HIGH CONCEPT FILMS-CASE STUDY
THE CRITERIA FOR A HIGH CONCEPT FILM
- Clearly defined characters, often recognisable in terms of stereotypes and archetypes
- A simple narrative with universal themes. This can often be summarised in a single sentence or image that makes it easier to market.
- High production values evident in the cinematography, costumes, settings and special effects.
- Elements that are easy to market and promote, for example iconic repeatable images, a recognisable soundtrack and potential for merchandising.
- High profile stars often related to the film’s genre
- ‘Larger’ than life protagonists
- Visual appeal, including lavish sets and expensive action scenes
- Highly dramatic and hyperbolic plot situations
HIGH CONCEPT FILM
A High Concept Film can convey it’s hook and mass appeal with a one or two sentence description. High Concept Films are also produced by the major film studios that are media conglomerates and therefore have the ability to back these films and rely on financial returns, they are also films that are classed with a ‘big budget’.
SUICIDE SQUAD
Suicide Squad is an American SuperHero film which is based on the DC Comics supervillain team, it consists of an intelligence officer assembles a team of imprisoned super-villains to execute dangerous black ops missions. Meanwhile, the homicidal Joker launches a diabolical agenda of his own.
CHARACTERS
Suicide Squad conveys features of a high concept film as it has defined characters that are recognisable through an array of stereotypes the characters consist of The Joke, Harley Quinn, DeadShot, Colonel Rick Flag, Amanda Waller, Captain Boomerang,El Dabilo , Entantress and some others.
The Characters I’m going to focus on are Harley Quinn, DeadShot.
HARLEY QUINN
Harley Quinn is one of DC most favouritised and recognisable characters as she is usually portrayed in her black and red jester costume however in recent years she has been portrayed in the well known matching blue and red bomber jacket and shorts, this outfit is tied together with her matching half ombre pink/blue hair which is shown in Suicide Squad, she is also know as The Jokers lover.
The story of how Harley Quinn became who she is , is shown as each character is introduced in the film we learn that Harley Quinn is the persona of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, and that she worked at Arkham Asylum as a psychologist where The Joker was held, later in the introduction of her character we see that she becomes fascinated with the Joker and falls hopelessly in love with him through the manipulation of the Joker. She later becomes the Jokers accomplice.
In the film Suicide Squad Harley Quinn is played by Margot Robbie , this links to the idea of high concept films as she is a high profile celebrity and a well known actress. Margot Robbie’s version of Harley Quinn really lives up to the expectations of the character as she absorbs and personates the character perfectly and she lives up to the stereotypes that Harley Quinn is;for example characters in high concept films have icon and recognisbale lines such as “We’re bad guys it’s what we do”.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is shown in the film wearing matching blue and red bomber jacket and shorts, with her matching half ombre pink/blue hair, this shows high production value as her costume was made by Kate Hawley who has also been a costume designer for other high concept films such as the Hobbit.
DEADSHOT
DeadShot is a fictional character who appears in the American comic books which are published by DC Comics.He is an excellent sniper who regularly boasts of never missing a shot, and is often considered one of the deadliest assassins in the DC Universe.
In the film Suicide Squad Deadshot is played by Will Smith, this further adds to the idea of a high concept film as Will Smith is one of the biggest celebrities therefore by him being in a big film that is under a huge Comic brand/company it adds the the genre of the film as he has been in other action films Handcock, Bright, I,Robert and many others.
The trailer itself conveys the ideas of high concept films, for example the beginning of the trailer is highly dramatic as there is eerie piano music plays throughout the first part which is then followed by the scene in the restaurant/meeting, however the music still plays over this scene making it more dramatic.
The whole narrative of the trailer is slow and dragged out , the speech is powerful as it is clear and well spoken , giving you a senses of acknowledgement and awareness of what they are talking about, there are multiple cross-cuts in the trailer which switch from the restaurant to other scenes in the film, as this happens the other film shots are in slow motion adding to the highly dramatic theme.
Further into the trailer they show the use of visual appeal as they have several action sequences that are clearly were expensive. They also include hyperbolic plot situations as they also include multiple clips of relationships that also occur throughout the movie; this shows and implies that the film will show that many of the characters will experience difficult situations as they are trying to save the world from ‘World War 3’. Going back to the actions scenes , they are large and hyperbolic it make the audience question what exactly are they fighting.
The trailer also consist of high profile stars who are often related to the films genre for example Cara Delevigne has been in other action/adventure films such as Valerian; and Joel Kinnaman who plays Rick Flag in Suicide Squad has been in action films such as RoboCop, therefore by having actors who are known for a certain genre of film such as action to appear in the suicide squad trailer adds to the overall thrill of the film/trailer.
There are multiple elements of high production values that are shown throughout the trailer.For example there are several shots of different and the same characters in multiple costumes the use of having characters in different costumes shows the quality and the value of the film it shows people that the film had a big budget (175 million USD)and were able to buy other costumes. The trailer also has elements of special effects such as some of the action scenes where they have army helicopters, there is also the use of special effects linked to makeup as the character Killer Croc is shown with scales which were done with SFX makeup.
SOUNDTRACK
The film Suicide Squad adds to the idea of a high concept film as the soundtrack is very recognisable as it has several well known music artist such as Panic! At The Disco and Eminem. On this album Panic! At The Disco sang a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody which is originally a song from one of the biggest bands in the world Queen, this song takes place in the end credit scene where all the members of the suicide squad are shown back in there cells this further leads to a group of people who are armed breaking into Harley Quinn’s cell and shows the re connection of her and The Joker; this song overall makes the scene more dramatic.
Heathens By Twenty One Pilots is the films theme song, by this I mean it is the song that was made for the film and it’s the most recognisable song of the sound track. Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Ohio, the band is made up of the lead singer Tyler Joseph and the drummer Josh Dun. Their musical style is considered alternative hip-hop/indie pop.
Twenty One Pilots have been around since 2009, however hit their peak in 2015/2016 when they announced a new album ‘Blurryface’. After releasing their third single “Stressed Out”, it become the groups highest selling single peaking at NO.2 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100.
In June 2016, the band released the song ‘Heathans‘ as it was the first single from the Suicide Squad Soundtrack; a music video for the song was released June 21st.Twenty One Pilots became the third rock act to have two singles simultaneously chart in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, joining the Beatles and Elvis Presley,in addition to becoming the third duo to accomplish this feat. Heathens peaked the NO.2 spot of Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the charts for 52 weeks.
The song Heathens is about a group of people who don’t fit in or are considered people with odd minds which refers to the characters in Suicide Squad as they are people with abilities and are unusual. The song connotes that outsiders such as the Suicide Squad are careful with what type of cliques they hang out with or associate with, and how people shouldn’t be so quick to judge eachother.
The song Heathens is written by an alternative band which reflects the characters is Suicide Squad, as they are outsiders; people who aren’t part of main stream crowds and who challenge natural stereotypes.Which further links to the genre of the film.
The opening of the music video is the same shot of Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary that is also the opening shot of the film. The band members themselves are shown within the prison, as one Tyler Joseph is playing the role as criminal,further adding to the overall theme of the film.The music video also has several cross-cuts of scenes from the film reinforcing that the song is representing the characters, through the cross-cuts is shows the journey of the characters, therefore this makes the music video/song recognisable and memorable through the intertexuality references, also by having clips of the film in the video it makes the audience want to watch the film.
Overall, the soundtrack is very diverse as it has alternative bands, rappers and singers showing that there are genres of music for everyone on this album.
Molly Goldthorpe Media 