1. Killers in Horror Films
I have done some research into killers
in horror films. It was quite
interesting...

2. Deformed facial features: To look different
Rape: A common event An everyday object - weapon
within society that isn’t
He has a back story:
correct.
he becomes
dehumanised when
Survives death thrown and he kills
anyone who is in his
way to becoming
He has a back human again.
story: His mum
was a nun who Almost presents a
got trapped and similar theme to
jigsaw, being
raped, becoming
thankful to have life.
pregnant to then Theme: Life vs.
have Freddy. Deformed facial features death.
An everyday object - weapon
Mask: depersonalising Mask:
He has a back story: he
dehumanisation/
develops cancer and
realises people are not depersonalisation
thankful for their lives.
Therefore, he gives them This film is based
the opportunity to be more on a true story and
grateful and their decision has a background:
defines whether they live or Leatherface was
die. abused by his
Themes of society – parents when
appreciating what young.
you have!
An everyday object - weapon
Life vs. death

3. All of the ones I found are disguised by a We see representations of morals within society, All the characters that I found
mask or have deformed facial features. for example rape, abuse or life appreciation have a back story. They have a
This almost isolates them from society, represented through the films. They are based troubled history that causes what
makes them stand out and look different. on moral judgements and we commonly see they do to happen.
Their difference makes them look more messages represented through whom may get The four examples shown on the
scary and menacing. killed. They may spread the messages of morals previous page talk about their
in society which are being hidden. back story and how that is
They are also depersonalised connected to what they do know.
& their humanisation is almost Their back story can often also
Stripped. They no longer look like normal connote a theme. For example
humans & similar to the rest of us! Jigsaw develops cancer and tries
to make people appreciate their
lives more by giving them the
opportunity before killing them.
This can represent the theme of
life vs. death and which one are
we aiming for more. Do we
WHAT DO THE KILLERS appreciate what we have in life?
HAVE IN COMMON?
Commonly, the back story is
connected to the film title. For
example Freddy Krueger has the
back story of his mother being
raped on elm street. We then see
him kidnap and kill children in the
same place explaining why the
Most of the killers in horror films have some sort of weapon. film is called ‘Nightmare on elm
This can sometimes be seen as a body part for examples knives street’.
as fingernails. Or it can be a physical extension weapon like a
bread knife. They are commonly everyday objects that anyone
can get hold of and most people have probably used in life. This Resurrection is a key theme within horror
makes the story and watching the weapons used more scary as it films. Most of the killers/antagonists get
shows you the extreme danger that can be caused with basic killed yet still survive and go on to live and
objects. kill further.

4. How has this helped me?
After researching the conventions portrayed through killers in horror films I now know what features my killer should
have. The Christine Blundell make up work shop will help me when creating facial disfigurement in order to
dehumanise my killer. I will try to enforce that my killer has a weapon, an everyday one as this emphasizes the danger
that can be caused with basic objects and heighten the tension.
I will try to portray themes within my trailer like life vs. Death as witnessing death can immediately heightening the
suspense for the audience and also attempting to help spread an ideology.
Resurrection is a clear theme portrayed in horror films as all killers seem to live on even when they appear to have
died.
These concepts obviously create successful villains/killers in horror films and therefore I will use Burton’s idea of
creating my own character with these conventions therefore ensuring it varies from all others however I will still
follow the same killer formula as it has success.