2 Quotes And Opinions From Carol J Clover's Final Girl Theory

Analysis of two quotes from Her Body, Himself

In the beginning of the extract Clover says that ‘the relation between the sexes in slasher films could hardly be clearer. The killer is with a few exceptions recognizably human and distinctly male; his fury is unmistakably sexual in both roots and expression; his victims are mostly women, often sexually free and always young and beautiful.’ This quote expresses the roles of females and males in slasher films. It suggests that the typical male role is normally that he is the killer but is distinctively a male and his reasons are mostly sexually orientated. It also expresses that the woman is often he victim and she is normally young aged between 16-30 and is beautiful and she is often victimised for her sexual status. I agree with this quote and I think that the theory said is true and it does relate to most slasher films. I think that this is displayed in the film Carrie because she was young and beautiful when she wasn’t angry or violent but all of her problems started in the shower when her menstrual cycle began and this is when it went horribly wrong, however she wasn’t killed be a male character but she was nearly killed by her mother who men normally pretend to be when killing someone in a slasher film so it’s the same conventions.

 ‘I like women, especially beautiful ones. If they have a good face and figure, I would much prefer to watch them being murdered than an ugly girl or man.’ In this quote it is obviously expressed from a male point of view and I think that many people share this view. I disagree with this quote because I think that if the horror film is that good the death of the victim will be interesting to watch whether it is a male or female being killed and it will be equally as good. Psycho is a good example of this quote because Marion is killed and she is beautiful and has a good figure. I think that is it was Norman Bates being killed it would have still been a good death if the director portrayed it in a good way.