Research: Slasher Character types and narrative

 

The Final Girl Character

The final girl is the last surviving female character to confront the killer, and according to scholar Carol Clover, she is typically unavailable romantically or virginal and avoids the behaviors of the victims like illegal substance use. The protagonist often goes by an androgynous name like Laurie Strode in Halloween, Sidney Prescott in Scream, and Jess Bradford in Black Christmas, and the idea behind the naming was that choosing a unisex name would emphasize the character's own agency. The final girl is portrayed as resourceful, intelligent, and ultimately capable of overcoming the killer, and she is by any measure the slasher film's hero. The idea of the final girl has shifted over the years, celebrating their strength and allowing them to explore their lives without punishment, with the change happening with the 1996 slasher Scream.

The Killer Character

The villain is strong and feels impossible to defeat, often serial killers or mass murderers out to exact revenge upon their prey who stalk their victims and find pleasure in harming them. Villains often wear masks that characterize them, for example the Ghostface mask in the Scream franchise, and often slasher movies will show how the villain developed into such a destructive force. The weapon of choice is usually a bladed instrument such as a knife, machete, or axe, and the weapon often becomes a symbol associated with the killer. The antagonists possess a unique blend of characteristics including a distinctive appearance or mask, and their mysterious and often tragic origins create both fear and curiosity among viewers.

Supporting Character Types

Most slasher stories use the same character types from past stories including the Jerk Jock, the Token Minority who is often one of the first to be harmed, The Stoner, and of course the Final Girl. The main characters are often teenagers, and the killer often exploits the fragile dynamics between the different group members. Blonde girls in slasher films tend to face danger frequently, usually with more elaborate deaths, while the Final Girl is almost always brunette in contrast to the blonde.

Narrative Structure

Slasher films loosely follow a formula: the young community is guilty of a wrongful action, the killer sees an injury or death, the killer experiences a loss, an event commemorates the past action, the killer stalks members of the young community, the killer harms members of the young community, the heroine sees the extent of the harm, the heroine does battle with the killer, and the heroine survives. There need to be multiple victims as there has to be an escalating level of threat, and the killer will get closer and closer to the protagonist with each character they harm. In most slasher movies, a chase scene is implemented where a character has to escape someone who means harm. Slashers often take place in isolated or confined locations such as summer camps, small towns, or abandoned buildings, heightening the sense of vulnerability.

Chase Scenes/Killer Scenes:

Reflection: Applying Slasher Elements to My Film Opening

Understanding slasher character types and narratives gives me a clear structure for my 2-minute film opening. I may include a final girl character who has an androgynous name and shows intelligence and resourcefulness early on, even in just 2 minutes. This character will avoid typical negative behaviors to establish her as the survivor type. For the killer, I could use a mask to hide their identity and create mystery, and I could choose a weapon such as a knife or machete that can become recognizable. The opening will hint at the killer's backstory through visual clues without explaining everything, leaving the audience curious about their reasons.

For supporting characters, I will include at least one or two other teenagers who fit types like the jock or the more carefree friend who does not take warnings seriously. This helps the audience quickly understand who is likely to survive and who is in danger. The setting will be an isolated location like an empty house or dark street to create vulnerability and show that help is far away. For narrative structure my opening could show the killer stalking the group, and include at least one moment of danger to set the tone and show the threat is real. The 2 minutes will end on a moment of tension where the final girl realizes something is wrong. By following these proven character types and narrative patterns, my opening will feel familiar to slasher fans while still giving me room to add my own creative elements.

Sources:

• https://scream.fandom.com/wiki/Samantha_Carpenter
• https://ew.com/movies/thanksgiving-trailer-patrick-dempsey-eli-roth-addison-rae/
• https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Heart_Eyes
• https://scream.fandom.com/wiki/261_Turner_Lane
• https://www.academia.edu/7690892/A_Historical_Approach_to_the_Slasher_Film
• https://glcoverage.com/2024/12/11/slasher-movie-2/
• https://ultimatepopculture.fandom.com/wiki/Slasher_film
• https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SlasherMoviehttps://industrialscripts.com/slasher-movie/
• https://www.brownfilmmagazine.com/blog/the-final-girl-trope
• https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/final-girl-horror-movies-explained-77788/
• https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FinalGirl
• https://english.osu.edu/news/final-girl-more-trope