at a young young girl whose suddenly
age, then later try to move on getting „fits‟ that cannot be
with their lives by having a wife explained by doctors, so they
and family. Their love is too go through this journey
strong to let go but they are trying to make some sense of
confused about what they what is happening to her
should do, which ultimately which leads to the last resort
leads to a very horrific and of an exorcism
upsetting ending
Gloria A. Tafa

2. Emotional Responses
Brokeback Mountain The Exorcist
• In this sequence audiences • As it is adapted for true
go through many emotions events the audiences fear
at once, many people feel becomes more real as they
shocked when they kiss watch this
• Desensitization for • An emotional contagion as
homosexuals as they are all the audiences most
naturally exposed to this probably react in the same
way with similar emotions
• In this clip Jack and Ennis
finally meet again after • In this clip Regan is being
some long years, but possessed but is thought to
unaware that their secret be in a fit so the mother and
has been found by nanny call the doctors to
someone closer to home... come and investigate...
Both are controversial films that evoke the element of surprise

3. Brokeback Mountain-
Audiences feelings & emotions
Using Stuart Halls‟ theory of Audience Positioning ill be talking about the different emotions the audiences go through these short 5 minutes
 The audience which have a preferred or dominant reading feel excitement with Ennis as the audience
understand that they both haven't seen each other in 4years -On the opposing side of the audience they
would be feeling disappointment, just as they thought Ennis and Jack were settling in with their „normal‟
families and lives.
 When they run to each other and kiss- there are two ways again the audience might react- either
thrilled/please or disgusted/revolted. The people who respond positively to them kissing would most
probably be the homosexual audiences or the female audiences as they are the majority of the dominant
audience. On the other hand, the people who respond in a negative way are the Resistant readings which
oppose every thing about the scene (and the movie itself)
 When Ennis‟ wife catches them kissing, the audience, no matter the audience positioning, feel
sympathy/pity for her
 The feeling of amazement comes in when the audience is frustrated that Ennis‟ wife did not say anything
 When Jack and Ennis enter the house they „play it cool‟ and start talking about their children , the
audience at this point are appalled that they can act as if nothing happened, the audience are still
empathise with the wife
 Then Jack and Ennis leave together, as Ennis puts on his coat he says that they‟ll be “drinking and talking”
but as the audience know their characteristics and what they get up to, they would feel uncertain/doubtful
that Ennis is telling the truth (the wife feels this way too)
 As it cuts to the next scene with an establishing shot, we see a big MOTEL sign, the viewers immediately
know what's going on and the audience are proven to be certain /right.
 Next shot is Jack and Ennis smoking and holding each other in a bed– Again ,depending on the position of
the audience they might feel aggravated by their actions or delighted that they together again.
 But the opposing audience may feel relief when Jack asks “What are we gonna do now” and Ennis replies
“I doubt there's anything we can do” which obviously will make the opposing side happy as they are
against this, however the preferred audiences might be saddened/ disappointed because they have
followed these characters through a journey

4. Emotional Responses
Brokeback Mountain The Exorcist
• In this sequence audiences • As it is adapted for true
go through many emotions events the audiences fear
at once, many people feel becomes more real as they
shocked when they kiss watch this
• Desensitization for • An emotional contagion as
homosexuals as they are all the audiences most
naturally exposed to this probably react in the same
way with similar emotions
• In this clip Jack and Ennis
finally meet again after • In this clip Regan is being
some long years, but possessed but is thought to
unaware that their secret be in a fit so the mother and
has been found by nanny call the doctors to
someone closer to home... come and investigate...
Both are controversial films that evoke the element of surprise

5. The Exorcist-
Audiences feeling & emotions
 Automatically we know something is wrong because in the background we can hear Regan screaming
uncontrollably so they feel relief when the door bell rings and help is on the way.
 The audience might feel annoyed/frustrated that they are doctors because at this point are convinced that she
is not ill but possessed, especially when they start talking about spasms and medications, but the opposing
side might be still relieved because they probably feel like this is all psychological and the doctors are here to
fix it
 Shocked/horrified when the door opens and we see Regan being possessed, this is the same feeling as the
characters in the room, we see all of them with the same reaction in one frame.
 As Regan screams “Make it stop!” “Its burning!” the audience (and the adults in the room) feel helpless
because they cannot help her and scared for Regan, also because she is shouting for her mothers help and all
she can do is watch
 Frightened/petrified Regan‟s eyes turn white as she ejects a roaring voice, the film makers achieve this fright
with a close up shot of her head plunged onto the pillow which shocks the audience because she comes in shot
and they didn't‟t expect this
 Sickened when her neck swells up- Passive readers would see this as her simply being possessed, but most
probably oppositional would argue that the reason for her neck swelling up is because she was injected with a
needle not so long ago
 Shocked when Regan slaps the grown man, they make him fall violently to show how much strength she has
 Then Regan jumps on the bed and repeatedly shouts inappropriate words, at this point the audience will feel
outraged/appalled at this behaviour, it makes it more inappropriate that she is a 12 years old and also on her
bed with legs wide opened
 Then there is a shot of her mothers reaction screaming while clutching her napkin, we can see that she is
distraught by Regan's actions although as the audience we understand she is possessed and not Regan‟s
actions
 Relieved when they hold her down and give her an injection to calm down and understanding when the
mother is forced out of the room screaming .

6. Cinematography
• Eye- level with Ennis from Coach to window which • Shaky hand held cam to follow the action
turns into a medium close up - the audience get to as they are running up the stairs that
see his change in emotion from boredom to evokes a sense or rush and desperation
happiness as he sees Jacks car
• The camera tracks them all the way to the
• POV of Jack coming out of his car
door for a sense of following them through
• When they hug we get 2 different shots from 2 angles this odd encounter, the tracking picks up
cutting in and out of each other so the audience can
see both of their reactions on their conversation and their sense of
panic
• The camera follows Ennis pushing Jack towards the
wall -during this shot we see the lust/love in their • As soon as they walk in we cut to Regan on
eyes, helps the audience understand their emotions the bed for a few seconds, then quickly
• Extreme close up when they kiss- shows the intensity into a reaction shot with all characters in a
as they grab each others faces – and highlights Jacks single frame to show how intense they
wedding ring then also Ennis‟ which will obviously look which is what the audience probably
outrage the audience feel as well
• High angle, POV from the wife as she catches them • Panning from the adults to the bed so we
kissing and a reaction shot can get an insight of what they are seeing
• Slowly tracking the wife as with a medium shot • Lots of close-ups for single reactions
helps the audience see how she is coping
• Inside the motel its a low-key soft lighting that gives • Very shaky hand held as Regan jumps
a sense of romance which also suggests to the everywhere on the bed
audience that this is a special moment for Jack and • POV from Regan as she get injected, helps
Ennis the audience see from Regan‟s perspective
• 2 shots, close-ups to show the intimacy between
them and signifies how they feel- close

7. Genre
• Brokeback mountain is a Drama, Romance and • Adapted from a novel but concentrates
Western .. It challenges generic convections of on the supernatural side which attracts
the western melodrama with a gay narrative. mainstream audiences- which is its
target audience
• Western themes are evident in Brokeback
Mountain, yet the film does not stick to all the
Western convections • The Exorcist is said to be one of the
scariest horror movies, especially in the
• Brokeback Mountain was supposedly marketed year 1973 when audience had never seen
towards older women anything like this
• It appealed to female audiences because the
• It evoked new and more real emotions
melodrama genre is traditionally targeted at
females of fright from the audiences

8. Narrative
• Convectional narrative • Classical Narrative- the
structure- easier for the audience follow the
audience to follow and characters from the
doesn't confuse them- beginning
• Double journeys- helps the • Scenes of horror adds to
audience get a perspective the build-up of narrative
from both sides so that they and keeps audiences on
are emotionally attached to edge for the next scary
both Jack and Ennis, rather scene
than having a protagonist
Both follow the Classical Hollywood Narrative, they are not set out to
manipulate audiences emotions with an unconventional plot

9. Ideology-
Messages and Values
• Brokeback Mountain was an introduction to • Ideology of Heaven and Hell explored, the battles
homosexuality and gave us an emotional insight to gay between good and evil in the context of religion
men on-screen--The film was celebrated for the ways in • Science vs. Religion
which the gay male characters were represented, and the • Loss of Faith from the younger priest but Gaining
resulting impact on mainstream culture. Faith from the mother perspective
• Brokeback does not conform to American Ideologies, or • Innocence being damaged by evil as Regan is
to a political ideology, but instead presents itself as an
exposed to this Supernatural event
examination of a homophobic culture where
• Censorship-It was banned in 1986 under the Video
homosexuality did exist and was not necessarily
flamboyant or overtly gay.
Recordings Act because it was too scary for home
• New Queer Cinema movement typically share certain viewing
ideologies, such as the rejection of the „normality‟ of • Government censorship banned The Exorcist
heterosexuality and the lives of LGBT protagonists living because they believe it presents "unjustified"
on the edge of society propaganda in favour of Christianity
• LGBT community Ideologies- in this film „queer‟
ideological concerns are put forward addressing Both Films hold religious responses/issues
homophobia that not everyone agrees with and goes
• Ideology of romance and tragedy that is found in many against their believes. Being gay is an
melodramatic films abomination in Christianity/Islam and the
• Ideology of clashing cultures where Censorship was
needed- Many countries disagreed with what this film fear of evil/demons are in support of
has to offer, places like China and the Middle-east put a Religion which frightens the audience as
religious and political ban on it they most probably had to second-guess
their believes after watching The Exorcist.

10. Mise-en-scene
• The outfits and props are of convections • The Prop operator put Linda Blair (Regan)
to the western genre on a harness and thrashed her everywhere
to make it more believable that she is being
• The different coloured hats worn by the possessed- seeing a little girl suffering is
cowboys are representing their difference what evokes outrage within the audience
in character, the black and the white hats • Prosthetic- for neck swelling up, looked very
contrast each other just like their realistic for viewers in the 70‟s- but
personalities, yet just like the colours, audiences now are desensitized to horrific
they compliment each other too. scenes from the Exorcist and will not have
the same emotional reaction as they did
• The appearance of his young daughter when the film came out
makes the audience a bit uncomfortable • No special effects which is what makes it
and sense that it is not right more terrifying as it looks more believable

11. Sound
• As they kiss each other, -the • Non-diegetic screaming from
filmmakers add a guitar playing in the
background which softens the Regan in the background- leaves
roughness of the cowboys grasping the audience to imagine what is
each others faces – adds a sense of happening – makes them
romance for the audience curious and frightened
• Heavy breathing and panting as they • Non-diegetic demon voice as she
grasp each other – helps the audience
see the heat that they have for each roars and shouts
other • No music in the background to
• Guitar stops for the reaction of Ennis‟ concentrate on the action
wife at the door to focus on her face- • Continuous screaming by the
the silence intensifies her emotions for mother in background adds to
the audience
the tension
• Sound of Ennis‟ daughter in the
background as they arrive in the house
makes the audience realise that it was
thoughtless of them to do it near the
presence of a child- it contributes to
the outrage of their behavior
• Non- diegetic cars going past Motel..
• Atmosphere, as they lay in bed talking-
helps focus on Jack and Ennis
conversation

12. Context of Spectatorship
• Stuart Halls theory suggests a • The horror genre is one of
Negotiated and Opposing the most genres that is
reading due to the content watched with other people
for entertainment
• Uses and Gratifications
Theory- under personal • Mainstream appeal for a
identity, a spectator might find simple convectional
an aspect of the film that Hollywood film
relates to him e.g. A gay person
might identify with Jack and
• Horror approach makes it
Ennis‟ situation
more appealing to the mass
audiences – and regular
• The advanced content suggest
horror spectators
mature audiences that can
handle unexpected emotional
reaction

13. Brokeback Mountain Spectators/ Fans
“I first felt the power inherent within my “Here is a love story from director Ang Lee in
own gay spectatorship of Brokeback which the taboo word "love" is never spoken. In
Mountain when Ennis and Jack kissed for fact the whole movie is a rich, spacious,
the first time... The success of Brokeback passionate way of showing, not telling, feelings
Mountain only added to my expectations of that dare not speak their name - and doing so
seeing a queer on-screen representation with superb intelligence and magnificent
that would be positive and affirming. ” openness.”
Craig Snyder, ‘Fear and loathing
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
on Brokeback Mountain’

14. Brokeback Mountain Critics
It is a gripping love story about two individuals whose unconventional “In presenting Jack and Ennis as
affair is not easily understood by the rest of society. „normal‟ married men who like to go
I'm of course referring to "King Kong." on fishing trips together, Brokeback
"Brokeback Mountain," on the other hand, is a dull and often carelessly Mountain threatens our culture‟s
campy romance that rivals "The Hours" as the most overrated movie of very definitions of heterosexuality
the decade. and masculinity.”
John Niccum ‘A Dull and Overrated affair’ Harry M. Benshoff writes,
University of North Texas
– Jump Cut

15. The Exorcist Spectators/ Fans
An unforgettable
horror film that doesn't
just get under my skin
- it stays there.
Beth Accomando,
KPBS.org
If movies are, among other things,
Like all good horror, it taps into the opportunities for escapism, then The Exorcist
audience's primal fears such as madness, is one of the most powerful ever made.
random evil, and transformation. Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times
Matt Ford, BBC

16. The Exorcist Critics
I have always believed
The Exorcist to be
overrated. It is a creepy
and atmospheric film
that contains a few
shocking scenes, but it is There is profanity and the use of Christ‟s name in vain. More
not as far above the likes negatively, there are numerous accounts of demonic activity,
of The Omen and including Regan masturbating with a crucifix. While I have no
Rosemary's Baby as its doubts that a demon could do this, it remains shocking and
proponents would argue may drown out some of the God-triumphing-over-Satan
aspects which dominate the film‟s core.
James Berardinelli
Andrew Hager, Christian Answers

17. Summary
• Both Brokeback Mountain and The Exorcist are controversial
movies with themes of religious views
• They are both films that break comfort zones of audiences
• Shock and surprise plays a huge part in these films which is
the main emotion detected
• Both have had Censorship due to provocative narratives
• Two great films that will always be debated and argued over
because of the different views that each spectator holds