The Earliest Sketches

Doodling early character ideas to see what sticks

The Prototype

I studied Midwestern culture and history and ended up placing my setting in Cairo, Illinois. A small town located very far south in the state, the place was significant for the Union during the American Civil War and has since developed a feel adjacent to the Southern region of the US (though as of my research its population has decreased to the point of nearly ghost town status). I also wanted this piece to serve as a nod to the unique Midwestern cultural aspect of Prairie Style architecture.

Through this preliminary piece I figured out the "uncanny vibe" I was going for, heavily inspired by the trend of liminal space photography. However, I thought it was missing something in terms of the unique style and symbolism that I was still determined to get into the final pieces.

testing variations

The “bathroom/kitchen tile” idea was something that showed up pretty quickly; an oddly specific imagery trope that I felt could be utilized to merge the worlds of uncanny and off-putting visuals with the homely nostalgic Midwestern culture vibe.

variations

Affectionately nicknamed my “final girl,” I wanted this character to fit some classic goth aesthetics, but I also didn't want them to be too generic.

I figured out at this point that I wanted the protagonists to make up an indie band to reference the Midwest garage band culture.

Additionally, this character acknowledges the depiction of disability in horror as a young person using a colorful mobility aid Disability is often associated with villainous characters and sometimes even cited as the source of their immorality.

In reality, disability at best is an inconvenience and at worst makes a person more likely to be a victim of violence.

In punk culture lace code yellow laces mean anti-racist

character #2: my hyper feminine girlie

I played with the idea of giving her a facial difference in the structure of her features, but ended up deciding that it would be too difficult to do it justice with the makeup and expressions I had planned for her

Her character acknowledges the depiction of fat people, marks on the skin such as her birthmarks, and stereotypical femininity in horror. These are character traits commonly portrayed as villainous and/or comedic in the genre.

She is intended to defy these offensive associations and explore the presentation of femininity through the "male vs female gaze.

This Glass of Milk again

Milk is often utilized in horror movies as a striking visual and symbolic element of innocence, purity, and youth, due both to its pure white color and association with infants and mothers. The depiction of adult characters consuming milk can be subconsciously perceived as unnerving or at times symbolize that they are more youthful or potentially foolish than they appear. I did this study of a glass with raspberries floating in it as a way of putting the aesthetics that were bouncing around in my head down on paper. (or at least down on a digital canvas)

I was promptly thereafter known as the person who won’t stop talking about milk in my senior class.

Finalizing Character Designs

final design

final design (pt 2)

"final girl" - post events of the film

They are intended to resemble a Catholic nun, more so as the movie progresses

safety pins (intended to symbolize safety for minorities) instead come to resemble a cross around their neckhair down mimics the appearance of a nun's veil

blonde roots growing into dyed black hair symbolize the inescapable resonance of a purity culture upbringing.

Their broken rib alludes to the story of Adam and Eve

The gash on their inner thigh begins to mimic blood from the vagina alluding to both period blood and the myth that a vagina bleeding during sex is normal

final design