Killers In Horror films often have tragic backstories that help explain their murderous behavior. Esther from Orphan was sexually abused and ridiculed for her condition, causing her to kill. Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre was abused and isolated, inspiring his cannibalism. Samara from The Ring was neglected and drowned by her adoptive mother, fueling her desire for vengeance through her cursed videotape. Their costumes and makeup aim to conceal scars and conditions while subconsciously eliciting audience sympathy at first glance.

1. Killers In Horror

2. Orphan
Esther
Back story:She posed as a 9 year old girl to get adopted by a family and seduce her adoptive father, however, kills him as he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings.
The reason is she was sexualised from a very young age and molested by her father. He told her she would never be a real woman because of her condition.
She murdered her father and his lover and was sent to a mental institution and escaped, working as a prostitute in her native country Estonia. She was
arrested but kept up the pretence of a young child to avoid jail. She is actually a 33-year-old woman with hypopituitarism- a condition which stunts her
physical growth, and she uses make up to cover any signs that give away her true age. She is disgusted by the fact she is ultimately a woman trapped in a
child’s body and wants to “grow up” and be a regular wife, mother and a lover- resulting in trying to find “love” where she thought she’d had it as a child, with
her new adoptive father. Costume: She dresses in long, frilly dresses and often has her hair styled in pigtails and held together with ribbons and wears
ribbons on her wrists and neck. This is to keep up her façade of a young child and to make her appear more innocent-like. This is also to cover scars she
received from struggling against her straight jacket from when she was in a mental institute Make up: She wears face powder to conceal her wrinkles and to
make her appear young, whiter and more innocent like so no-one would suspect her of being a 33 year old killer. The use of make up on the character implies
she has good qualities and characteristics, and is almost like a mask as when it is removed we see her true identity. This is common in slasher horror.

3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Leatherface
Back story:The character Leartherface was based loosely on a real person, Ed Gein, an American murderer and body snatcher. Ed had a rough childhood- he
was abused by his mother and forbidden any contact with the outside world. He was only allowed to school and to work on the family’s farm. In the film, he is
portrayed to be mentally retarded, sadistic and cannibalistic.
The cruelty he suffered in his life at the hand of his peers and co-workers inspired his murderous behaviour. Costume:: Leatherface wears a tatted butcher’s
uniform, reflecting his cannibalistic nature and upbringing (his family ran a butcher’s that went bust)
Make up:Leatherface wears a mask made of human skin, similarly to real life serial killer Ed Gein. The reason Leatherface wears a mask is to cover up his
deformity- he suffers from facial disfigurement ad a skin disease that eats at his nose and as a child he was made fun of.

4. The ring
Samara Morgan
Back story:Samara was born to Evelyn, and it was believed she had a demon inside her as she did not cry- so her mother tried to drown her in a pond, but was
stopped. She was adopted by Anna and Richard Morgan but her “demon” powers began to unleash themselves, frightening her adoptive parents. Her
adoptive father put her in an isolated room in their house with only a tv to avoid Samara hurting anyone. Later, she was smothered and pushed down a well
by her adoptive mother and died a week later, however, her spirit lived on. She created a cursed videotape to show the world the misery she suffered in her
life. The neglect from her adoptive parents, and lack of any proper parental figures, sparked her desire to kill others. Costume:She wears a white
gown, yellowing with decay, which resembles that of a hospital gown. At first glance this allows audience to feel sympathy as she looks ill, however, her evil
ways are soon displayed.
Make up:She appears very pale and haunting in appearance, resembling a Japanese onryospitit- a spirirt focused on vengance. Her long dark hair and
waterlogged, deformed face and sunken eyes all adding to her disturbing presence.