Theories (using Disturbia as an example)

1. Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposites

These are 'opposites' that come up in films to create conflict.

• good vs evil
• murderer vs Kale & Co.
• adult vs youth
• normality vs abnormality
• society vs situation
• fear vs happiness
• light vs dark
• freedom vs entrapment
• deliberate vs accidental death (self defense included)
• family vs individual
• warm vs cold
• conviction vs casual
• prisoner vs captor
• order vs chaos.

All of these create conflict which is what makes films exiting and makes the viewer want to watch.

2. Todorov
Narrative structure

• disruption of normality
• thwarted attempts
  
• resolution (death of villain)
• normality can never be the same
• new equilbrium
• death of father
• punching teacher
• lack of belief
• investigation
• no more house arrest
• gets boys back
• more mature.

3. Barthes - Action and Enigma codes

• one thing leading to another
• interest suspense
• car crash
• garage
• punching of teachr
• house arrest
• ashley spots them watching her
• voyerism
• see the woman leaving thehouse
• turner spots kale
• turner kidnaps kales mum
• kale goes round
• why is the house joined up?
• why has turner bought a shovel
• why is ronnie in the cupboard
• blood smear
• death of turner

4. Propp - Character Types

• protagonist - hero - kale
• antagonist - villain - robert turner
• helper - ronnie
• princess - ashley - mum
• the doner - mum, dad
• the dispatcher - girl, dad
• father figure - dad, mum
• false hero - police man