AN AN ANALYSIS OF REALITY, NEUROTIC, AND MORAL ANXIETY IN DON’T BREATHE FILM

Andreas Elvyno; Aisyah  Al-Baroroh

doi:10.33365/linguistics_and_literature.v6i2.880

Andreas Elvyno Universitas Pamulang
Aisyah Al-Baroroh Universitas Pamulang

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33365/linguistics_and_literature.v6i2.880

Keywords: anxiety, Don’t Breathe, moral anxiety, neurotic anxiety

Abstract

This article analyzes the depiction of anxiety in the Don’t Breathe, focusing on the types of anxiety experienced by the characters, Rocky and Alex. Using Calvin Hall's theory of anxiety (1954), the research identifies three key forms of anxiety portrayed in the film: reality anxiety, neurotic anxiety, and moral anxiety. Reality anxiety manifests through the characters' fear of real external dangers, such as getting caught or physical harm. Neurotic anxiety reflects their internal conflicts and fears about losing control over instincts and impulses. Moral anxiety reveals their feelings of guilt and shame related to the ethical implications of their actions. Employing a qualitative approach, this article examines how these anxieties shape the characters' decisions and behaviours in a high-pressure, life-threatening situation. The film's use of setting, cinematography, and narrative techniques intensifies the portrayal of anxiety, immersing viewers in the characters' psychological struggles. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how psychological theories of anxiety can be applied in film studies to explore complex character experiences and enrich narrative meaning.

Keywords: anxiety, Don’t Breathe, moral anxiety, neurotic anxiety, reality anxiety

References

Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating. Qualitative and Quantitave Research (4th ed.). Pearson Education.

Barry, P. (2017). Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (4th ed.). Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2016). Film Art: An Introduction (11th ed.). New York:

McGraw-Hill Education.

Feist, J., Feist, G. J., & Roberts, T. (2018). Theories of Personality (9th ed.). New York:

McGraw-Hill Education.

Freud, S. (1926). Inhibitions, Symptoms and Anxiety. London: Hogarth Press.

Hall, Calvin S. 1954. Primer of Freudian Psychology. The World Publishing Company.

Jing, Z. (2023). Exploring the Narrative Literature in Films. Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science. 21. 140 - 143. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376965187_Exploring_the_Narrative_Literature_in_Films

Junaid, S. (2017). The basic Concept of Children Literature. English and Literature Journal. 1(1). 22-31.

https://journal.uinalauddin.ac.id/index.php/elite/article/download/3348/3162/

McLeod, S. A. (2018). Psychodynamic Approach. Simply Psychology.

Monaco, J. (2009). How to Read a Film: Movies, Media, Multimedia (4th ed.). Oxford:

Oxford University Press.

Stam, R. (2000). Film Theory: An Introduction. Malden: Blackwell Publishers.

Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & Devault, M.L. (2016). Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods: A Guidebook and Research (4th edition). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Warkey, E., Sili,S., & Asanti, C. (2020). Moses’s Anxiety and Defense Mechanism In Exodus: Gods and King Movie. 4(1). 93-107. https://download.garuda.kemdikbud.go.id/article.php?article=1620165&val=11060&title=MOSES+ANXIETY+AND+DEFENSE+MECHANISM+IN+EXODUS+GODS+AND+KINGS+MOVIE

Yimer, Daniel M. 2019. On the Interaction Between Literature and Psychology. IEEE-SEM Publications. 7(8), 155 - 167. https://www.ieeesem.com/researchpaper/On_the_Interaction_Between_Literature_and_Psychology.pdf