2. What is a
Slasher
film?
Here are some typically appearing
themes:
•A psychopathic masked killer
stalking and systematically
butchering a group of young
adults.
•Usually away from parent
supervision.
•Eventually the last standing victim
– usually a virgin/female - prevails
and defeats the killer, putting an
end to the carnage.
3. The Killer
Usually an ordinary person who has suffered
from great trauma or injustice in their life. The
victims are never random and are linked to the
killers past. The killing streak is a way to get
revenge.
4. The Killer
Usually masked to keep the identity a secret until the
final scene. The killer is often large and always implied to
be male. They are depicted in such a way that suggests
they have super strength and an unrealistic immortality.
5. Weapons
Choices include; swords, razors, knives, axes, arrows, saws,
drills, scythes, hammers, spears, machetes. Basically anything
that “slashes” or any sharp object that may be lying around.
6. Setting
Usually set in a high
school/college, at home, in the
woods, summer camp or in a
creepy house in the middle of
no-where.
Suburban places are used a lot
because it helps the audience to
have a sense of fear.
7. Characters
The sole survivor at the end is usually a female and is the
representation of innocence. They usually have dark hair and
are more plain than the rest of the girls who die through the
film. The usually endure a chase and a confrontation with killer
at the end of the film.
8. Characters
The surviving character usually
starts with a group of friends. Each
individual frequently represent one
of these stereotypes:
The bimbo
The jock
The badass/outcast
The popular girl
The nice guy
The nerd
The token black guy
Other characters consist of an older
“wise” character, the ineffective
figure of authority and the killer
themselves.
