Iconography is a prolific feature in both modern day and classical horror movies. These are images of objects which intentify with a symbolic representation, assiciating the icon with a certain subject (for example, we associate a blooded knife with a stereotypical slasher movie). Many horror films have iconography specific to the film rather than the genre, which could be said to make the film a classic. In this i refer to horror movies such as Scream and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, who's iconography, a mask and chainsaw respectively, allow the audience to indify the films as part of a franchise or as cult/ classic horror movies. Creating an iconic antagonist, situation or weapon could boost awareness and popularity of the horror film, paving the way for a franchise.
Stock Characters
There are certain types of character which feature frequently in films of the horror genre, these are;
The 'Final Girl' character & theory
This type of character is, essentially, a female protagonist with noteable masculine characteristics. The 'final girl' almost always shows a higher intellegence of the antagonist whilst others appear naive and more vulnerable. Carol. J. Clover, the theorist behind 'Final Girl', states that this character is typically sexually unavailable or virginal, is more rational and avoids situations, such as narcotic use, as they effectively lead to the demise of each victim via the antagonist. These characters are often branded with a unisex name, such as Sidney (Scream), which immediately takes them away from the stereotypical 'monster fodder' type girl who is; sexually objectified, relatively unintelligent and constantly screaming/ in fear. The film Saw II adds an element to this theory as the antagonist has a previous experience with the 'final girl' leaving them to join together in the end. Though Carol J. Clover acknowledges this, it is rare.
Clover also states, in her book Men Women and Chan Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, that the 'final girl is often made masculine via a phallic appropriation in the final antagonist-final girl confrontation. A weapon is usually the tool the character picks up, identifying herself as masculine with this phallic object. This can be seen in films such as Alien vs Predator, in which the final girl takes a spear (phallic object) and thrusts it through the chest (representitive of heart, love, emotions and sexuality) of the antagonist.
Sexuality is the basis on which the final girl theory is formed. It states that there is a crisis in the identification of the sexuality of both final girl and the antagonist, which is settled in a final battle situation. The final girl is rarely introduced in the opening scene, with a monster fodder/ stock character being the likely replacement, as in scream;
This shows monster fodder being introduced in the opening scene.
Monster Fodder
These are characters which, to an extent, never develop any characteristics or traits. They exit the film after only a brief appearence and little character development, after being killed by the antagonist. Monster fodder can be seen in movies such as Scream,
Saw II and Creep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r91EJ2pDlF4
