Michael Jackson Thriller Analysis
Tony Smith
Instructor McCleanhan
English 101
June 17th, 2015
Michael Jackson’s thriller video is an iconic short film and music video. Known for his elaborate dance moves and vocals, the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson was sure to make this video a hit when it released in 1983. This film, like most horror movies in its time period, are set up the same with villains and heroes, although the ending may leave you to believe there is no hero at all. It starts off with Michael and a young female broke down on the road. He tells her they are out of gas and at first she was reluctant to believe him, until they start walking. After a brief walk and some dialogue he told her that he is different. Soon after he turns into a werewolf the young female takes off running into the woods with him following closely. At this moment in the film the director cuts it back to reveal Michael and the same young lady in a theatre actually watching this happen in a horror movie. The woman leaves because she was scared and Michael follows her out. They start walking down the street as the actual song begins. With the lyrics of the song and the acting, you can assume that Michael is having innocent fun with the fact that the young woman was scared. When the narrator starts talking in the song, zombies begin to rise from the graveyard and trap them in a circle. One of the most memorable parts of this music video happens when Michael turns to the camera and is now a zombie as well, with his new “friends” behind him. You can’t help but to smile when you see all the living dead doing a choreographed dance with Michael. The low lighting in the street and the make-up make for a good setting for what is happening. The song fits the music video very well and you really couldn’t imagine the end product coming out any other way. After the long dance seen, where even some of the zombies have solo dance parts, the young lady starts to run to an abandoned house. At this point in the
Instructor McCleanhan
English 101
June 17th, 2015
Michael Jackson’s thriller video is an iconic short film and music video. Known for his elaborate dance moves and vocals, the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson was sure to make this video a hit when it released in 1983. This film, like most horror movies in its time period, are set up the same with villains and heroes, although the ending may leave you to believe there is no hero at all. It starts off with Michael and a young female broke down on the road. He tells her they are out of gas and at first she was reluctant to believe him, until they start walking. After a brief walk and some dialogue he told her that he is different. Soon after he turns into a werewolf the young female takes off running into the woods with him following closely. At this moment in the film the director cuts it back to reveal Michael and the same young lady in a theatre actually watching this happen in a horror movie. The woman leaves because she was scared and Michael follows her out. They start walking down the street as the actual song begins. With the lyrics of the song and the acting, you can assume that Michael is having innocent fun with the fact that the young woman was scared. When the narrator starts talking in the song, zombies begin to rise from the graveyard and trap them in a circle. One of the most memorable parts of this music video happens when Michael turns to the camera and is now a zombie as well, with his new “friends” behind him. You can’t help but to smile when you see all the living dead doing a choreographed dance with Michael. The low lighting in the street and the make-up make for a good setting for what is happening. The song fits the music video very well and you really couldn’t imagine the end product coming out any other way. After the long dance seen, where even some of the zombies have solo dance parts, the young lady starts to run to an abandoned house. At this point in the