The document discusses the use of props in horror films to develop themes and build tension. Masked killers in films like Friday the 13th and Scream wear masks to hide their identity and instill fear in the audience. The blue tricycle ridden by Danny in The Shining signifies something bad is about to happen, and could represent Jack's psychological problems. Its unusual three wheels may symbolize the different sides to Jack's warped mind. Popcorn left cooking unattended in Scream builds tension as it rises, relating to the audience and foreshadowing Casey's inevitable death from her risky actions.

1. INDIVIDUAL
ANALYSIS OF
PROPS

2. Masked killers always feature in
slasher horror films such as ‘Friday
the 13th’ and the ‘Scream
franchise’ to create terror and a
sense of ‘who is it’ for the
audience.
By wearing a mask
the killer has an
‘upper hand’ he
can see his victims
through the eye
holes but they
cannot see
him/her.
The ‘masked killer’ is a main character who
has betrayed his or her friends by killing
them and they use the mask to hide their
identity. For example, in Scream 2,
‘Ghostface’ turns out to be Mickey,
Sidney’s class mate.
The masked killer usually has a
troubled past which is causing him
or her’s murderous ways and they
may use the mark to hide from their
past.

3. The tricycle is ‘The Shining ‘ is a
very significant prop as whenever
Danny comes on screen in it, it
signals to the audience that
something bad is about to
happen.
The fact the tricycle is blue is also
notable. Blue is known to be a sad,
depressed and lonely colour. Jack feels
all these things due to his psychological
problems.
In this still, the
corridor that
Danny is riding
down is very long
and narrow, this
may symbolise that
it is a long time
until Jack is ‘cured’
from his problems.
A tricycle is odd and different because it only has three wheels, this
may signal that Jack Torrance (Danny’s psychologically disturbed dad)
is an ‘odd’ and ‘different’ individual. The fact it has three wheels may
also signify the different sides Jack has to him and how horrific thoughts
constantly circle his warped mind.

4. The popcorn prop is cleverly used
to rise tension throughout the first
few opening scenes, as the
popcorn rises, so does the
audience terror.
By using popcorn a sense of
realism is created for the
audience, it is common for people
to eat popcorn when watching a
movie so they are unfortunately
able to relate to Casey’s
misfortune.
The fact the
popcorn is put on
the hob could
signal that Casey’s
death is inevitable,
she is acting
stupidly by leaving
the popcorn
unattended and
staying on the
phone to her
murderer. Fire is
dangerous and it
could symbolise to
the audience that
Casey is ‘playing
with fire’ as she is
behaving stupidly.