8. FINAL GIRL - The final girl is a trope in thriller and horror films (particularly slasher films) that
specifically refers to the last woman or girl alive to confront the killer.
MONSTERS - The monster within slasher films conventionally wears a mask. This is because each
individual has their own fears and what one person may find scary, another may not. Each individual
can project their fears on the mask of the monster and this is what makes it so terrifying.
AUTHORITY FIGURE – The authority figure, be it a police officer or parent are usually represented as
being ineffectual. This is to accentuate the idea that these teens are going to have to fight the killer
alone.
SEXUALLY ACTIVE GIRLS – These girls are stereotypically the first to be killed by the monster. They are
conventionally blonde and represent an overtly sexual girl.
LOCATIONS – The location is a very important part of any slasher film. Some conventional places
include woods, cabins and hospitals as they are isolated areas associated with horrors. However,
some movies such as Halloween set their film in an urban area which added to the idea of it being
able to happen to anyone, even the viewers themselves.
FILM NOIR – Film Noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas,
particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classical film
noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this
era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist
cinematography.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM - German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative
movements beginning in Germany before the Second World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during
the 1920s. Many critics see a direct tie between cinema and architecture of the time, stating that the
sets and scene artwork of Expressionist films often reveal buildings of sharp angles, great heights, and
crowded environments.
