List of stock characters in horror fiction

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These are stock characters that appear in horror movies. Frequently, their stereotype involves acute awareness or unawareness of the situation, and/or how easily frightened the character is.

• The Clueless Parent: has no idea that he or she is living in a haunted house in which mysterious, probably supernatural, events are occurring. These characters are often used as comic relief. This stock character may also appear in other film genres. The mothers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I Know What You Did Last Summer are examples.

• The Wanderer: leaves the rest of the group of which he or she is a member of and, predictably, soon becomes the first or the latest in the series of murder victims. Often, the Wanderer suggests that the group “split up” to search for something, although he or she may simply leave the group on his or her own initiative without first proposing that they split up. Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street) is one such example.

• The Skeptic: just can’t (or won’t) believe that anything supernatural or paranormal is happening, even when evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. The Skeptic often becomes a victim of the entity or force that he or she denies. Possibly, the Skeptic has read The Skeptic's Dictionary. The mother in The Exorcist is a Skeptic—in the beginning, at least—as are several characters in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, including, perhaps, Emily herself.

• The Nymphomaniac: seals his or her fate at the moment that he or she engages in wanton sexual behavior with another of his or her kind. Related to the Nymphomaniac is The Pervert, who, because he or she engages in deviant sex and likewise seals his or her fate at the moment that he or she engages in perverse sexual behavior. Often acts as a foil for the virginal Final Girl. Tina Gray and her boyfriend Rod Lane (Nightmare on Elm Street) are examples of Nymphomaniacs/Perverts.

• The Persistent Tenant rents, or more commonly, just bought a house and refuses to leave, despite horrible and terrible occurrences, until it is too late. Often, he or she becomes a victim. One such example is the Freelings of Poltergeist, who have bought their dream home at an unbelievable price, ignoring the fact that it has been built atop an ancient burial ground.

• The Beautiful Girl or her counterpart, The Handsome Guy: a condescending and arrogant snob who is killed solely for his or her unlikability and pride (not to mention the fact that the monster/maniac almost always seems to have a preference for pretty young girls and boys.)

• Pandora: a curious person told not to open a crate or enter a locked room, but does; horrors and chaos ensue. Frequently starts the whole disastrous chain of events as a result of this action. Can be male or female. Example: Caroline Ellis (The Skeleton Key) visits a locked attic room that she’s been warned not to enter.

• Guests Who Are Invited To A Remote Location by someone who seeks vengeance against them for their past misdeeds (though, on occasion, the vengeance-seeker merely misinterpreted the actions of those who he/she seeks revenge on.)

• The Innocent: a blameless, often young, character, who comes under attack by the villain, sometimes for no other reason than that he or she is innocent, or to corrupt or torment another, older character, such as the Innocent’s parents. The Exorcist’s Regan Teresa MacNeil is an example, as is Rosemary Woodhouse (Rosemary's Baby).

• The Rescuer: saves the characters from the monster or from a fate worse than death. Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Pit and the Pendulum” ends with the main character’s being rescued from the death-by-torture sentence that has been imposed upon him by the Spanish Inquisition. The Rescuer also appears as Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Kyle Reese (The Terminator) (although not technically a horror film).

• The Final Girl: the sole surviving member of a group of girls killed by a maniacal serial killer who, quite often, either does not like women, or likes to "collect" them. Examples: the Sidney in Scream and Julie James (I Know What You Did Last Summer).

• The Monster or The Other are characters, usually villains, who have appeared in many previous novels or movies and include, among numerous examples, Frankenstein’s monster, witches, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and vampires.

• The Cop is the law enforcer and presence, though usually has a minor role, despite his best efforts. Though he generally tries to do good, and fights the villain when confronted, the cop is generally inept, and ends up hurting more than he helps.

• The Token Minority, a member of a minority ethnic group (usually black) who is the sole representative of that group in the cast. He or she are usually the first to be killed off (though this trend has been reversed in more recent movies) In Comedy/Horror Movies the Token Minority often is highly aware of their poistion and bemoans it, predicting they will die frist.