This document is an essay plan analyzing gender representation in three horror films: Dracula, The Descent, and 28 Days Later. For Dracula, it notes that men are portrayed as strong patriarchal figures while women are punished for their sexuality. The Descent breaks conventions by focusing on strong, independent female characters who fight back instead of waiting to be saved. However, they all ultimately die. 28 Days Later shows a reversal in the roles of the main characters Jim and Selena as they take on parental roles, with Jim becoming more primitive and protective. The plan concludes by stating gender representation differs in all three films and will provide a personal response while discussing horror genre conventions and differences between British and American films.