Return of the Reppressed Theory

Sigmund Freud was the founder of the 'Return of the Reppressed' theory which suggests the idea of repressed elements from the past (often preserved in the unconscious) reappearing - often displayed through consciousness or actions in behavior.


In 'The Interpretation of Dreams', published in the early 1900s, Freud suggested that the reason we have no memories from the first few years of life is because they are repressed. He said that all memories can be retained through various means. 'What is forgotten is not extinguished but only repressed; its memory traces are present in all their freshness... they are unconscious - inaccessible to consciousness'.


In application, if someone has a feeling or idea thought of as 'forbidden' then the mind must work against the idea as it tries to surface (often trying to through appearing as a symptom). In this situation a 'Reaction Formulation' can occur when the person does the exact opposite to what the forbidden feeling is trying to achieve. For example hate could turn into love or adoration, however the repressed feeling may surface and turn the good will of the individual against them and try and harm the other person through the positive action. Usually the persons will power can overcome these urges but they often the forbidden emotion can arise and reveal itself.


In relation to horror, this idea can be applied when looking at the background of serial killers. There are many theories around serial killers and their upbringing and socialisation and this one is very central as it suggests the killer actions are causal of their upbringing and feelings and events that have been oppressed that arise to cause the bad actions they carry through. This theory can be applied to the 1978 slasher horror: 'Halloween'. The main protagonist and serial killer Mike Myers has murderous intentions that are supposed to be from oppressed urges. This can be backed up by the fact that at the start of the film the audience are presented with a young boy who murders his sister for performing sexual acts. This boy grows up to be Mike Myers and a serial killer and it is suggested in reference to this theory that it is derived from the initial traumatic experience her went through as a child. 


Bellow is the opening of 'Halloween' (1978) which shows the murder of Mike Myers sister as a young boy.