Date of Award
6-26-2026
Date Published
August 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Media Studies
Advisor(s)
Anne Osborne
Keywords
dual character;generational trauma;grounded theory;horror film;representation;U.S. horror film
Subject Categories
Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This thesis examines the representation of dual-role characters in contemporary American horror cinema through a qualitative textual analysis of three 2025 horror films: The Monkey (Osgood Perkins), Sinners (Ryan Coogler), and Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro). While dual or doubled characters have historically been analyzed through psychoanalytic frameworks centered on the ego, repression, and identity fragmentation, this study argues that recent horror films move beyond the traditional “double as self” narrative. Instead, these films position dual-role characters within broader social, cultural, and familial contexts, emphasizing how doubling reflects generational trauma, collective memory, and systems of oppression. Guided by Stuart Hall’s theory of representation and grounded theory methodology, this research explores the question: How are dual-role characters portrayed in horror films released in 2025?
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Flores, Camila, "The Strange Case of Family: How the Dual Character is Represented in 2025 American Horror Films" (2026). Theses - ALL. 1053.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/1053
