Horror film clichés

Horror film clichés

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Five horror film clichés

Since almost the beginning of cinema, we have had scary films. Of all the genres that exist, horror is perhaps one of the most conventional. Many horror films rely on specific plot devices, also called tropes, to make their audience frightened. When a trope is used too much, it can become a cliché. But when used well, it can really make us jump out of our skin. Here are some of the most used, and perhaps abused, clichés in horror films.

1

No matter what kind of house it is, the basement is a scary place in horror films. That's usually where something is hiding or where the evil psychopath has hidden their tools. Basements are always dark and often damp. You can only reach them by a narrow staircase. And basements are always creepy, even when there isn't anything down there.

2

In older horror films, when protagonists were in desperation, it was difficult or impossible for them to call for help or call the police. Mobile phones have made that situation a bit less believable now. What's the solution to maintain suspense? No phone coverage! If you're a hero in a horror film, it's almost certain that at a key moment, just when you absolutely need to call for help, you will not have any coverage at all. Or your phone battery will die just as you are making the call. Or both.

3

Horror films love uninhabited places. This could be an abandoned hospital, a scary empty house or a ghost town. There's something about lonely, empty places. What was it like when people lived there? Why did they leave? Maybe it's also that they are so quiet, which can be very scary too. Of course, abandoned places are also handy for horror film directors in that it's more believable that you will have no phone coverage there either (see above).

4

The hero has been driving for hours. It's night-time and it's beginning to rain. Suddenly he sees a person on the side of the road. Maybe the company will keep him awake? In horror films, giving anybody a ride is asking for trouble. The hero always does it, and it always ends badly.

5

This horror film cliché was especially popular with horror films of the late 20th century. It starts with a group of teenagers all enjoying themselves, and it ends with everyone dead except one girl. At the beginning the girl is usually innocent, shy and not particularly strong. By the end, she has become the toughest and most resourceful person in the world. The last girl almost always wins in the end.

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Submitted by Gabriela Saavedra on Tue, 12/10/2021 - 17:13

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I used to enjoy horror films more than I do now. I stopped to see them frecuently because the plot can be unrealistic and very predictable. One or two clichés I could notice were a group of teeneagers playing satanic games, then been chased by an unnatural fource. Also there is a good looking couple, a pretty girl with glasses and ponytail that illogically makes her less pretty, the black guy, the chinesse guy and the innocet hero who ends up with the "not so pretty girl". I higly recommend suspense movies rather than horror, because they have more clever arguments and also can get us to jump out of our skin.

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Submitted by Hennadii on Mon, 05/07/2021 - 19:53

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Honestly, I think horror films are the most stupid genre in the Universe because of all these cliches. You just can't take it seriously - they all look familiar from the very beginning. Especially when we talk about a group of teenagers in danger. There is always a pretty blonde girl that screams all the time. And, when she finally stops screaming, she decides to take a shower, where she will be killed (spoiler - she would be naked because she is sexy). And of course, there would be some nerd, that will because as strong as Bruce Willis at the end. If someone said - "we need to stay together" at the very next moment they all separate to make the maniac's task a bit easier. And so on, and so on. That's why I don't watch horror at all )))
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Submitted by Rafaela1 on Wed, 02/06/2021 - 14:23

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I'm sometimes horrified just by the presence of a person I unexpected...! :)

Submitted by Steven MO on Sat, 27/03/2021 - 19:46

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Yes, I do. I'm a big fan of The Conjuring series. Moreover, all the clichés mentioned above are completely true. Some of them appear, as well, in The Conjuring movies. However, in some way, these movies keep you in suspense and you might even jump out of your skin more than once. I think that the third one is the most popular and as another cliché inside of it, I can say that is common that suddenly the lights are gone and surprinsingly, the character has a flashlight. But anyway, despite the clichés, some of them give you what you expect of a horror movie.

Submitted by Ehsan on Tue, 23/02/2021 - 14:24

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yes, I am very interested in horror films. from these films' cliche, I can point to scary sound and music, creepy evil creatures, stay awake, uninhabited places, ruined church, the evil nun, and etc.

Submitted by Jumandi0104 on Fri, 19/02/2021 - 15:45

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Do you like horror films? Can you think of any more horror film clichés? I like horror films, however due to clichés they tend to be predictable, one of these film clichés could be the fact that the music level of the background lowers, and after it there is a jump scare, this not only happens in movies but in video games.
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Submitted by Jack Milgram on Thu, 18/02/2021 - 09:02

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Basements are creepy not only in horrors. And attics. And pantries. Speaking about clichés, when the spooky music sounds, it's okay. But when it stops, be ready for some screamer.
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Submitted by Rafaela1 on Wed, 13/01/2021 - 14:15

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Not really. I'm chicken. ;)
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Submitted by Riza on Wed, 13/01/2021 - 09:19

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I am not keen on horror film. I might watch them once or twice in a month. I guess all clishes were mentioned above are all common for this genre. but I could add that in all dreadful films you might expect that someone or even the whole nation would die at the end.