In all films there are many different types of characters that are usually present but certain genres tend to have some of their own special characters. The horror and thriller genres go hand-in-hand with one another and the same is said of the characters they have. To begin, a character shown in almost every film is the protagonist but often times in these genres, that protagonist is also the hero. This character is usually reluctant in confronting the threat and finds themselves being forced against it. They are also usually more hesitant with deep internal conflicts and moral dilemmas that add depth and layers to the narrative beyond the plot of the film. The hero will face high personal growth and is typically very relateable for viewers. An example of this character is Ash Williams from the "Evil Dead" franchise.
Next, another major and empowering character in horror and thriller films is the Final Girl. This is usually the last one standing once the threat has been faced and the resolution has already passed. She is displayed as smart, clever, and innocent. The Final Girl is typically easy to determine because this character makes more careful decisions compared to other characters which ultimately leads to their demise and her survival. An iconic and well known Final Girl in a film is Sidney Prescott in the "Scream" Franchise because of her unlikely survival throughout the films.
Continuing, one of the most important characters in these films is the villain/antagonist. They drive the conflict and the plot of the entire movie since they are typically opposing all the other characters. The villain can come in many forms like a psychotic serial killer, a living doll, or an unnatural creature like a vampire. Their intentions, actions and often physical appearance in the film create deep rooted tension, suspense, and fear in the audiences that keep them on the edge of their seats. Villains can come from anywhere between a tragic, messed-up anti-hero to a completely wicked psychopath. A major villain in the horror genre is Micheal Myers from the "Halloween" franchise.
Lastly, countless horror/thriller films also include the skeptic character. This is a very specific character that is very obvious from the start. They are extremely logical and assumably intelligent through their constant need to disprove the events happening to them. The skeptic helps create tension through denying the horror which raises the audiences anxiety of the threat and they assist in furthering the plot through their realization moment later in the film. An example of a skeptic in a film is Alice Hardy in "Friday the 13th" because she initially doesn't believe that there is actually a killer.
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