1. Comparing Characters in Mild
Horror (Eco-disaster/Adventure sub
genre)
The Day after tomorrow (2004)
Jurassic Park (1993)

2. Vladimir Propp
Propp believed that folk tales had a number of stock characters;
• The Hero – a character that seeks something
• The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
• The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties
• The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a
message
• The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false
claims
• The Helper – who aids the hero
• The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the
villain’s plots
• Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort
These characters can be applied to many modern films, although the
personality traits and roles of the characters can vary.

3. The Hero
Sam Hall (The Day After
Tomorrow)
• This character fits all of the
traditional ‘Hero’ stereotypes –
he is young, attractive and smart.
He has a number of ‘sidekicks’
and succeeds at the end of the
film, including winning the
affections of the ‘princess’ figure.
Dr Alan Grant (Jurassic Park)
•
Dr Grant is slightly older than one might
expect, however aside from this, he fits all
of the traditional ‘Hero’ conventions – He
is brave, strong and kind. Saying this, Dr
Grant is somewhat a reluctant Hero in that
at the beginning of the film he despises
children, and does not want to get
involved in the drama and danger of the
plot.

4. The Villain
Nature or Mankind? (The Day
After Tomorrow)
•
There is no physical villain in this film, as it
is an eco-disaster that provides the terror,
through a monster storm and ice-age
throughout the northern hemisphere.
However, the question is raised by the film
of whether mankind has caused this
disaster because of global warming. This
goes against Propp’s theory of having a
physical villain.
•
The Day After Tomorrow - New York
Tsunami - YouTube
Dinosaurs? Dr. Malcolm?
(Jurassic Park)
•
It is Dr. Malcolm that has recreated the
dinosaurs, and that eventually refuses to
destroy them, and so once the dinosaurs do
become deadly, he becomes the villain figure. Dr
Malcolm fits with many villain stereotypes,
wearing dark clothes and ranting about things
he disagrees with. He also in fits in with the
stock horror character of the Mad Scientist.
However, it is the dinosaurs that are actually the
danger, so are they the real villains in the film?
•
Jurassic Park (9/10) Movie CLIP Raptors in the Kitchen (1993) HD –
YouTube

5. The Dispatcher
Professor Jack Hall (The Day
After Tomorrow)
•
Jack is Sam Hall (our hero)’s father, and it
is him who informs Sam of the impending
storm, as he witnesses its beginnings
whilst doing research in the north pole.
He is a reliable source due to his
‘Professor’ status, and so is a fitting
Dispatcher of information who sends our
hero on his quest. This fits with Propp’s
theory as this dispatcher instructs, informs
and helps the hero in the film.
John Hammond (Jurassic Park)
•
John Hammond is a dispatcher of sorts in
the film, however he does not fit with
Propp’s original theory, as it is not he who
tells the Hero what to do, but rather he
aids the hero from behind the scenes, as
he is to frail to help physically. He feeds
the Hero information and keeps the two
groups of tourists informed of each others
wearabouts.

6. The False Hero
Unnamed Survivor (The Day
After Tomorrow)
•
This unnamed man is one of the survivors
from the library who convinces many
other to leave the library with him,
despite being advised otherwise by Sam
and his friends. To the other survivors, this
man seems a hero at first for providing a
solution, however it is later revealed that
his was a bad decision as the group that
leave the library are found, having frozen
to death.
Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)
•
Dr. Ian Malcolm turns out to be the false
hero, as at the beginning of the film (when
the dinosaurs are still under control) he
seems a hero from bringing them back to
life and creating the wonderful theme
park ‘Jurassic Park’. However, when the
Dinosaurs break free and he refuses to
destroy them he is revealed to be
villainous. It is clear to the audience by the
end of the film that he is not acting
maliciously, but rather out of fear.

7. The Helper
Jason Evans, Frank Harris and Brian
Parks (The Day After Tomorrow)
Lex and Tim Murphy (Jurassic
Park)
• All three of these people aid
the Hero or the dispatcher
at some point throughout
the film, and Frank Harris
even sacrifices his life so
that the others can carry on
in their quest.
• These two children aid the
hero throughout the film,
and help to defeat the
dinosaurs. They are very
brave for their age and fit
with Propp’s theory of the
hero having a helper or
multiple helpers.

8. The Princess
Laura Chapman (The Day After
Tomorrow)
• Laura is the Hero (Sam)’s love
interest throughout the film, and
they end up as a romantic couple
at the end. Many of the
adventure’s Sam goes on are to
help or save Laura, most
noticeably him going out into the
cold to find medicine for her
blood poisoning.
Dr. Ellie Satler (Jurassic Park)
• Dr. Ellie is Dr. Alan’s
assistant and love interest.
Although the pair are
separated for the majority
of the film, she aids the
Hero by switching of the
electrics to a fence he is
trapped behind.