Citation

Wellman A, Meitl MB, Kinkade P. J. Crim. Justice Pop. Cult. 2021; 21(1): 128-146.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, University at Albany, School of Criminal Justice)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Popular culture has often referenced formulaic ways to predict a character's fate in slasher films. The cliché rules have noted only virgins live, black characters die first, and drinking and drugs nearly guarantee your death, but to what extent do characters' basic demographics and portrayal determine whether a character lives or dies? A content analysis of forty-eight of the most influential slasher films from the 1960s - 2010s was conducted to measure factors related to character mortality. From these films, gender, race, sexualization (measured via specific acts and total sexualization), strength, and flaws were coded for 504 non killer characters.

RESULTS indicate that the factors predicting death vary by gender. For male characters, those appearing weak in terms of physical strength or courage and those males who appeared morally flawed were more likely to die than males that were strong and morally sound. Predictors of death for female characters included strength and the presence of sexual behavior (including dress, flirtatious attitude, foreplay/sex, nudity, and total sexualization). The cultural and social relevance of these films and their portrayals of characters in terms of value and mortality are discussed within.

Language: en