AN ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVE IN HORROR FILMS FEATURING ALIEN CREATURES AS MAIN CHARACTERS

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the narrative structures of horror films in which alien creatures serve as the primary driving force of the story and to apply the findings to the creation of a screenplay. The study focuses on narrative structure, employing a qualitative research approach through the analysis of three films: A Quiet Place (2018), Prey (2022), and Alien: Romulus (2024). The analysis is based on key storytelling elements including plot, theme, conflict, character, setting, point of view, and symbolism.

The findings reveal that all three films utilize alien creatures as the central source of conflict and as a crucial driving force. The stories emphasize survival situations, escalating tension, and confrontations with the unknown. The alien characters are designed to be physically superior to humans in terms of physical capabilities, hunting skills, and adaptability to their environments. In addition, settings and spatial environments function as important devices for creating pressure and fear. The aliens also operate as symbolic representations of otherness, anxiety, and uncontrollable threats, contributing significantly to the audience’s sense of insecurity and suspense.

The study further found that fear in horror films featuring alien creatures as main characters is not generated solely by the appearance of the creatures themselves. Rather, it emerges from the integration of narrative elements, the construction of high-risk situations, the use of setting and atmosphere, and character design. Together, these elements create a sustained experience of fear, tension, and psychological unease throughout the films.