attack the block

• the director of attack the block is joe cornish
• attack the block was release in october 2011
• production company is UK
• attack the block genres:

  • sci-fi
  • comedy
  • action
  • horror
• ATB main characters:

  • moses
  • sam
  • pest
  • brewis
  • high-hatz
• moses:

  Protagonist: ‘Gang’ leader. A teenager. Age unknown for most of the film.

  Criminal as he mugs Sam. Kills the first Alien that lands and as a result is

  responsible for the alien invasion. Becomes the saviour by the end of the film.
• sam:

  Young trainee nurse. Begins films as protagonist. Is mugged on her way home

  on fireworks night. Resents the young gang who mugged her but comes to

  work with them for the greater good.
• pest:

  One of the gang members who looks up to and takes ‘orders’ from Moses. Is

  often the comedic relief in the film and offers audience some insight into life of

  a teenager by expressing what Moses does or cannot.
• brewis:

  Zoology student stoner who comes to the Block to buy drugs. Is very much the

  ‘fish out of water’ in the situation.
• high-hatz:

  Antagonist: feared gang member who runs the Block in terms of crime and

  drugs. Psychopathic, prone to violence and owner of the weed grown by Ron

  at the top of the Block.
• ATB key scenes:

  • opening scene
  • gang walk through the estate
  • getting to rons weed room
  • final scene
  • police van attack scene
• the opening scene:

  the gang mug sam in the road at night in london
• final scene shows moses' redemption and becoming of a better person, although he is being arrested everyone sees him as a hero
• Attack the Block

  2011 British science fiction comedy-horror film directed by Joe Cornish
• There are many aliens that appear suddenly, and their neon teeth are a frightening element
• The fur of the aliens can get lost at times, as seen in behind-the-scenes footage
• The establishing shot of Wyndham Tower is lit in a strange way, using prominent spotlights that make it look like a spaceship, enhancing the science fiction aesthetic
• The design of the building, with its retro-futuristic style, greenish hues, and blue tints, contributes to the sci-fi feel
• The corridors of the building have a similar aesthetic to the corridors in Alien, with stenciled numbers and lettering
• The filmmakers have not directly replicated elements from other films, but rather taken a mashup of influences and created their own version
• The score uses dark tones and electronic elements, reminiscent of Alien and Blade Runner
• The use of the BMX bike is reminiscent of E.T. and Stranger Things, showing the film's influences
• The color palette, with teal, grey, and blue hues, is an important aspect of the film's visual style
• The lighting and color changes as the characters move closer to the block, indicating the increasing alien presence
• The opening scene, with the use of smoke, sparse lighting, and reaction shots, is reminiscent of Spielberg's Amblin style
• The film references Spielberg's work, such as E.T. and Jurassic Park, in its camera work and editing
• The film's pace and the quick introduction of the alien establish a sense of urgency and surprise
• The police van attack scene is important for its aesthetics and color palette
• The ending, with the character hanging in the building, is reminiscent of Die Hard
• The characters are leaving the streets


  To go into the relative safety of what they believe is the block, but they're actually locking themselves in
• Police fan scene

  • Visceral attacks on the police officers, with blood splatter and editing/pacing to create tension
• The ending feels like a victim of the budget
• The flag is used

  As an additional iconographic element
• The graffiti of the characters' names on the wall is a purposeful shot for foreshadowing
• Graffiti


  Has connotations of tagging an area and laying claim to something specific
• Graffiti has shifted in meaning from being seen as a crime to being referred to as street art
• Tracking shot of Sam walking through the market

  • It's obscured by the market stalls, establishing that we're just observing her world rather than controlling the camera
• The shot of Sam walking up the street alone

  Instantly shows she's isolated and alone compared to the previous busy market scene
• The genre of Attack the Block can be interpreted in different ways, as long as the student can justify their choice
• When teaching Attack the Block, the focus is on identifying the visual references and influences that contribute to the different genres (sci-fi, horror, "hoodie horror")