Theory: Representation

I am looking at last years final horror trailer called The Collector and how representation applies to it. Representation can be applied to horror because of the use of the different characters and themes that all have a meaning and purpose yo why there, there. For example the final girl represents innocence that's the reason there not killed. Also how a knife can represent phallic imagery which can also represent male dominance with the use of penetration. The Collector is using teen punishment theory to imply that drinking and drugs is wrong and that's why there being killed.

Sarah Dobbs theory of feminism in horror relates to this trailer with the 'scream queens'. As there is a young female blonde who's being attacked who screams loudly. The lead up to that scene is shots of her sleeping and then looking scared. The fact that she's stuck in a room with the antagonist shows convention of scream queen as there not known for there intelligence. This suggest that it's conventional of a slasher and that the character doesn't really have a purpose other than to be killed off. This is implying that the trailer is misogynistic, this is conventional of horror films especially the slasher sub-genre as it's about male dominance and the male installing fear in women making them feel masculine. 

Another theory is Carol Clover 'final girl', the meaning of final girl is that she is suppose to represent purity. The final girl can be found in slashers like Halloween and Cabin in the woods. It can be seen to look like a final girl character in this trailer as the end scene is the antagonist going to this only other female. However a possible limitation is that it's not very clearly a final girl character as she is not shown anywhere else in the trailer so don't have any information about the character.

The theory by Derry about religion and sexuality isn't represented in the trailer ad there isn't possession or demons. However this not being represented in the trailer isn't a weakness as it's a slasher it has specific representations that make it recognisable like the masked figure. However they are drinking and taking drugs which can mean a form of temptation and sin which leads them being hunted and killed.

Teen punishment is represented in this trailer. The victims are young and attractive and are indulging in drinking and drugs. This trailer is mainly based on this representation. It is shown throughout, with the opening shot being a close up of two beer bottles. Then another one showing them all drinking. This is typical of a slasher horror and the trailer conveys it well despite not seeing the punishment you know the antagonist is there to punish or kill them.

Derry's theory of the human monster and the horror of the personality. The monster represents the demons of the people and how there no longer inncocent and pure, he's killing because of the activities there taking part in and the monster needs to punish them because of it. The use of the mask represents this and is similar to other horrors like Scream and Texas chainsaw massacre. The mask represents mystery and wanting to hide something with the monster being themselves. A strength of the trailer is that it doesn't show the masked man a lot and that it's based on a masked man killing other victims for doing something wrong, suggesting theirs something wrong with the killer making him do it.