Research for production - Stock Characters in Slasher horror

In class we have been asked to research the type of stock characters commonly found in horror films. To do this I have looked at a number of horror films, analyzing the different type of Stock characters found in each. The type of stock characters I have been asked to look out for our; The Wanderer, The popular girl, Jock, The Final Girl, Pandora and The Pervert. Whilst analyzing the horror films for these stock characters something that intrigued me was the way horror films use the same type of stock characters in each film and how characteristics about them are often repeated and in some even varied.

This is what I found:

The Wanderer
The character that is usually seen wondering about alone as if looking for trouble, commonly in most horros it is usually the female character that is seen doing this to play on the image of women being more vulnerable and oftenly results in her death. Examples: Tatum in Scream (1990) and Francine in Wrong Turn (2003) One girl who goes against these conventions is Karla in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) who is seen wondering around by herself but in the end it is revealed that she survives



The Popular Girl
This is the character who is usually portrayed as beautiful and best friends with the outcast girl protagonist. She is also usually portrayed as premiscous and mean, whilst also being desired by most of the men in the film. However the character is oftenly killed as a result of her popularity. Examples: Lisa in Prom Night (2008) and Helen in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997).

Jock
This character is usually portrayed as loud and arrogant and very sexually motivated and is often in a relationship with either The Popular Girl of the main female protagonist. They like the popular girl usually dies as a result of his popularity. Examples: Randy in Creepshow 2 (1987) and Barry in I Know What You Did Last Summer. However lately, a lot of horror films have been challenging these conventions and have made the Jock appear as the villain... Billy in Scream (1990) and Tom Atkins in My Bloody Valentine 3D

The Final Girl

This character, the majority of the time, is the sole surviving member of a group,even sometimes a whole group in the film who are killed by a insane serial killer who for the majority of the film is obsessed with 'The Final Girl' and kills everyone else in order to get to her. Examples: Sidney Porter in Scream (1990) and Parker Riley in Urban Legends (1990). One way this has been challenged was in Urban Legends, when the killer who was female was shown still alive at the end of the film


Pandora
This character often describes the mischevious character (usually) female in a horror film. The name 'Pandora' comes from greek mythology were 'Pandora's Box' was open releasing hell on earth. That is indeed the role of this type of character, who often is the trigger for the following bad events (murder, torture etc) of the film. In most horrors this character is usually the first to die. Examples: Helen/ Bernadette in Candyman (1992) and Marion Crane in Psycho (1960). One girl who challenges these conventions, is in fact a group of girls in the film Sorority Row (2008) were a group of girls release 'hell on earth' after covering up the death of their friend.


The Pervert
This character is usually very sexually motivated and disturbed which causes uncomfortable viewing for viewers. It is the majority of the time men who play this role and is usually portrayed as a sexually disturbed psychotic serial killer, whose problem with women can either just be a part of their psychotic persona or stem from a past incident involving women, which creates uncomfortable viewing for viewers. Examples: Norman in Psycho (1998) and Freddie Kruger in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Stoch Characters in Slasher horror on Prezi

How has your research on Stock Characters benefited you?

My research on Stock Characters has benefited me greatly as it has given me a idea of what sort of individual characters I should be looking to include in  my trailer and what sort of role they should play in it. However from looking at the type of characters usually found in horror films I have grown a interest in perhaps varying some of these conventions in order to create a horror trailer. For example instead of stereo-typically using a 'Final Girl' I could instead use a 'Final Boy' in order to express the fears experienced by Young Males in London. This not only would give my trailer a USP but it would also play on societies (especially in London) fear of crime and illicit activities on young males. Furthermore, what this research task has mainly done is give me the opportunity to now experiment with the type of characters to put in my trailer.