The document discusses common tropes and character archetypes found in slasher films. It describes how the monster/villain targets and kills teenagers, especially the sexually active female character. It also discusses the "final girl" character who is typically the sole survivor and defeats the monster. Other common roles include the jock, nerd, benefactor who provides information to help victims, and an ineffective authority figure who is unable to stop the monster. Settings are often normal locations like family homes to make the danger seem closer to the audience's world. Cinematography with dark lighting, shadows, and silhouettes creates an unsettling atmosphere.

2. The monster / villain is one of the main
characters within the story. They are
usually portrayed by a male. They are
normally killed right at the end of the film
by the Final Girl, although, some horror
films this does not happen, or a new
monster / villain arises in a sequel to the
film.

3. Within many slasher films there is most
likely to be a group of teenagers involved.
There is usually the jock, the sexually
active girl, the nerd and the final girl. The
group usually consists of both genders, but
at the end it’s normal for only the final girl
to survive.

4. The sexually active girl is usually the first
one to be killed by the monster / villain in
the slasher film, normally after having sexual
activity with someone else. The character is
usually portrayed as a young, attractive
blonde.

5. The final girl is normally the only one to survive
from the monster / villain. She also usually ends
up defeating the monster / villain by killing them.
Within the group the final girl is the most sensible
and wisest one in the group. She is portrayed by
being a brunette, with a natural look and suitable
clothing. Also, it seems that the virginal girl does
not die (final girl) but the sexually active girl does.

6. The benefactor is a character within a film who
is wise. Within horror films, the benefactor
knows something about the monster / killer and
tries to help the victims by telling them about it.

7. Horror films usually involve someone who is seen
as an ineffective authority figure, someone who is
usually one step behind the monster / villain, but
not all the time.

8. The location is often set someone similar to
the real world, normally a family home. This is
done so that the audience can feel uneasy
about the film, as it is set somewhere similar
to their own surroundings.

9. Within horror films the lighting is
normally dark, to make the film look
more uneasy and mysterious, with a
creepy atmosphere. Shadows and
silhouettes are usually used as well.