In the lore of the films, the true identity of The Miner is often confused for Harry Warden, the sole survivor of a catastrophic mining accident at the Hanniger Mine, who is found to have murdered the rest of the miners trapped with him, either for food or oxygen. Harry awakens from a coma and goes on a rampage - subsequently becoming an urban legend of residents of the local mining town, in which he is believed to unleash a wrath upon those who partake in the forbidden Valentine's Day dance, with victims of his, Axel Palmer and Tom Hanniger, taking up the mantle themselves on descending into insanity and psychopathy. He is depicted as an antagonist in both films. The character debuted in the early slasher boom and widely recognized for his distinctive gas mask and miner attire. The Miner has gained a cult status in the horror genre fandom despite only appearing in two films.