Journal of Student Research 2019

Journal of Student Research

91 Navigating Modern Horror Films with a Feminist Perspective Navigating Modern Horror Films with a Feminist Perspective

90

Amanda Schroeder 1 Senior, Entertainment Design

Advisor: Dr. Michael Heagle

Abstract As a female filmmaker, I wanted to tackle systemic issues within modern horror cinema. My main concerns were violence against women on screen and what kind of effect that could have on audiences. I began by identifying problems in cinema then learning about the problem’s root causes, i.e. male gaze and the sadistic, voyeuristic look. I reviewed horror films then pulled inspiration from various tactics used to create a compelling film that does not desensitize the audience to violence against women. I then created my own horror film that addresses some issues head on. Upon completion of the film, I intend to take my film and place it back into my research by recreating previous studies done on horror films’ impact on the male viewer. I would do this using modern horror/slasher films as well as my own to see if my own horror film is effective in both scaring audiences while elevating the treatment of women. a fundamental issue in the horror/slasher genre of movies that is perpetuated in modern film. The treatment of women, as opposed to men, is given less ethicality and fulfills fantasies about punishment and possession of women. My objective was to create a horror film that breaks tropes and patterns surrounding the treatment of female characters. As I am a film student, albeit that I am passionate about women’s rights and treatment, it is crucial to have an expert opinion on the script and the treatment of the issues I am addressing. Without this kind of help, the film could have easily become a hit piece on men. If men felt victimized by my film, this would fundamentally go against what I was seeking to do. From my observations, when a group of people feels attacked, that group will then shut down conversations surrounding the issue. I want to spark a change in dialog, rather than isolate a group Keywords: Film studies, gender roles, women in film Navigating Modern Horror Films with a Feminist Perspective Horror films are one of the oldest themes within cinema, but yet there is

1

Amanda Schroeder is a McNair Scholar; she is also in the Honors College of UW-Stout (Ed.).

Table of Contents

Table of Contents