Horror film clichés
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.
Preparation
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.
I don't really like horror movies,for me they are not interesting I prefer playing horror games because there are many tasks that I can do by myself.
The clichés in film are very strange I would rather watch the movie without clichés.
To be honest, I really like movies of this genre: I enjoy their atmosphere, the mystery, and, in my opinion, the most interesting part is the ending. But these typical clichés in such movies can be a bit annoying. For example, when the characters say, “Let’s split up,” or when someone says, “Don’t open that” or “Don’t open the door!”, and another character still opens it. Or when a young family buys a house and the realtor tells them that the house is cursed, but they buy it anyway because they don’t believe in the supernatural. Or the cursed or possessed dolls that scare everyone. And at the end of the movie, when it seems like the main villain is dead — he suddenly opens his eyes.
Do you like horror films? Can you think of any more horror film cliches?
Yes, I like horror films because they create tension and keep me curious about what will happen next. I’ve noticed a lot of typical horror clichés. For example, characters often decide to split up even though everyone knows it’s a terrible idea. Another cliché is when someone hears a strange noise and goes to investigate alone. The lights also always start flickering right before something scary appears. And of course, the villain is “killed,” but then suddenly comes back to life for one last jump scare. These clichés can be predictable, but they also make horror movies fun to watch.
Honestly, am not a fan of horror movies actually i don’t like them.I think there’s no point of scaring myself out of something unreal, also am a type of person who gets scared easily by everything.If I had to watch one I’ll watch the movie with no sound because i think that the sounds in the movies play the biggest role of making people scared.one cliche that comes to my mind is when the protagonists are in a building and the lights suddenly shut down.
I am a big fan of horror movies.My fauvorite ones are specially the psicologist horror films like The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick.
The last film that I watched and it really makes me thrill was The Witch.
The plot of that film it is based in some legends of New England.A family who was lived in a little village was forced to leave the town and they must to begin a new life in the middle of a woods ,but they are completely ignorants that the woods hide..
Honestly, I don’t really enjoy horror films, I much prefer action movies. I remember jumping out of my skin several times while watching horror films when I was a teenager.
In addition, many horror films are full of clichés. For example, the villain is often portrayed as a psychopath who has a long-term health condition like blindness, hearing impairment, or being confined to a wheelchair. These predictable characters are often used to make the film seem stranger and more disturbing, but to me, it just feels unrealistic and overdone.
i really really liked this horror story, i needed to read this from my english teacher and i am so so so happy she told me to do it. I am so grateful. its one of the best stories ever!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't say if I'm a horror movie fan or a hater. I always liked that it gave me a sense of pleasant horror, unknown places, and situations, but I always liked the feeling of it, the feeling of something caressing across your spine, giving you a tingly feeling.
The only thing that might scare me, though, are jump scares, mostly because they involve loud noises, which scares me the most.
Of course, if we are talking about cliché movies, I would watch them to laugh and have fun. But if we are talking about psychological horror movies, I would prefer it because it gives me a more realistic feeling, especially if it is about trauma or other diseases. I love horror movies with unpredictability and original storytelling or plot. It would be much more interesting than watching a protagonist simply run away from a serial killer or get possessed by a spirit of the uninhibited house or basement.
I simply adore this article. I'm very found of horror movies and American Gothic literature. A lot of useful vocabulary and exceptionaly good exercise for word formation.
Can't wait for another exciting reading here!
Katie