There are all sorts of kinds of props. The most common and noticeable of which that occur in horror films are the weapon.

An iconic weapon in horror films, since the release of the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), is (you guessed it) the chainsaw.

The use of the chainsaw as a weapon was a great idea. It paved the way for a lot of gore. Plus, the prospect of being killed by the chainsaw is terrifying, and the use of this prop could easily scare the audience.

More common props are often knives, machete's (like Jason Vorhees' weapon), and other sharp objects. But I hear you ask, why knives? why not guns? isn't that quicker? I chuckle and say, because guns are impersonal! The reason blades are so terrifying to the audience is because it requires the killer to get close and intimate with the victim - blades are very personal weapons. Plus, death by any kind of blade is often slow and very painful.

Another thing considered as a prop is the trusty mask. Masks are common props in horror films used to conceal the antagonists identity. Famous examples include the mask from Scream, Jason's mask from Friday the 13th, Michael Myer's mask from Halloween, et cetera.



The reason masks are used is, as I said, because it conceals the killer's identity, and the sense of unknowing is often a scary one for the audience. Plus, it allows for some very terrifying designs, such as the blank expression of Michael Myers, which shows that he is apathetic and has no mercy for his victims.