1. DECADE KEY FILM ANTAGONIST VICTIM/PROTAGONIST KEY ELEMENTS THEMES
70s The Exorcist Regan/Pazuzu Father Damien Naturalistic look to the film. Nature of man, The existence of evil
Dir: William Karras Extreme visual effects. If there is a god, then there must a devil
Friedkin Graphic, sexually explicit violence. Self doubt – redemption
1973 Occult vs Catholicism struggle Guilt over child neglect, Fear of children
Halloween Michael Myers Laurie Strode Classic slasher template – motiveless Nature of evil
Dir: John masked killer with knife, seemingly in- Hidden darkness of suburbia
Carpenter vincible, teenage victims, sleepy suburb Sexualisation of killing
1978 (everywhere but nowhere). Confronting childhood fears
Victims are promiscuous teenagers – sur- Conservative punishment of adolescent vices
vivor is the chaste, pure girl Loss of childhood innocence
80s Nightmare on Freddy Kreuger Nancy Thompson Killer has a personality and dark sense of The power of the subconscious
Elm Street humour – allowing him to become an anti- Children paying for the sins of parents, Revenge
Dir: Wes hero. Had a distinct costume and gimmick Guilt surrounding neglect of children
Craven Graphic horror and gore, Failure of establishment to protect innocence – police,
1984 Subconscious/supernatural elements school etc.
Elm Street - (everywhere but nowhere). Hidden darkness of suburbia
Evil Dead 2 Deadites Ash Gratuitous gore/iolence for shock value. Mystery of the afterlife
Dir: Sam Raimi and be funny. Fear of the occult
1987 Using classic conventions and tropes (de- Issues around identity (Ash has to fight an evil version of
monic book, abandoned wood cabin), but himself)
in unconventional ways – for humour.
Comic book style narrative
90s Silence of the Hannibal Lecter Clarice Starling Main antagonist as intelligent, sophisti- Gender confusion and sexual repression.
Lambs cated and seductive. Transformation – skin suit, moths etc
Dir: Jonathan Psychological drama Freedom – freedom from biological body, literal release
Demme Serial killer as the new monster of choice from incarceration, release from memories
1991 Emphasis on the ‘natural’ evil Woman working in the male dominated workspace
Scream Ghostface Sidney Classic slasher template - used self-con- Influence of the media on audiences
Dir: Wes sciously in a postmodern way. Characters Representation of women in media and horror genre
Craven know the ‘rules’ & conventions Investigation of genre and conventions
1996 Star name killed in the first sequence
00s The Ring Samara Rachel Keller and Washed out aesthetic and tones Guilt over child neglect
Dir: Gore her son Aiden Technology based horror The harmful effects of media
Verbinski Remake of a Japanese horror film – part Childhood fears
2002 of trend of Hollywood using J-Horror Roles of women in society – mother, role model, wife etc
as source material (such as The Grudge, Loss of childhood innocence – child abuse
Darkwater)
Saw Jigsaw Dr. Lawrence Gordon Start of torture genre – gratuitous and Regret and consequence
Dir: James Wan lingering sequences of victims suffering Mankind’s will to survive
2004 mental and physical anguish Appreciation of life
Elaborate torture methods – ingenuity in
the design and purpose
Victims all being punished for moral fail-
ings