As it was Halloween last night, I thought it would be a good idea to do some media research so I decided to watch Halloween 2 which comes in the slasher-film subgenre. Whilst watching it I noticed the application of Tzvetan Todorov’s Narrative Theory. Todorov said that stories usually begin with an equilibrium, which is disrupted by some event leading to a series of events. The problem is eventually solved and the story returns to a new equilibrium.
The Different Stages of his Theory
1) Equilibrium (an ordered state)
As Halloween 2 is a sequel, it goes straight into the disruption stage. However, it does mention that the fictional character of Micheal Myres had been kept in a mental hospital for the last 15 years after killing his older sister on the night of Halloween. Since then everything had been fine.
2) Disruption
Micheal Myres manages to escape the mental institution and is in search of Laurie Strode. He murders many teenage babysitters and Laurie’s friends during his search.
3) Recognition
The Police are informed that Micheal Myres is on the loose but concentrate on investigating the local elementary school where it says ‘Samhain’ (lord of the dead) in blood on the chalkboard. Meanwhile Micheal Myres has in fact found the hospital where Laurie Strode has been taken; whom they find out is actually Micheal Myres’s adopted sister. He murders the hospital staff one by one.
4) Attempt to repair damage
Dr Loomis, Michael’s psychiatrist, his assistant Marion Chambers and The Marshall all drive to the hospital to get Myres before he finds Laurie. They shoot him several times but he survives and kills The Marshall. Laurie shoots him in the eyes so he is now blind but still able to wave his knife around. Finally, Dr Loomis blows up the operating room with his cigarette lighter causing an explosion in which both of them die.
5) Return to a New Equilibrium
Laurie is transferred to another hospital. The town of Haddonfield is safe again, as Micheal Myres is no longer on the loose, but he has murdered 10 people by the end.
The Different Stages of his Theory
1) Equilibrium (an ordered state)
As Halloween 2 is a sequel, it goes straight into the disruption stage. However, it does mention that the fictional character of Micheal Myres had been kept in a mental hospital for the last 15 years after killing his older sister on the night of Halloween. Since then everything had been fine.
2) Disruption
Micheal Myres manages to escape the mental institution and is in search of Laurie Strode. He murders many teenage babysitters and Laurie’s friends during his search.
3) Recognition
The Police are informed that Micheal Myres is on the loose but concentrate on investigating the local elementary school where it says ‘Samhain’ (lord of the dead) in blood on the chalkboard. Meanwhile Micheal Myres has in fact found the hospital where Laurie Strode has been taken; whom they find out is actually Micheal Myres’s adopted sister. He murders the hospital staff one by one.
4) Attempt to repair damage
Dr Loomis, Michael’s psychiatrist, his assistant Marion Chambers and The Marshall all drive to the hospital to get Myres before he finds Laurie. They shoot him several times but he survives and kills The Marshall. Laurie shoots him in the eyes so he is now blind but still able to wave his knife around. Finally, Dr Loomis blows up the operating room with his cigarette lighter causing an explosion in which both of them die.
5) Return to a New Equilibrium
Laurie is transferred to another hospital. The town of Haddonfield is safe again, as Micheal Myres is no longer on the loose, but he has murdered 10 people by the end.
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