'The Gunfighter': Short Film Analysis

2. 9 Minutes | Directed by Eric Kissack | Comedy/Western | 2014
   
   
   

   

   'The Gunfighter'

   This short film was directed by Eric Kissack in 2014 and utilises comedic effect to challenge and disregard the typical genre conventions of a traditional Western movie. This is primarily done through the way that the narrator of the events that unfold is diegetic to the characters who feature throughout the movie, and speaks aloud the internal secrets and thoughts of those within the scene, most of which are highly personal and embarrassing in content. The highly prevalent theme of hypocrisy works to not only embody the plot line that ensues, but additionally works to make the audience indecisive as to whom they align with - none of the characters are good people and therefore the spectators' sense of moral judgement is faced with an abundance of contradictions that make them as indecisive and unbiased as the narrator himself. The sadist nature of the narration is also important to consider as acting as a valid reflection of the short film's plot line and the concealed sins of those whose life it exposes.
   
   The way in which one of the first frames of the movie is the title works to emphasise Kissack's conformity to the typical conventions of a short movie, however, it is important to note that during the opening sequence the audience do not expect to witness the sudden transition from stereotype to unorthodox. This brings about a certain element of surprise that highlights the loss of such concepts - after all, the two brothers went into the saloon with the secret intention of shooting the Gunfighter dead. This only highlights further the idea of the narrator giving the audience a voyeuristic perspective into the events that are about to unfold, with this not only working to implement humour into the story, but also adding to the disruption and uneasiness of those within the scene.
   
   

   

   'The Gunfighter'

   The narrator is unseen and is not a visual character and hence he acts as a unique selling point that adapts the narrative to his own subjective tastes as a method of making the plot seem more exciting. This challenges typical movie conventions because the narrator of any film is never supposed to change or interpret the things that occur and the characters involved. This is made to seem ironic because of the way that the setting and costumes all match the typical conventions of a western movie, with the lighting constantly being dark and enigmatic to add to the supposed mystery trying to be created. 
   
   The use of music can also be found to break the conventions of mainstream film productions because those in the scene can hear it just as they listen to the narrator's viewpoint of the things unfolding/about to unfold. The fast-paced dialogue between the actual main character's within the scene quickly emphasises the scale of their involvement within the injustices they have caused, as well as the palindromic structure that the consequences of wrongdoings have upon those around you. Silence is additionally utilised for comedic effect as opposed to dramatic effect, with the brief interlude of quiet only working to stress the power and authority the narrator has over the characters and the plot line itself.
   
   

   

   'The Gunfighter'

   The way in which all of the main characters apart from Sally 'The Whore' have committed an act of evil, be it infidelity, theft, bestiality, deception or murder also works to place an emphasis upon the idea that within film, just as it is within real life, the lines that work to separate the protagonists from the antagonists are not so easy to distinguish. There is an equal amount of good and bad within everyone and therefore true alignment is impossible.