Genre Research: Horror

The Horror film genre , like any other genre has a number of features and characteristics that can be easily indentified by an audience , these conventions are reproduced over and over again

Stock Characters

• Within a horror film there are a number of usual stock characters all with different traits

The Jock

• Within horror films a jock character is usually portrayed . The jock character is usually good looking and popular amongst his peers however this character is loud and arrogant , usually a bully also. This behaviour may lead to the jock being disliked by many people aside from his peers. Usually portrayed as brave (or stupid) the jock thinks they are untouchable , which usually leads to their death.

The Final Girl

The final girl within a horror film portrays a number of good aspects such as being intelligent, good looking, clean living and quick witted. It may be for these reason that this character always survives until the end to face the killer and either defeat them or escape their wraith. The final girl is a neutral , likeable character that the audience can sympathise with for whatever reason . The common message encoded in this character is that only the good survive.

PandoraPandora is a character who at first appears innocent and harmless but throughout the plot comes to be revealed as evil . The Pandora is sometime realised by one character long before the rest of their peers , however they may be shushed by the Pandora or not believed by anyone else.

The Pervert

• The pervert does not play a major role within horror films. Due to their obsession with fulfilling their sexual desires this character usually is out of touch with what is going on, leading to them dying first most of the time.

The Wanderer

• The wanderer is usually killed quite early in the film . This character will go to investigate or get help which normally results in them never returning

The Popular Girl

• The popular girl is the female version of a jock , good looking and arrogant , admired by her peers. Her bad behaviour often results in her death