The first character I will be discussing is the 'scream queen'. This stereotype is usually busty, blond, dumb, attractive and open about her sexuality.
This film opening below (from the film Scary Movie) very clearly represents and portrays how the 'scream queen' is in slasher films:
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In this film opening, the narrative and characters are entirely influenced by the film 'Scream'. This film, 'Scary Movie', really plays on the common stereotypes found in the slasher horror genre. The scream queen in this film opening is blonde, very busty, attractive and she decides to pick, from a choice of weapons, the banana which is the most dumb thing someone could do because if she had a weapon she could have defended herself. Also, in this film opening, she is making popcorn, as 'Casey' did in the film 'Scream'. Making popcorn to eat while watching a movie is quite a teenage thing to do, so, this connotes that teenagers can relate to this character and that hobby connoting that the target audience is also teen.
Examples of 'scream queens' in existing slasher films are:
'Annie Brackett' and 'Lynda Van Der Klok' from the film 'Halloween':
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'Casey Becker' from the film 'Scream':
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'Casey Cooper' from the film 'Scream 2':
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'Casey Cooper' from the film 'Scream 2':
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'Marion Crane' from the film 'Psycho':
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'Drew Decker' from the film 'Scary Movie':
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Final Girl...
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'Drew Decker' from the film 'Scary Movie':
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The 'final girl' is usually the main protagonist in slasher films and she normally survives. She is tough, resourceful, somewhat nerdy, intelligent, slightly unattractive, innocent and a virgin. In some cases the 'final girl' can be a boy therefore making it the 'final boy'.
Examples of the 'final girl' in existing slasher films are:
'Laurie Strode' from the film 'Halloween':
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'Sidney Prescott' from the films 'Scream', 'Scream 2', 'Scream 3' and 'Scream 4':
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'Jody Marken' from the film 'Cherry Falls':
'Alice Hardy' from the film 'Friday the 13th':
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'Cindy Campbell' from the film 'Scary Movie':
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'Nancy Thompson' from the film 'A Nightmare on Elm Street':
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Killer
Then there is the anonymous killer who is usually a man wearing all black, black leather boots, holding props such as knives, hammers, chainsaws or axes etc... The killer's face won't usually be shown, making them anonymous; Although, some slasher films do show the killer's face or reveal who the killer is at the END of the film. In some cases the killer may be female e.g. in Jennifer's body, it is also known to the audience throughout the film that Jennifer is the killer.
Then there is the anonymous killer who is usually a man wearing all black, black leather boots, holding props such as knives, hammers, chainsaws or axes etc... The killer's face won't usually be shown, making them anonymous; Although, some slasher films do show the killer's face or reveal who the killer is at the END of the film. In some cases the killer may be female e.g. in Jennifer's body, it is also known to the audience throughout the film that Jennifer is the killer.
Examples of the 'killer' in existing slasher films are:
'Michael Myers' from the film 'Halloween':
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'Jason Voorhees' and 'Mrs. Voorhees' from the film 'Friday the 13th':
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'Freddie Krueger' from the film 'A Nightmare on Elm Street':
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'Ghostface' from the films 'Scream', 'Scream 2', 'Scream 3' and 'Scream 4':
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'Ghostface' reveal in 'Scream':
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'Jennifer' from the film 'Jennifer's Body':
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