Stock charactersZara

What are they?Stock characters within horror films are characters who have a lead role that pop up the most throughout the film. They the protagonists but due to some of their attitudes, they can fall into the clutches of the killer who is the main character. These characters include:The popular girlThe jockThe final girl The pervert The wandererPandoraThe victims

The jockMainly seen in teenaged horror films, the jock is seen as a stereotype of an athlete who is physically seen as tall, beefy and fairly strong. In most horror films, they usually have an on-and-off relationship with the popular girl which is carried out from the beginning where the killer takes his fist victim. However, as well as having the strength and body structure, they are usually the arrogant, dumb and self obsessed character within the group.

The popular girlIn every group there is an overly feminine character who is extremely liked by the majority. They are seen to be worshipped by other stock characters (including the jock) and are always focused on their appearance. On most occasions they are spoiled, rude and extremely catty towards most characters and believe that they are the better looking out of the rest of them. Although, their attitude is what causes them to become one of the victims of the killers in most horror films.

The wandererThis stock character is the character who is most likely to be killed off first. In every dangerous situation, they always wander off from the rest of the group into either their own world, or because they are curious of what is going on in the matter. Due to them being isolated to from the group, they are less likely to be able to fight off the killer once in contact with them leading them to their inevitable doom.

The pervertThis character is sometimes seen to be one of the last to be killed off. Throughout horror films (mainly teenaged ones), this stock character is always male who is seen to be flirtatious towards both the final girl and the popular girl and the wanderer depending on the gender. This character is mostly seen to be killed around the same time as the popular girl due to them being the most sexually attracted.

PandoraThis manipulative character is the dark horse of the group. Mainly seen as a female, this character is two-faced. Throughout most of the film, they are sweet, innocent and sometimes disappears when the group is actively trying to find a solution to escape the murderer. However, the character is the big plot twist of the horror film because in most horrors, they are the killer. Their kind and innocent personality is the perfect cover for the group to not suspect that they are the killer until the final girl finally realizes that it was the Pandora character.

The final girlThis character holds the main lead role in the group who is the last surviving person in the group after the killers’ killing spree. She is the brightest out of the group giving her benefits avoid the killer. The horror film shows her going through stages of fear and strength in order to defend herself from the killer and to stay alive for as long as she can. She also finds out who the killer is (pandora) and tries to murder the killer to save herself and others in the future.