Allt som verkligen är ont började oskyldigt: En analys av onda barn i skräckfilm
2024 (Swedish)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesisAlternative title
All Things Truly Wicked Start from Innocence : An Analysis of Evil Children in Horror Movies (English)
Abstract [en]
This essay seeks to explore how children are portrayed as evil in horror films. By analyzing their appearance, behavior, motives, interactions with adults, and the ways they deviate from the concept of “The Child,” certain patterns emerge. Different types of evil are also examined and presented in relation to the selected children and their respective films. The characters and films analyzed include David from Village of the damned (Rilla, 1960), Regan from The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973), and Malachi from Children of the Corn(Kiersch, 1984). These children have been chosen for both their differences and similarities. David is a changeling, Regan is possessed, and Malachi exhibits extreme violence, and all engage in actions considered evil. David is not human and therefore cannot be judged as one. It is not Regan who is bad, but the demon possessing her that is evil. Malachi is defending his future from the evils of adults, though in gruesome and misguided ways, influenced by a god and a prophet. Because David is not human, Reganis possessed, and Malachi is influenced by a god, they can in some respects, be absolved of the responsibility for their actions. Based on this analysis, the conclusion is that the children are not entirely evil.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024.
Keywords [sv]
Ondska, Barn, Karaktärsanalys, Skräckfilm, Karaktärsklocka, Hermeneutik
National Category
Studies on Film
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:du-49966OAI: oai:DiVA.org:du-49966DiVA, id: diva2:1926513
Subject / course
Moving Image Production
2025-01-132025-01-132025-10-09