Narrative Theory

Narrative: The way in which a story is told in both fictional and non-fictional media texts

I have been looking at horror trailers to see if they use narrative theory. I agree with Vladmir Propp's theory as you can see the different types of characters as you watch trailers, there might be different variations of the character but they have the same basics of the:

Hero: The person who sets out to restore the equilibrium.                                           

Victim Hero: The hero who is the centre of the villain's attention                                         

Seeker Hero: The hero who aids others who are the villain's victims           

Villain: The character who creates the narrative disruption

Helper: Aids the hero in the task of restoring the equilibrium

Donor: gives the hero something it may be an object, or information or advise to help the hero.

Princess/Victim: Usually the character most threatened by the villain and has been saved at the climax, by the hero. The father's (who in fairy tales was often the king) role has usually to give the princess away to the hero at the narrative's conclusion.

Dispatcher: Sends the hero on her or his task. (typically can be the princess father)

False Hero: Appears to be good but is revealed, at the narrative's end to have been bad.

Here is what I have found:

Smiley (2012): 

• Killer: Known to everyone as 'Smiley'.  Scaring the characters and going after one girl in particular - is masked so no one knows his real identity.
• Victim: Smiley is going after her and keeps almost getting her but is never successful because se keeps running away.
• The Donor: He tells the victim a bit about the killer
• Donor 2/ Police Officer: Telling the victim about 'Smiley' and trying to help her out
• Annoyed friend: Getting angry at the victim because she is putting them in danger; bringing 'Smiley' to them and putting them in danger.

House at The End of The Street (2012):

• Victim: Trying to get away from the killer but he finds her - trapped by the killer
• Victim 2: Young girl who was kidnapped by the killer also trapped by the killer in his house
• Killer: Young boy who is in love with the victim - traps the victim in his house
• Mum: Trying to find her daughter
• Mystery house: History of the house: Daughter killed her parents in that house - old, abandoned looking house in the middle of some sort of forest