2. all these characters seem to in some way be masked or disfigured. this is
important because it emphasises their detachment from society and
dehumanises them. also perhaps in some way, it provides an explanation for why
they are able to carry out their crimes. their detachment from society disallows
them to empathise with their victims and therefore have no remorse or morals.
this in turn makes them even more menacing as their inability to have any
emotional attachments makes any chance of survival for their victims very slim.
There is also the recurring element of the killer having a backstory that gives an
explanation as to why they became a killer. A classic example of this Freddy
Kreuger in ‘nightmare on elm street’
Resurection is also a common theme in the horror genre, hence why there has
been a continuation of many of these films, resulting in them having sequences.
The killer always comes back as the story has to go on.
3. Freddy kreuger
His masked face Sharp
dehumanises objects are
him, making often used
The burns also hints at
him more as the
the backstory. Giving us
menacing. This source for
some sort of insight as to
also adds to the killing.
what happened to him in
fear of the
the past.
unknown.
4. Michael Myers
His dirty
costume adds
to the
menacing
atmosphere
created. This Again we
helps to have the use
illustrate his of the mask
isolation from to detach the
society and killer from its
sadistic victim. The
behavior mask is also
used as a way
The use of a sharp of hiding the
object is to kill is disfigurement
repeated across which hints at
the genre the backstory
5. Analysis/observation
I would say the use of masks/disfigurements in horror films are metaphors for
the fear of the unknown. We all have the psychological fear an anonymous
death, or the intrusion of a stranger into our homes. Therefore directors take
this into consideration and use our fears as a source of inspiration for their films.
The only way we can truly enjoy a horror film is if we are scared, in order to be
scared the directors have to transport the fears in our mind and depict it on
camera.
