Psychological Horror Characters – In Depth.BY DYLAN WILSON

Detective David Mills

Film: Se7en Actor: Brad Pitt This is one example of a character in a psychological horror. Although the look may not

be expected from the protagonist as he looks rough and mentally tough but he is infact one of the most popular. This is as by having a tough demeanour the viewer may be effected more due to somebody who is mentally strong being effected this shows that the viewer could also be. The plasters on his face show he is hurt and scarred from acts that have happened in the film yet he is a fighter who still carries on. The gun and suit signify his importance and also aids the fact he is a detective. Due to this he is tracking somebody or something down which is linked to multiple crimes and this leaves the audience in question to who it may be and makes the character a huge plot device in the film by making it tense and making the viewer wonder who he really could be.

Bagul

Film: Sinister Actor: Nicholas King Another example of a main character in a psychological horror is Bagul from the Sinister

franchise and this is important as he is very different to David Mills who was previously mentioned however they are both characters in the same genre. Bagul is seen as a villainous character and the use of black strongly has connotations with death and evil and this aids the characters profile as this is infact what the character is. Bagul is the antagonist in the series and his main purpose is that he consumes the souls of human children. This is an effective backing story as the viewer will be scared by what is being said and the fact children are used shows innocence backing up the fact that he is much eviler than first thought. He possesses his own realm and can also travel to the human world through pictures of himself. The masked looking face is used to show he is hiding something and makes the viewer question his motives however the nasty look of him is enough for any audience to realise he is not a pure and good character.

Samara Morgan

Film: The Ring Actor: Daveigh Chase Similar to the character of ‘Bagul’. Samara Morgan begins as an innocent girl and this is

shown in the picture above, this is so the viewer will never expect her to be the main antagonist and plays on the viewers mind as it is unexpected. Her mother attempts to drown her and this leads to a group of nuns taking her in for care and her mother leaving, she is then adopted however she is left in a barn with nothing but horses and a TV and this is due to Samara having no control over her supernatural powers which make her adoption mother turn insane. Due to her being unable to sleep due to the horses she forced them to commit suicide bringing unwanted attention to the parents. The adoption mother then kills Samara on top of a well by suffocating her with a bag and commits suicide herself afterwards. The deepness of her story allows the viewers to feel a stronger connection to the film and feel more involved making it all much more popular and have a harder hitting effect.

Cole Sear

Film: The Sixth Sense Actor: Haley Joel Osment One of the most popular characters in a psychological horror is Cole Sear and this is due

to his young age of only 9 years old. This may help the viewers to relate as they may be around the same age or know somebody around this age creating more realism and will be much more effective. Cole sees dead people and is met by a doctor played by Bruce Willis and the innocence of the child and how he is scared makes the viewer feel sympathy for him as they may have had the same experiences of being uneasy about paranormal activities whilst as a child. He is unlike both Bagul and Samara Morgan as he is a good protagonist and does not do any wrong doing in the film and this is why he is seen as an innocent 9 year old throughout and nothing really alters about him to keep the same demeanour.