The worst thing a horror movie can do is create characters that are so flat and boring, they might as well be paper cutout dolls. Unfortunately, this is a common problem in the horror genre where there is not enough concentration on character development, and therefore the audience doesn't care as much about whether or not the characters live or die in the film.
Luckily, there are a handful of excellent horror movies where the characters shine through and are given colorful personalities that only add to the suspense of the film. Here is a list of The MBTI® Types from some fan-favorite horror movie main characters!
Updated on November 14th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: The Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator usually involves an individual taking a series of tests to determine their personality type. Since fictional characters cannot take those tests themselves, however, there are fans who enjoy examining the personalities of characters themselves. With a little room for error, these horror movie protagonists represent a lot of the MBTI® personalities.
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: NANCY THOMPSON (INTJ)
Introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging, Nancy Thompson isn’t just a horror movie protagonist, but also a final girl in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Her personality type is also known as the Architect.
This is someone who questions everything. They want answers. That’s exactly how Nancy is as she searches for the truth in her nightmares and wants to understand why she’s being targeted in her dreams. It doesn’t matter what other people tell her, Nancy wants to find the answers herself. She’s logical and independent, pulling Freddy Krueger from her dreams into the real world, and finding a way to fight him on her own terms.
HELLRAISER: KIRSTY COTTON (ESTJ)
ESTJ, or the Executive, is a natural leader. They tend to follow their own instincts and judgment more than that of other people, which is exactly what Kirsty does in her Hellraiser movies.
Kirsty moves out on her own instead of living with parents she doesn’t get along with, she goes with her gut when she knows something is wrong and everyone else tells her she’s had a nightmare, and she also takes charge of the events in her life to bargain with the Cenobites. Kirsty even, in later movie appearances, sacrifices the lives of others to enforce her own ideas about honesty and loyalty - both of which are important traits to an Executive type.
SCREAM: SIDNEY PRESCOTT (ISTP)
Sidney definitely takes a more introverted and thinking approach to her life. She’s just as happy on her own as she is surrounded by people she trusts - and through the events of the Scream franchise, it certainly takes a lot for someone to earn her trust.
The Virtuoso is someone who is able to pick up new skills quickly, someone who takes a hands-on approach to their life. That is Sidney as she investigates the death of her mother herself, as she tracks down a killer that the police can’t find, and as she becomes a crisis counselor for others who had similar experiences.
IT - RICHIE TOZIER (ENTP)
One of the greatest and most underrated elements to any horror movie is when the film isn't afraid to have a sense of humor. Sure, the genre might be designed to scare people, but what's better than an audience member thinking they're about to be so frightened that they'll scream at the top of their lungs and spill their popcorn everywhere when instead they are met with sidesplitting laughter?
Well, thanks to Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier in IT, he provides much-needed comic relief when things seem to be their worst. ENTPs, or Debaters, are natural-born comedians because they believe laughter is truly the best medicine. Anyone would be lucky to have an ENTP by our side during the wrath of Pennywise's killing sprees and luckily for The Losers' Club, they've got Richie to ease all the tension.
PSYCHO - NORMAN BATES (ISFJ)
Norman Bates is a classic example of an unhealthy ISFJ. The Defender is extremely hardworking and usually unassuming. Common enough for most introverts, he doesn't have all that much trouble spending the majority of his time alone (with his mother of course - well... sort of). He only gets the chance to interact with the outside world on the rare occasion that he has a motel guest arrive.
Because the general vicinity near the Bates Motel looks like a campy horror movie set, most people would rather spend the night at the Marriot than that creepy and isolated place. Since there aren't many guests, Norman spends most of his days obsessing over birds while pretending to argue with his overbearing mother. Typical ISFJ...?
THE SHINING - WENDY TORRANCE (ISFP)
ISFPs are known as the "peacemakers" and that is the perfect word used to describe Wendy Torrance. They're often unassuming and humble, despite this particular personality type also being called the Adventurer because they can continually find the good in the mundane.
All Wendy wants is to have a happy nuclear family with a white picket fence. Yet unfortunately for her, she married a man who is all work and no play, making him a dull boy. ISFPs tend to be incredibly forgiving and gentle, yet unfortunately for Wendy, her giving nature does nothing to suppress the madness stirring inside Jack Torrance.
FRANKENSTEIN - FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER (INFP)
Although Victor Frankenstein may have created what seems to be a terrifying monster, the creature is really just a misunderstood soul with a heart of gold - at least that is until society treats him like he's the scariest monster alive - thus, making him actually become the scariest monster alive. Self-fulfilling prophecies are the worst.
Like most INFPs, the monster just wants to be understood in a society that seems to reprimand his odd way of living. Mediators are often incredibly creative, but also tend to isolate themselves. This personality type may be different from most and INFPs sometimes struggle to fit in with the rest of the crowd, but that just makes them all the more unique and interesting.
GET OUT - CHRIS WASHINGTON (INFJ)
Chris Washington is a warm and caring individual who wants everyone around him to feel at ease. Advocates are idealists. He is not a conflicting person and the last thing he would ever want to do is cause trouble. Yet despite his kind and giving nature which is very common for INFJs, he is trapped in a house that is filled with the worst lurking evils of all.
Unfortunately, his classic INFJ warmth and soothing abilities cannot put an end to the sinister ways of the Armitage Family. Yet luckily, Chris is a smart guy, and he is able to use his wisdom (also common in INFJs) to actually "get out".
JENNIFER'S BODY - JENNIFER CHECK (ESTP)
Jennifer Check is praised in school not only for her beauty, but for her fearless charm. She's an Entrepreneur, often the life of the party. Like most ESTPs, she has no problem fitting right in, and she is able to effortlessly control all those around her with the snap of her fingers.
This personality type tends to be quite action-oriented and Jennifer is constantly up off her feet getting things done. It is easy for ESTPs to dominate any room they enter and Jennifer always has a tight grip on the people around her (and not just because she's possessed by a demonic succubus who eats men whenever she's bored).
THE CORPSE BRIDE - EMILY (ENFJ)
Tim Burton always does an excellent job creating characters that audiences would usually find horrifying, yet they end up falling in love with them because they are given a heart of gold. This is certainly the case with Emily in The Corpse Bride who at first appears quite scary, yet as the audience gets to know her, they begin to sympathize with her character and even grow to love her.
Emily has that classic ENFJ (or Protagonist) warmth, and like most people with this personality type, all they want is to have deep and meaningful connections with the outside world. Emily is set on her belief that Victor is "the one", and even when she realizes he loves someone else, she is selfless enough to let him go so that he will be happy - despite what that means for her.
CARRIE - CARRIE WHITE (ISFJ)
Carrie White tries her best to fit in with the other high schoolers at Bates High, but unfortunately, her sense of "otherness" is too apparent for the mean kids at school to comprehend.
It's not her fault, though. It was the way she was raised. Carrie was brought up in what is perhaps the strictest household of all time, and while most teens would do more to rebel against their bible-thumping parents, Carrie tries her best to please her mother in order to make sure she's happy. A handful of ISFJs tend to find a sense of comfort in tradition, and this seems to be evident in Carrie who goes along with her mother's preachings way more than most would. Like Norman Bates, she's a Defender in every adaptation of Stephen King's story.
SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK - CHUCK (ENTP)
As stated previously with fellow Debater Richie Tozier, it's always fun to have a comedic character in the spooky depths of a horror film in order to ease some serious tension. Chuck is the jokester of his friend group in Scary Stories To Tell in The Dark and he is what makes the movie so much fun to watch.
The thing is, ENTPs are never afraid to push the envelope and reveal exactly what is on their mind regardless of whether it is considered socially appropriate to do so. This is why we tend to love them so much.
THE VISIT - TYLER (ENFP)
Tyler from The Visit is the eccentric force in M. Night Shyamalan's horror-comedy that makes the film such an outrageously fun watch. Without his zany personality, this film would not stand out as much as it does in the scope of horror films.
ENFPs, also called Campigners, often have a quirky sense of charm that prevents situations from becoming too serious, and everyone is thankful for this personality type because of the way they add a joyous spark to any given scene - even if that scene involves murderous grandparents.