T.M. Gender in Slasher Films

Horror Source 1-Gender in Slasher Films

When, and in what way were women repositioned within the horror genre?

Women are often presented as the weak and vulnerable character in the horror film genre.  25 horror movies were randomly selected from the most popular films across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Netflix. 52 percent of all initial deaths were white women who were killed more than all three other gender-ethnicity categories combined. And nearly every single one of these cinematic sacrifices could be defined by their extreme position on the spectrum of promiscuity: the virgin or the promiscuous character.

What are the conventions of the 'stalk and slash' subgenre of horror?

Stalk and Slash subgenre are described as one that is inherently an American product and one that is intensely formulaic. These types of horror films generally follow similar plots consisting of a mixed sex group of teenagers who travel to a secluded location, where ideological teenage behaviours take place. Then the group experience one by one murders often from a mysterious, masked antagonist.

Who originally watched these films and why?

Teenage boys and young men were the core audience identified for watching slasher films. This demographic originally watched the films due to their frequent female nude scenes, as well as constant assault and murders.

Why does the author argue that the films were 'significant'?

The Slasher subgenre created two of contemporary horror cinema’s most enduring icons – the seemingly indestructible Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series and Freddy Krueger from The Nightmare on Elm Street series. They were also significant as the narrative tended to have a sense of morality; the killer is punishing the group either for trespassing upon its territory or is avenging an earlier wrong perpetrated by the group or a group that they symbolically represent.

What is the concept of ' the final girl'?  

The final girl concept was constructed by Carol J. Clover. The concept was used in her film’ Her body, Himself.’ In which she used the final girl in order to describe the sole female survivor of numerous Slasher films. For Clover, The Final Girl repeatedly embodied a set of parameters that marked a female character out as ‘different’ from her peers: The Final Girl is:

·        Smarter and more conscientious than her friends

·        Intelligent, watchful, level-headed

·        Morally pure and therefore does not participate in drinking, drug-taking or sexual acts.