Analysis of David Prentiss Fight His Fear in Chaos Walking (2021): Fight-or-Flight Theory Perspective

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26877/allure.v6i2.509

Keywords:

Chaos Walking, David Prentiss, fear, Fight-or-Flight theory

Abstract

Dystopian films often represent the dynamics of fear and power through conflict between characters, making them a relevant medium for examining human emotional responses in extreme situations. This study focuses on the character David Prentiss in the film Chaos Walking to analyze the forms of fear he experiences and the responses shown through the perspective of Fight-or-Flight Theory. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with non-participatory observation techniques on selected scenes and dialogues that represent the character's emotional responses. Data are analyzed using interactive model, which includes reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that David Prentiss's primary fear is rooted in threats to his power, specifically from the arrival of the Violas and the presence of women without Noise. This fear is consistently responded to through a pattern of fighting manifested in aggression, psychological manipulation, propaganda, and structural violence. These findings confirm that fear of powerful figures can develop into a systematic mechanism of social control. This study highlights the relevance of Fight-or-Flight Theory in the study of film literature and emphasizes the importance of a psychological approach to understanding the relationship between emotion, leadership, and power in cinematic representations.

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2026-07-30

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