Comparison of two Horror Films.

An American Werewolf in London

Directed by John Landis, starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, and Jenny Agutter. 
It is about two foreigners,  David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), on holiday in England countryside. Got in a situation where they have been a victim of Werewolf attack; one got eaten, one got scratched and turned into a werewolf.  This could have been prevented if they listened to what the pub-goers' advice:  to walk on a road and keep off moonlight but they disobeyed that and got in a situation where they have been seen by the werewolf.

We see denotations in the films such as the Full Moon conotates the transformation of human into werewolf, darkness conotates the horror genre, the five pointed star on the wall conotates occult club.

28 Days Later

Directed by Danny Boyle, starring  Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, and Christopher Eccleston.
It is about a man-made virus called "Rage"; if infected, you wouldn't be able to control yourself and just rage about, it is also very contagious. The virus was discovered when Animal Activist invaded a laboratory with the intention of releasing chimpanzees that are undergoing experimentation, infected by a virus. The virus has spread throughout the UK and survivors are then forced to try to find sanctuary.


We see denotations such as the whole dark lab which conotates scientific research and activity, cages conotates imprisonments and more.


The two films shows different sides to the Horror genre; An American Werewolf in London presents a single 'monster' whereas in 28 Days Later, most of the community is infected with the virus. In the An American Werewolf, some aspects of the genre Comedy is also shown: when the two foreigners noticed that there are off the road which lessens the tension a bit. Both films presents the feature of 'Virus' and how it spreads; the werewolf can pass on the werewolf virus by biting or having in contact with someone without that someone dying. In 28 days later, the virus spread more easily by having in contact with another living thing such as animals or humans. This involves the audience by giving them the fear of the virus and the effects of this.