Today we'll analyze the archetypes of a genre that the author describes as long-standing, the myths and terrifying legends of ancient times still influence our ways of creating stories that make us scream in fright and be afraid of the dark.
HORROR
The fear of death and of those who didn't get eternal rest is a common theme. When drawing horror characters, Jacob Glaser recommends us to study figures starting from skeletons. We will also have to analyze objects that inspire fear as seemingly dangerous, sharp tools; insects and different things in decomposition, those are some things that we will surely use when composing our works.
This genre, I have to admit, was one of the ones I was most interested in investigating since I have a habit for years of watching every horror film that comes out (especially supernatural horror), so dissecting the elements that make it up and Mastering this particular style is something that really caught me.
Frankenstein
Or rather, the monster created by Dr. Frankenstein. The story by Mary Shelley has a very particular context, written during the Industrial Revolution, resonates with the birth of science as we know it today and its abrupt imposition on the collective unconscious as a source of the progress of humanity.
Breaking the laws of nature was one of the most important concepts that Frankenstein inspired and served as the basis for an infinite number of stories that we still enjoy today.
Vampire
Vampires are undead who were cursed by the bite of another vampire and can only feed on the blood of living beings. The conception we have of vampires has been changing over time. Nowadays, western culture represents them as attractive and elegant beings, transmitting an air of ancient evil. Vampires are represented as capable of attracting and generating repulsion at the same time in their victims.
The representations vary a lot but are always used as analogies for all kinds of human behavior. As characters for a story, they have endless wealth in melodrama for the constant conflict between their ancient humanity and their vampire nature.
Zombie
And if we talk about analogies for human behavior, what can we say about zombies? Beings without any kind of conscience, guided only by a hunger impossible to satiate, that move in mass, like cattle going from one field of pasture to the other.
Originally, zombies emerge from Voodoo stories, followers of this ancient cult believe that through incredibly powerful magic, it is possible to reanimate the dead and transform them into servants of the conjurers of the spell.
Beyond seeing them in the movies and on TV every day, stories often mark the origin of these beings through the outbreak of a viral illness that society is unable to contain, which leads to fire alarms even in the most skeptical minds.
Mummy
A very traditional character from the golden age of cinema, inspired by recent excavations in Egypt, this type of character arises in what perhaps is the oldest origin. The preservation by human intervention of important personalities in the Ancient Egypt, today continues having relevance by its historical value, something that we can see represented in the most important museums of the world.
At the time of closing the vaults or tombs of pharaohs, they carved spells and curses to try to persuade looters not to steal the valuables with which they were buried. In that context, the stories that we can enjoy in the cinema arise, a curse that is awakened and represented with the mummy seeking revenge against those who dared to profane his grave.
Werewolf
The lycanthrope, or werewolf, is a man with the ability (under his control or not) to become a killing machine with the appearance of a wolf, that includes claws and sharp teeth, super-developed hearing and smell, and the absence of remorse when killing humans. The full moon is usually associated with this change, we can find its significance in many stories of werewolves, but not in all.
When deciding to portray this type of characters it is important to capture the wild essence of a beast like this.
Succubus
Succubi are demons that take the form of women to seduce their prey and then feed on their vital energy, which ends up causing weakness, permanent injuries, accelerated aging, and even death to their victims.
The succubus, of medieval origin, is a myth that although it is not one of the most popular at present, we can find very recent examples such as the Species movie saga, a story where instead of representing it as a demon, has extraterrestrial origin. Another example is the movie Jennifer's Body, where the attractive Megan Fox is possessed by a spirit that takes advantage of its appearance to kill men unable to resist its beauty.
When drawing this type of characters we have to try to find both ends of the stick, making them both extremely seductive and repulsive. A creature that expresses a sinister seduction.
Hellhound
These beasts, neither alive nor dead, are protectors of treasures, hidden relics, and also tend to act as escorts for their undead masters. Sometimes guardians of vampires during the day, the way they are represented ranges from a common and simple observer dog, to a creature of enormous size with bestial forms. However, when provoked, they can reveal a more diabolical appearance and ignite in infernal flames while they fulfill their task.
They are supernaturally fast, strong and aware of their environment. These would not be the best friends of man.
A recent example that comes to my mind is in the saga of The Prophecy (The Omen), where the devil himself designates a Rottweiler as protector of his son and, in turn, in charge of ensuring his passage as a child Antichrist
Masked Killer
Modern horror films have adopted these characters to such an extent that they have almost become a cliché. They are usually depicted as a serial killer with some kind of hockey mask, Halloween or even a bag with eye holes.
The genre slasher came from the hand of movies like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which opened the door to sagas like Halloween and Friday the 13th, which have as a symbol of terror masked characters.
I hope you liked it! In the next post we will analyze the adventure genre.