Hot Fuzz

By Jonathan Bailey
 Media Language Used
• Shot types - It opens up with an establishing shot the show that it is based somehow
within the police, this is then taken into more details by an extreme close up
showing the main characters police badge, signifying that he works for the police.
It then follows on and we see different types of shots showing his uniform and the
training he has done to get into the position of work he is at now at the start of
the film.
•
• Editing – The editing that is used makes it so we can see more of the main characters
past very fast, and that is done by the amount of cut shots used showing different
activities taking place to reach his level of profession he is in now. This can also
relate to the audience and genre of the film, as we do not expect an older
generation to enjoy a fast paced action film, whereas a younger audience are
more likely to.
•
• Mise-en-scene – This signifies to us straight away that it is based on the police force,
due to the footage of a police building and so we know this is a police building
everyone is wearing police uniforms. In the other clips showing the main
characters past we see him taking part in police driving exercise, then a cycling
exercise (links back to comedy aspect). To signify that this film should not be
shown to a very young audience, and also to link back to comedy, a man dressed
up in a Santa costume stabs him in the hand.
•
• Sound – The sound that is used is a narrative voice over explaining all of the different
exercises and activities that are taking place, while they are being shown on
screen. This may be used to show the formallity of the police force, or that it
would not be possible for the character to explain what is happening while he is
 Semiotics
• The preferred reading to this film shown from the opening is that it
is an action film, but with a comical twist shown by the
seriousness of a speed cycling exercise demonstrated by the
lead characters, and also someone dressed in a santa costume
stabs him, which shows the contrast which relates santa to
being a good thing.
•
• An Oppositional reading may be however that he is an undercover
serial killer that has been arrested by the police for something
he hasn't done and now seeks revenge on them, and all of the
training he has gone through is to build on their trust until one
day he kills them all, however, this is unlikely.
•
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 Representation
• From the opening to this film we see that the storyline is
based around a male police character that has been the
best at everything he has done, including some violent
events. This may be a common stereotype in films,
because if this were a woman you would be unlikely to
see her involved in a police shooting and getting stabbed
by a man dressed as Santa in films. The representation
that is used could signify that it is realistic, as the age of
the character would suit his role. If the commutation test
was applied here and instead of a man in his mid 30s
playing a police officer involved in all this action, a 5 year
old child was, it would be very unrealistic.
 Institution
• Main two companies involved – Universal Studios and Working Title, with no doubt Studio
Canal doing the distribution across europe.
•
• Released in the year 2007
•
• Budget - $16,000,000 (estimated)

• Profit - $5,848,464 (USA) (22 April 2007) (825 Screens)

• Profit - £5,918,149 (UK) (18 February 2007) (427 Screens)

•
• This film is compared with Shaun of the Dead (2004) which was produced by the same
people as Hot Fuzz 3 years prior to Hot Fuzz.
•
• Budget - $4,000,000 (estimated)
•
• Profit - $3,330,781 (USA) (26 September 2004) (607 Screens)

• Profit - £1,603,410 (UK) (11 April 2004) (367 Screens)

•
• Review of Hot Fuzz included on the final slide
 Genre
• The first signifiers to the genre we get is when it starts of in
a police building with the main character wearing a
police uniform, which signifies that this is an action film.
It then follows on to give us more hints that this may be
more than just an action film because after the intense
driving course has been mentioned, an intense cycling
course is then mentioned from which he passed. To
follow on from this, a short piece of footage in included
in his past showing someone dressed as Santa stabbing
him in the hand with a knife, and this may signify a type
of gruesome comedy, but also action.
 A typical review
• "Shaun of the Dead" was probably one of the funniest (if not the best) British black comedy
that had been released in 2004. With gritty violence that made you squirm, innocent
humour (Nick Frost) with blaspheming insults that just made you laugh out loud, and the
quick wit of Simon Pegg with some great fun and horror mixed together, "Hot Fuzz" had
a huge task of competing with the sheer greatness, of which was "Shaun of the Dead".
After much keen excitement upon seeing the teaser trailers of Hot Fuzz last year, my
stomach churned as if to say "At god damn last, a film I can look forward to in the new
year!" I felt as though it was best however, to go in with an open-neutral-mind, as I
didn't want to spoil the film with high expectations.
I actually was starting to get worried into the first segments of the film, the humour
wasn't as sharp as SOTD's first 20 minutes, and there were so many characters to
remember, most of whom didn't make sense for a while. It wasn't till Nick Frost was
introduced - that the film started picking up its pace and then decided to grab me by the
throat. The film from then, was so funny, action packed, gruesome and dark! You just do
not expect anything which was what made SOTD so great. The spontaneous actions and
humour just kept the film's pace fantastically back on track.
The great thing about Hot Fuzz was just how original it was, and the ending (no spoilers
here) just gave itself the stamp of "Most Exciting & Fun Ending In British Comedy".
The mystery and murder factor was well done as well, leaving me guessing "who did it"
all the way through the film, but as with SOTD, the dark and grotesque violence kept its
mature rating of 15, very enjoyable, yet very squirming to watch.