2. Characteristics that make a Killer in
Horror Films:
• Disguised by masks, disfigurements on face (scars, burns ect) or deformed
facial features. This represents their isolation from society and the
community within. These characteristics also highlight otherness and
make the protagonists more menacing, as well as depersonalising the
killer.
• Many killers have a troubled back story that defines them as a killer. Their
back-story is often related to the film’s title (e.g. Halloween/ Black
Christmas)
• A lot of the time killers execute based on moral judgements- sinners get
killed (Saw). Perhaps these killers represent an extreme version of justice
in a society that is loosing it’s moral compass.
• Resurrection can also be a key theme (killers always come back)
• Weapons of choice are normal everyday object and use of them suggest’s
the maniacal aspect of the killers- sadistic or masochistic.
3. Examples of Killers in Horror:
Chucky
Aesthetically scary-
heavily made up
face along with
scars almost Scars/stitching
provide a mask to (physical
the characters real disfigurement)
face.
Weapon is an
Sinister/menacing ordinary
smile makes him look household
threatening and evil. knife, representi
ng the killers
enjoyment in
brutally
murdering
people, represen
ts him as
4. Ghostface
Black
Face is hidden by a disguise
mask therefore plays a
creating fear of similar role
unknown as we do as the mask
not know what/who as it allows
is underneath the the killer to
mask. hide their
true identity.
The large knife is typical icon of
Ghostface, a weapon that
allows him to conduct grisly
murders, therefore
representing the danger of him
and making him threatening.
5. Leatherface
(Texas Chain Saw massacre)
His leather mask (reference
to his name Leatherface)
suggests he may have some Collection of
kind of deformity under the weapons hanging
mask and is also a result of behind
his past (his back story may him, alongside the
be motivation for the chain saw he is
massacre’s he engages in holding, suggests
now) All of this make’s him he is extremely
very threatening. masochistic and
psychotic.
