Nightmare on Elm Street

Suburban GothicSuburban Gothic is a sub-genre of Gothic fiction, film and television.Anxieties associated with the suburban communities.Supernatural or elements of science fiction.Suburban setting. (residential area or community with in city)

Characteristics

• Danger within the family or neighbourhood.• Teenagers and children are often the major

protagonists.• Character conflicts; individuality and conformity.• Revenge.• Loss of innocence often the theme.• Mystery, suspense, threat, fear and horror.• Unexplained.• Excess.• Past crimes and buried secrets.

• Helpless victim.• Victimizer with immense or supernatural

power.• Physical or psychological impenetrable

walls.• Possession.• Sense of mystery, darkness, fear,

oppressiveness and doom.• Man shown as eternal victim.• Isolation.

Horror Movies and Surrealism

• Unconscious and dreams.• Monster externalising the fears.• Children.• Character fall pray to evil trying to gain

vengeance. • Worms, insects and filthy creatures as symbols.• Shadows.• Laughter.• Low tilted camera angels and movements.• Breaking down boundaries between dreams and

reality.

Gothic Roots• Imagination.

• Psychology.

• Architecture.

• Theology.

• Haunted space/mind.

• Taboo.

Elements of Romance:• Sudden emotions create a life or death commitment.• Character feels overwhelming power.