Media Theory

Media Theory

Hey guys! Today i will be discussing the media theory that we will try to incorporate into our film opening, Erebus.

The media theory we want to use in our film opening is character type theory, focusing on the roles of the hero, villain, and helper. Our protagonist, Leo, is the hero of the story, but his journey isn’t about defeating a monster or the villain, but instead, his battle is psychological—against his fear, trauma, or a supernatural force that only he can see. Unlike action heroes who fight with strength, Leo’s struggle is internal. His goal is not really to destroy the villain, but it is to survive and resist the terror taking over his mind.

The villain of the story is the faceless man, a figure in a black suit who appears without warning. He never moves on camera, but each cut brings him closer to Leo, creating a sense of dread. He doesn’t chase or attack, but his power comes from how he distorts reality, kind of like the monster/demon from            Smile (2022)/Smile 2 (2024)

When he takes the father’s place at the dinner table and a vision shows a knife hovering above Leo’s father’s neck, it suggests something much deeper like a actual supernatural entity haunting him. His presence alone breaks Leo down, making him the definite antagonist of the story.

Leo’s moment as a hero comes when he yells, “STOP!” Just as the knife is about to fall in his vision, his scream snaps everything back to normal. This moment shows his resistance, how he refuses to let the faceless man take full control of him and his reality. Instead of freezing in fear, he reacts, forcing himself out of the nightmare. But instead of celebrating victory, he runs. He bolts from the dinner table, desperate to escape, because he knows the horror isn’t over just yet. Leo isn’t a conventional hero, sometimes heroes don’t always win by conquering evil; sometimes, surviving and resisting is enough.

At the end of the film opening, Leo makes a desperate phone call. The person on the other end, a therapist, serves as the helper in the story. In character type theory, the helper is someone who provides guidance or support to the hero. By calling them, Leo is reaching out for help, proving that he hasn’t completely given in to fear. His final words, “It’s back,” shows that he has already beaten this monster, but it’s back for more. That’s what makes him a hero—not because he destroys the villain, but because he refuses to let the fear consume him completely.

That was all for this blog, I hoped you enjoyed as always, I am currently writing this from North Carolina, where I have gone on a 4 day snowboarding trip. I am having lots of fun both writing these blogs as well as on the slopes. Next blog, I will write about how we wish to develop our characters.