Female Victims -- Explain

Romero, director of Night of the Living Dead, uses the convention of female victims, to invoke the feelings of protection towards the character of Barbra. In typical Hollywood style, the use of making Barbra a helpless female further gives shock value when she is murdered. Especially to those who might have expected the traditional Hollywood ending. This contributes towards the idea of nihilism. As female victims up to this point, even though helpless, were always saved by the stronger male lead, however, true to the idea of nihilism (where there is no point to life, utter chaos rules and where we care about no-one apart from ourselves) Barbra is killed in a sudden moment which happens so quick that it leaves the audience stunned. The audience response to this is key, as it prepares them for the end of the film, at which nihilism triumphs and none of the main characters survive. While a normal "Hollywood Ending" would stereotypically end in the main characters all surviving, this film breaks away from tradition where the female victim is killed rather than saved.

In Scream, the director, Wes Craven, uses the complete contrast towards female victims, making them the victim and the hero. This makes the viewer of the film identify with the character more. As in tradition, females were helpless and nowadays females are considered to be tougher and wouldn't associate with them. In this film, Sidney (the female lead) survives without help from a stronger male. As this film is all about breaking away from the traditions of the horror genre, this convention being broken is a perfect example of this.

Female Victims -- Describe

Two horror films that explore the convention of female victims are Night of the Living Dead (1968) directed by George A. Romero, and Scream (1996) directed by Wes Craven. While Night of the Living Dead explores the helplessness of females, building on the cliche that the stronger male must save the day. Contrasting to that, Scream's female lead is less of a victim and more of a heroine.

Night of the Living Dead's female lead, Barbra, sits in stunned silence through out most of the film and even at the end when she comes to her senses somewhat and tries to help with the destruction of the zombies, she ends up being killed instantly.
Scream's female lead, Sidney Prescott, contrasts completely to that of Barbra. Every scene in which the villain and Sidney coincide she succeeds in escaping and injuring the assailant, Ghostface. At the end when she finally ends up killing one of the murders but cannot manage to kill the other another female called Gale Whethers, comes in to save the day instead of a male.