What Horror Makes Society See
“In recent years, there has been a shift towards narratives that empower and celebrate the resilience and differences of minority characters, breaking away from harmful tropes that have plagued the genre in the past.”
In the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, there happens to be a scene in which the main character Stretch is backed into a corner during her radio show by the antagonist Leatherface. Leatherface, as a show of power, backs Stretch into a corner and is about to slay Stretch until she uses physics to get into Leatherface's mind and distract him by telling him how "big" his chainsaw is, which brings out a more lustful side of Leatherface, causing him to rub his chainsaw on intimate parts. Stretch uses this as an opportunity to attack Leatherface and run away. Many may view this scene as unessential, but this article will go into detail as to why scenes like these are what lead to both positive and negative stereotypes of victimized and minority groups.
The horror genre has an inherent connection with the groups in our world meant to feel like “undesirables.” Seeing as the horror media is meant to bring the fears and taboos of society to our screens and minds, this article will show the positive and negative parts that come with minority groups and their connection to horror media, the deaths, directors, and dishonor.
There are multiple horror movies that are connected with minority groups; some of the more obvious ones are movies like Us, Get Out, and Candyman; other movies such as Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and the Friday series also have their roots in pushing minorities to the forefront of our screens. Many might be surprised at my having just named slasher movies, which are usually not known for their depth, but I’m here to expand further on these movies and show how they’re more than just grotesque, shocking, and uneventful toward deeper thinking.
Traditionally known for eliciting fear and suspense, horror movies have evolved over the years to reflect societal changes, including a more nuanced and positive representation of minority groups. Filmmakers increasingly recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion, using horror as a genre to challenge stereotypes and offer more authentic portrayals of underrepresented communities. In recent years, there has been a shift towards narratives that empower and celebrate the resilience and differences of minority characters, breaking away from harmful tropes that have plagued the genre in the past.
One example of this positive representation is Jordan Peele's film "Get Out" (2017), which explores racial issues through a unique horror lens. The movie addresses the fears and anxieties faced by African Americans in a predominantly white society, challenging the audience’s moral ideas. Similarly, the film "A Quiet Place" (2018), directed by John Krasinski, features a deaf protagonist played by Millicent Simmonds, who is deaf in real life as well. The film not only embraces her disability but also utilizes it as a strength, showcasing her resilience and resourcefulness in a post-apocalyptic world. These examples demonstrate how horror movies have become a powerful platform to challenge stereotypes and foster a more positive and embracing representation of minority groups.
While the horror genre has made strides in addressing representation, it has not been immune in regards to playing into negative stereotypes and harmful tropes concerning minority groups. Historically, some horror films have reinforced racial, ethnic, and cultural stereotypes, contributing to the defamation of these groups on screen. For instance, consider the portrayal of Asian characters as exoticized and mystified figures, often associated with supernatural elements. This has been a recurring issue in some horror films. Movies like "The Grudge" (2004) and "The Ring" (2002) have been criticized for relying on cultural stereotypes and exoticizing Japanese horror elements, thereby perpetuating harmful misconceptions.
Another area of concern is the trope of the "token minority" character, who is introduced primarily to fulfill a diversity quota without receiving meaningful characterization. This tokenism is shown in various horror films where minority characters are often the first to be killed off, reinforcing the unfortunate cliche where the "black character dies first." This trend not only fails to provide depth to minority characters, but it also plays into harmful stereotypes about their expendability – not just in the movie, but also in life. By highlighting such negative representations, it becomes clear that the horror genre has work to do to break away from these harmful conventions and present more authentic and respectful portrayals of minority groups.
A piece of horror media that can be used to see the bad and good that comes with horror films in connection with minority groups is Night of the Living Dead (1968), which stars Duane Jones as Ben, who is attacked by zombies and hides off in a stranger's house in which he is subjected to the fears of others in the same home. In this home, Ben becomes a makeshift lead, having to prove himself by defending everyone in the house. Ben, as a black man, has to defend not only himself from zombies but also his character, as it's being judged by those in the house. Ben becomes the leader, providing the safety net everyone in said home needs, but this could be read in one of two ways. George A. Romero, the director of Night of the Living Dead, most likely did it on purpose. Either it could be seen as the triumphant story of a poet proving himself through sacrifices, or it could be seen as the struggles a black person has to go through to prove them.
A huge factor in horror movies that still plays a part in today's horror landscape is the concept of the final girl or scream queen. Many movies, such as Aliens, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Christmas, and more include a final girl. The final girl in horror is the protagonist, who has seen all her friends die and is now ready to fight the evil that has been antagonizing them throughout the movie, which usually manifests in the final girl having some form of character growth, which allows for more self-confidence and therefore the ability to fight back.
The concept of the final girl itself isn't negative; portions of the final girl that can come off as negative are the fact that in slasher movies, especially, the final girl has friends that are partaking in activities that are "bad," such as premarital and unprotected sex and the usage of drugs, which usually leads to the death of the final girl's friends. The idea of the non-virgin dying stems from the concept of the woman no longer being pure, having lost their virginity, or just having sex in a general sense in which the "unholy" usage of drugs and the narrative that could possibly be pushed are that a woman should remain clean and untouched and not expose real aspects of the world we live in. On the other hand, the final girl can be pushed to become a woman as a way of being strong against the evils that the world sometimes forces women to go through. 2 characters that come to mind are Ellen Lousie Ripley from the movie series Alien and Erin Hanson from the movie. The next aspect these two characters share is being extremely competent in the face of danger and providing protection from evil without having them be seen as "masculine" but as independently strong because of the characters they are.
To conclude this article, there are many aspects that horror movies touch on, and many don’t think about whether it be the makeup and effects, themes, or intellectual properties hidden among what horror is supposed to make us do: fear. Within that fear can be some deep and profound messages that can be easily forgotten due to the horror genre being easily written off as strictly entertainment, and we hope this article will allow viewers to think more deeply about the media they consume — not just horror but in general.