Stereotypes In Horror Movies

The door creaks open. The woman, completely oblivious, continues to shower. The shower curtain opens, as the woman screams while being stabbed. The parents jump, as their two children also scream and run back upstairs. How do horror movies affect these children, and should they be allowed to watch these type of movies? Although horror movies create things from nightmares and health effects, to negative stereotypes and adult themes, they also help children through health benefits, facts of life, and the ability to face their fears upon watching the movie. Throughout the ages of horror, humans have enjoyed these types of films due to adrenaline, and what they portray. Adrenaline, caused by fear, creates a desire to scare one’s self silly (Fraterrigo).
One of these stereotypes is the infamous stereotype that the black man always dies first (Colebank). Then there is the blonde woman, who tends to not be very smart, and is normally caught up in romance, leaving the viewers wishing for her to die sooner (Coleman). The one stereotype that normally ends up surviving is the lone wolf. The lone wolf is a woman or man who looks about average, and normally offers up good ideas that are often pushed aside (Coleman). They normally show up in sequels as well (Coleman). Not only are there stereotypes, there is almost always violence, and adult themes. Violence is between the killer(s), and the victim(s). The idea of violence is in most horror movies, due to the causes of death, whether it be a stabbing, or a shootout. Violence is considered an adult theme, as well as sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is brought up in Kassahun’s article saying, “At what point do we stop laughing at the abuse of women? When do we realize it’s not just Drew Barrymore receiving random phone calls, but rather it’s thousands of women actually getting stocked every day?”. Is this what children should be learning? Some say no, others say