The Criticism of Horror Protagonists and Victim Blaming: A Distinction

Horror movies, despite their diverse settings, characters, and plots, often share a common narrative structure. This structure typically involves a hierarchy of survivability among the protagonists, with the Winchester timeline (a theory developed by Robin Hardy) of horror films particularly highlighting the Final Girl. This term is used to describe the last surviving female character in a slasher film, who usually overcomes the killer and survives to tell the tale.

The Final Girl concept applies not only to films such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Alien, but also to other horror narratives. The mere idea of one surviving while others fall victim is what defines a horror story. This basic premise raises questions about the dynamics of criticism in horror movies.

Is Criticism of Horror Protagonist’s Decisions Justifiable?

The question often arises: can criticism of a horror movie protagonist's decisions be considered as victim blaming? It is a valid concern since characters in horror films may make questionable decisions that lead to their eventual demise. A common argument is that such criticism distracts from the flaws in the screenwriter's plot or character development. It is true that the screenwriter who created the character is not a victim and is not affected by the story's outcome. Thus, any criticism directed at the character is essentially a critique of the writer's choices, not of an actual victim.

The Ethics of Criticism vs. Victim Blaming

Criticism in literature and film should not be confined by limits of acceptability; rather, it should focus on whether the critique is persuasive and insightful or merely misguided. Victim blaming, on the other hand, has a more specific meaning. It refers to the act of placing fault on the victim for the harms that befell them. In contemporary society, the concept of victim blaming has evolved into a more generalized critique of victims' behaviors, where individuals are often pointed out as having contributed to their own misfortune.

For instance, if a person wearing flashy jewelry at night in a high-crime area gets robbed, it would be unjust to blame the victim for their own robbery. However, it is acceptable to point out that such behaviors can increase the risk of victimization to others. Similarly, in horror movies, criticizing a character's actions does not equate to blaming the victim, as the character is a fictional creation of the screenwriter.

A 360-Degree Review of Critical Behaviors

Human beings are naturally inclined to analyze and find potential ways to prevent adverse events from happening again. This behavior analysis is not victim blaming but rather a constructive critique aimed at improving understanding and safety. Therefore, it is not wrong to evaluate the decisions and actions of characters in horror films, as long as it is done within a context that recognizes the inherent suspension of disbelief and the fictional nature of the narrative.

Conclusion

While it is understandable to question the rationale behind a character's decisions in a horror movie, such criticism should not be conflated with victim blaming. Critics aim to expose the flaws in the narrative or writing, not to shift the blame onto individuals portrayed in the story. The distinction between critiquing a character's actions and blaming a real victim is crucial. Understanding this distinction helps maintain the integrity of both critical analysis and the impact of horror films on our cultural discourse.