Tim Burton Research Paper

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Gothic genre in Tim Burton films Introduction Tim Burton has directed many well-known films. The majority of his films have a Gothic aspect such as Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, and Frankenweenie and Sweeny Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The gothic genre is a genre of fiction characterized by mystery and supernatural horror, often set in a dark castle or other medieval setting. Gothic fiction, which is largely dominated by the subgenre of gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism. Tim Burton defined a whole other genre of films by creating gothic, dark films with sinister atmosphere. Many artists and other factors have influenced his style. Impressionists’ andexpressionists’ work and…show more content…
The film was also said to be, “Quite possibly the most bizarre and flat-out surreal effort of Tim Burton's career.” However, the plot revolves around a recently deceased young couple that becomes ghosts who haunt their former home, and an obnoxious, devious ghost named Beetlejuice from the Netherworld who tries to scare away the new inhabitants permanently. A movie review by Roger Ebert mentioned Michael Keaton’s role, “One of the problems is Keaton, as the exorcist. Nearly unrecognizable behind pounds of makeup, he prances around playing Betelgeuse as a mischievous and vindictive prankster. But his scenes don’t seem to fit with the other action, and his appearances are mostly a nuisance.” The film contains several gothic aspects as well as creepy and comedic ones. “To be sure, there has never before been a movie after world quite like this. Heaven, or whatever it is, seems a lot like a cruise ship with a cranky crew. The newly-decease finds a manual, which instructs them on how to live as ghosts, and they also find an advertisement from a character named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), who specializes in ‘exorcisms of the living.’ They enlist him to try to scare the New Yorkers out of the house, but he turns out to be a cantankerous demon - more trouble than he’s worth.” The characters have gothic elements. For example, Beetlejuice is dead therefore his makeup and clothes have to appear old and in bad…show more content…
A review describes Frankenweenie as a “good family fun that sits a bit further into darkness than some children may be comfortable with, but ultimately it’s a great story about a boy and his dog and the lengths they’ll go for each other. While it isn’t scary, violent, or boner inducing, it does make you feel good to watch it and you’ll have some laughs and feel right at home in the season.” It is both a parody and homage to the 1931 film Frankenstein. Twenty-eight years later, Burton decided to work on a 2012 remake of that film. Frankenstein is infused with elements of the gothic novel and the Romantic Movement and is considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction. Frankenweenie translates Frankenstein to the American suburbs, using the dark themes of the Frankenstein story to lay bare the unthinking conformity of this apparently calm suburban community. Sparky the dog is one by the way he looks after Victor, the boy who brings him back to life. Sparky is similar to Frankenstein’s monster because he both are brought to life. Sparky appears like a normal dog but he has bolts in his neck and many stitches around his body. In Frankenweenie, Tim Burton uses suburbia to explore the different meanings attached to death and the unknown. The settings in Frankenweenie are distinct just like in Beetlejuice. In Frankenweenie, the pretty suburban setting looks as if it came directly out of a family sitcom. In

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