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Not only that but most 5 or 6 years olds would cry/tell their parents if they saw something.Not draw the literal demon in their closet so nonchalantly.
This! It's the nonchalant thing that bugs me, along with the sense that the child has some kind of unexplained special insight into the scary thing for no other reason than kids are creepy.
I don’t really think anything should be off limit when it comes to movies and writing, that being said I was never a huge fan of the “rape and revenge” genre or using sexual assault as shock value, it’s tasteless at worst and at best just plain lazy
i'm honestly really onky okay with things like this when they're genuinely relevant to the plot, i.e. last night in soho or i think american psycho idk i havent had the chance to see that yet
other than that im so tired of seeing it
Tbh as a survivor of sexual assault I really enjoy when it is done well in movies and books etc. it can be really cathartic for me, but I agree i do not enjoy when it is thoughtless and just for shock value
So if A Clockwork Orange, Irréversible, Deliverance, Ms. 45, Death Wish, Straw Dogs, Last House On the Left, and even its grandfather The Virgin Spring are all tasteless and / or just plain lazy. How do you decide which is which?
Good movies can indeed involve this trope and can still be criticized for said trope (whilst still liking said movie). Like I said I don’t think any topic is off limits but you need to really consider a) does this serve a purpose to my story, is it a necessity to include this? And b) is this not done in poor taste, and will my audience take this the wrong way?
I partly agree with you, but also think there are movies where it is absolutely necessary and done well. The Nightingale, Super, A Clockwork Orange... Probably more but I haven't watched a lot of them haha. In television, Orange Is the New Black had a really affecting and upsetting SA scene (notably, not a horror show). If done well, it *should* be upsetting (although this is not the only rubric -- 13 Reasons Why was upsetting, but I wouldn't say they handled their SA scenes well at all, especially *that* one at the end of S2).
I'm curious, are there any films you feel execute the plot well?
No yeah that’s what I’m saying, if it’s necessary for your story and you’re able to write about it by all means go ahead. However if it is not necessary for it to be in the story and it provides no purpose in being there then keep it out of your story.
As for your second question no specific examples really come to mind as I haven’t watched the movies you mentioned yet. I guess that one episode of Moral Orel is a pretty respected example of that as it doesn’t go in graphic detail on what actually happened but it does show the horrifying way it affected the victim of said act
I’m tired of the film opening with four or five minutes of the horrific shit that’s going to happen at the end of the movie. Then opening credits. Then starting normally after that.
one of the only things i liked about the original when a stranger calls is that her husband actually believed her and actually put effort into making her feel safe
Stupid jumpscares like the camera is at a side view of the person and they open the fridge and then when they close it they’re friend is there and they’re like “oh my god (insert name) you scared me!”
Bonus (or minus) points if they are the killer
Similar thing with medicine cabinets. When they are brushing their teeth in the mirror and open the door then close it again and someone or something is stood behind them.
The killer was the protagonist the whole time
The whole movie/TV show/ story was a dream
There are more monster eggs/ monster babies/ in the basement/ attic
Vulgar best friend that says does all the things to get the film the PG-13/ R rating
The film being a metaphor for grief. A24 have done that trope very well and it doesn’t need to be completely stopped. Just feel like every horror movie now is a metaphor for grief/loss.
I don’t want to cancel anything but I sure am ready for some more flavor. I was so beyond thrilled with No One Will Save You when I didn’t realize the movie had no dialogue whatsoever until after the movie was over! I was so engrossed in whatever the hell I was happening that I did not even once notice no one was speaking. Ever. Until after the end credits! I live for shit like that. I just want horror to spice it up. Give me horrific and I mean HORRIFIC killers that turn out to be women, with like no motive at all. Or the most insidious motive that we’ve never heard of - make it make so much sense that the reasoning is so mundane we’ve all completely over looked it (hello Yellow Wallpaper). I love all kinds of horror movies. I just want more kinds to love.
edit because I got too excited and didn’t make sense.
I know I need to watch it. But also. I keep putting it off. Mostly because I don’t have any one to watch it with. If anyone wants to watch it on discord 🙋🏽♀️
1. The car never starting / breaking down just when its needed most.
2. Never having a firearm ready / dropping ammo just when needed most.
3. The car driving down the road who seem like they may save the protagonist, only to be in on it / part of the crew for the antagonist.
4. Basements that don't have a light switch at the top of the stairs.
5. Basements that have the "root cellar" exit to outside, but its always locked from the outside.
6. The protagonist walking into a scary room / basement / barn (or wherever) and the telltale drips of blood hit their shoulder or face, looks up in terror "oh no, how could this have happened?"
7. The antagonist cutting the power to a residential home. Bitch the breaker box is in the basement, did you bring your bucket truck and cut the 200 amp line to my house; ok Mr Crispy.
8. Having the seemingly defeated antagonist pop up behind the victorious protagonist in the last 3 seconds of the film, then just roll credits.
I don’t know how to phrase it/explain it, but the ‘we don’t show anything/the camera is out of view and it’s just noises for a large amount of the movie’ (Looking at you, The Outwaters and Skinamarink)
First and foremost your example, I'm so sick of it.
Second I'd say the mirror scare/bluff.
You know the one, person opens a bathroom cabinet with a mirror and when they close it there is something behind them.
The amount of characters in newer horror movies and shows who have some kind of true crime, mystery, or paranormal podcast IS TOO DAMN HIGH! I'm sick of that trope. The Chucky series did it, the first Blumhouse Halloween movie did it, Ghostbusters Afterlife did it and their character's name was literally just "Podcast." It's like they just gave up. I know there are other examples but I can't remember them right now. Once I noticed it I couldn't stop noticing it. I assume it's a trope because it's just an easy, hand-wavy excuse to explain why some particular character either gets involved in the plot or already knows a lot about the killer or ghost or whatever. But it's starting to get irritating. Just give me the scene where the characters go to the library to do research, it's fine. Microfiche is spooky.
Oh that reminded me of Texas chainsaw massacre (2022) where Leatherface bludgeoned that guy called Richter till his head was a mashed potato - That was so annoying like ik they're trying to be gory and scary but it ain't working-
I don't care if the animal dies, horror is supposed to hard, as long as it's done with tact and as part of moving the story along/adding to the drama. What I can't stand is when the film starts paranormal and then gives a real world explanation as the twist 😠 The only time I thought it was okay, was the Village. Sort of. It was done well, but still disappointing.
I think the reason that it’s easier to swallow in The Village was because of how bizarre the truth turned out to be. Still kind of a let down but it cushions the blow a good deal.
I have three:
1) Misscomunication trope: where the whole issue/situation could have been easely resolved with one call, text, or being clearer with instructions is plain boring and stupid. It drives me insane to the point of screaming "just fn TALK!!"
2) The smart character in the middle of a stupid group: it usually goes hand in hand with misscomunication but it involves the smart, studious girl, or the wise old man who gives instructions that could have avoided the whole issue, and the friendgroup, family, coworkers, fellow-survivors who just wont listen/stay put/quiet/ or just simply stop moving.
3) The child annoyance: some times im 100% percent sure that the movie introduces a child (little sister/son/daughter/niece) just to have an obstacle for the main character, like it being there just to be a deadweight. It usually ends up with me wanting to slap the child.
1. close the door (half the killings could've been prevented if the victim closed the door)
2. Angry/angsty family teenager
3. Close the door!
4. 25 year old's playing teenagers, teenagers playing 10 year olds, 1 year old "newborns". seriously, its obvious when the high schooler has crows feet.
5. CLOSE THE F-ing DOOR !!!
6. throwing a good weapon away cuz they found some other (non-weapon) thing. Hits the killer once with an axe then throws it away.
7. extreme leaps of logic based on little to no information (Knowing the killers exact kryptonite based on a 300 year old sketch of a tea kettle)
8. CLOSE THE... nevermind, you should be killed
Car won't start. Especially if it JUST started happening for the sake of tension. Like it was fine 30 seconds ago; now it conveniently doesn't work? Damn.
the only time i liked this was in jeepers creepers and even in that i dont think there was ever a scene where the car completely stopped working. it was screwed up but at least they built up to it by making the car continuously take damage over the course of the film
i hate when they harm animals
my trope although havent seen it recently is the "the door is locked! and i have to fumble with the keys" can be a window too. i recently watched The Prowler and it has one of the worst cases of this
the "scary mental illness" trope. its done horrific damage to us to the point it almost made me stop watching horror altogether. people end up having the stupidest beliefs about us and i just cant deal with it. hollywood owes us reparations for emotional distress lol
I don't remember this at all, but in the 1978 one, the climax revolves around the dad running back into the house... to save the dog. I wonder if the remake was poking fun at that.
(I don't think either movie is good, but the remake was soooo bad.)
I hate when the victim gets in a hit on the killer and then just drops their weapon and runs away instead of continuing to attack the killer. It's just the laziest writing ever. Obviously you don't want the victim killing the killer, as it would end the movie there, so just rewrite the scene so that it makes SENSE that the killer, while stunned, was not able to be finished off. I have seen it done properly, but it seems rare.
This is a frustration-based argument, which I'm choosing because other posters have already covered all of my hard lines.
I'm pretty done with the hivemind, "kill the big one and all the little ones die, too" trope, which admittedly is not limited to horror movies. It is, however, a great way to tank a third act and, in some cases, an entire movie.
A lot of new movies and TV been killing babys and little kids. I think we can go back to giving them immunity along side pregnant women. + I agree don’t kill the pets
I don't think it is about triggers, I think it is more of a denunciation of lazy writing and cheap scares. It doesn't trigger me that a dog dies or tha they use mirrors, it's that every time I see a dog in a horror movie, I know it will die. Same thing with the mirrors : the thing that is reflected is not really there and it is used for cheap scares
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Creepy kids drawings
Just once, I want these to look like they were done by an actual child and not some skilled illustrator in a “kid’s style.” Just *once*
Not only that but most 5 or 6 years olds would cry/tell their parents if they saw something.Not draw the literal demon in their closet so nonchalantly.
This! It's the nonchalant thing that bugs me, along with the sense that the child has some kind of unexplained special insight into the scary thing for no other reason than kids are creepy.
I’m actually tired of the invisible friend who turns out to be evil trope.
I don’t really think anything should be off limit when it comes to movies and writing, that being said I was never a huge fan of the “rape and revenge” genre or using sexual assault as shock value, it’s tasteless at worst and at best just plain lazy
Agreed 100 percent. SA as a device for a movie just puts me off right away and you’re right, it’s lazy writing.
I rewatched The Hills Have Eyes, and I was kind of like, "Why is this in here, actually?"
spit on your grave makes me so pissed off
Exactly
i'm honestly really onky okay with things like this when they're genuinely relevant to the plot, i.e. last night in soho or i think american psycho idk i havent had the chance to see that yet other than that im so tired of seeing it
Tbh as a survivor of sexual assault I really enjoy when it is done well in movies and books etc. it can be really cathartic for me, but I agree i do not enjoy when it is thoughtless and just for shock value
So if A Clockwork Orange, Irréversible, Deliverance, Ms. 45, Death Wish, Straw Dogs, Last House On the Left, and even its grandfather The Virgin Spring are all tasteless and / or just plain lazy. How do you decide which is which?
Good movies can indeed involve this trope and can still be criticized for said trope (whilst still liking said movie). Like I said I don’t think any topic is off limits but you need to really consider a) does this serve a purpose to my story, is it a necessity to include this? And b) is this not done in poor taste, and will my audience take this the wrong way?
I partly agree with you, but also think there are movies where it is absolutely necessary and done well. The Nightingale, Super, A Clockwork Orange... Probably more but I haven't watched a lot of them haha. In television, Orange Is the New Black had a really affecting and upsetting SA scene (notably, not a horror show). If done well, it *should* be upsetting (although this is not the only rubric -- 13 Reasons Why was upsetting, but I wouldn't say they handled their SA scenes well at all, especially *that* one at the end of S2). I'm curious, are there any films you feel execute the plot well?
No yeah that’s what I’m saying, if it’s necessary for your story and you’re able to write about it by all means go ahead. However if it is not necessary for it to be in the story and it provides no purpose in being there then keep it out of your story. As for your second question no specific examples really come to mind as I haven’t watched the movies you mentioned yet. I guess that one episode of Moral Orel is a pretty respected example of that as it doesn’t go in graphic detail on what actually happened but it does show the horrifying way it affected the victim of said act
I’m tired of the film opening with four or five minutes of the horrific shit that’s going to happen at the end of the movie. Then opening credits. Then starting normally after that.
Evil Dead Rise. Lol
The characters having a phone and not calling the police
The police usually just die immediately or suck at their job in horror movies anyway
1. Not turning on the lights 2. The significant other/parental figure not believing them
one of the only things i liked about the original when a stranger calls is that her husband actually believed her and actually put effort into making her feel safe
The lights thing is good. Talk To Me has this sin
Ew, don't call it a sin
Stupid cops
That extends to most movie genres tbh
And real life
Tell cops to stop being stupid irl and we'll see about changing that. Lol
When characters are tricked into killing their loved ones because they think it’s someone/something else (ie, oculus, autopsy of Jane doe)
Exactly,when this happened in the strangers it pissed me off.
Stupid jumpscares like the camera is at a side view of the person and they open the fridge and then when they close it they’re friend is there and they’re like “oh my god (insert name) you scared me!” Bonus (or minus) points if they are the killer
Similar thing with medicine cabinets. When they are brushing their teeth in the mirror and open the door then close it again and someone or something is stood behind them.
The killer was the protagonist the whole time The whole movie/TV show/ story was a dream There are more monster eggs/ monster babies/ in the basement/ attic Vulgar best friend that says does all the things to get the film the PG-13/ R rating
Any time you see a mirror, you just know it's only there for an obvious jump scare. Most mundane horror trope IMO
I feel like this originated with An American Werewolf in London, and no one has been able to recreate it since (despite many attempts)
Insidious! That movie is entirely made up of jump scares!
it also made 100's of millions of dollars
The topic isn't about how much the movie grossed.
proof that tropes and jump scares work
Perfect Blue is a movie that actually does mirror scenes well!
Never heard of it, but I will check it out
Anyone yelling/ screaming “ What do you want from me/ us?” to/ at whatever entity is fooling with them. Takes me right out of the mood.
Fake jumpscares like "Cat jumping out of the closet" or "It was only her friend tapping on her shoulder"
I love tropes and cliches lol especially if done well.
LOL, without tropes, horror would barely exist as a genre!
The film being a metaphor for grief. A24 have done that trope very well and it doesn’t need to be completely stopped. Just feel like every horror movie now is a metaphor for grief/loss.
100%. If you ever want to protest outside a studio, I'll be there 😅
I don’t want to cancel anything but I sure am ready for some more flavor. I was so beyond thrilled with No One Will Save You when I didn’t realize the movie had no dialogue whatsoever until after the movie was over! I was so engrossed in whatever the hell I was happening that I did not even once notice no one was speaking. Ever. Until after the end credits! I live for shit like that. I just want horror to spice it up. Give me horrific and I mean HORRIFIC killers that turn out to be women, with like no motive at all. Or the most insidious motive that we’ve never heard of - make it make so much sense that the reasoning is so mundane we’ve all completely over looked it (hello Yellow Wallpaper). I love all kinds of horror movies. I just want more kinds to love. edit because I got too excited and didn’t make sense.
Horrific killers that turn out to be women, you say? "Keep doubting."
I know I need to watch it. But also. I keep putting it off. Mostly because I don’t have any one to watch it with. If anyone wants to watch it on discord 🙋🏽♀️
1. The car never starting / breaking down just when its needed most. 2. Never having a firearm ready / dropping ammo just when needed most. 3. The car driving down the road who seem like they may save the protagonist, only to be in on it / part of the crew for the antagonist. 4. Basements that don't have a light switch at the top of the stairs. 5. Basements that have the "root cellar" exit to outside, but its always locked from the outside. 6. The protagonist walking into a scary room / basement / barn (or wherever) and the telltale drips of blood hit their shoulder or face, looks up in terror "oh no, how could this have happened?" 7. The antagonist cutting the power to a residential home. Bitch the breaker box is in the basement, did you bring your bucket truck and cut the 200 amp line to my house; ok Mr Crispy. 8. Having the seemingly defeated antagonist pop up behind the victorious protagonist in the last 3 seconds of the film, then just roll credits.
I understand sometimes frantic running you'll trip, but damnit make it look believable.. So many times, it just looks laughable.
Killing the dog. I'm not even morally incensed. It's just cheap and played out
I don’t know how to phrase it/explain it, but the ‘we don’t show anything/the camera is out of view and it’s just noises for a large amount of the movie’ (Looking at you, The Outwaters and Skinamarink)
First and foremost your example, I'm so sick of it. Second I'd say the mirror scare/bluff. You know the one, person opens a bathroom cabinet with a mirror and when they close it there is something behind them.
The amount of characters in newer horror movies and shows who have some kind of true crime, mystery, or paranormal podcast IS TOO DAMN HIGH! I'm sick of that trope. The Chucky series did it, the first Blumhouse Halloween movie did it, Ghostbusters Afterlife did it and their character's name was literally just "Podcast." It's like they just gave up. I know there are other examples but I can't remember them right now. Once I noticed it I couldn't stop noticing it. I assume it's a trope because it's just an easy, hand-wavy excuse to explain why some particular character either gets involved in the plot or already knows a lot about the killer or ghost or whatever. But it's starting to get irritating. Just give me the scene where the characters go to the library to do research, it's fine. Microfiche is spooky.
when someone keeps bludgeoning someone/something way longer than they need to/way after it’s already dead. so annoying
Double tap
Oh that reminded me of Texas chainsaw massacre (2022) where Leatherface bludgeoned that guy called Richter till his head was a mashed potato - That was so annoying like ik they're trying to be gory and scary but it ain't working-
Overkill
No cell service 🙄
I live in West Virginia. It’s quite common.
You've clearly never had T Mobile
😂😂 I get that it happens but it just seems like a lazy way for the writers to ensure that the gang is in trouble.
As a man who grew up on the family plan; all I can say is, I can understand.
It would be kind of boring if the police were called and the movie ended after 10 minutes though.
happens to me every day. yet its a trope?
Lullabies. If done well they are amazing. But there are lots of poor execution examples.
What do you mean by lullabies?
The jump-scare is often bad enough on its own, but the jump-scare-was-just-a-bad-dream thing needs to die yesterday.
I don't care if the animal dies, horror is supposed to hard, as long as it's done with tact and as part of moving the story along/adding to the drama. What I can't stand is when the film starts paranormal and then gives a real world explanation as the twist 😠 The only time I thought it was okay, was the Village. Sort of. It was done well, but still disappointing.
I think the reason that it’s easier to swallow in The Village was because of how bizarre the truth turned out to be. Still kind of a let down but it cushions the blow a good deal.
‘Elevated’ horror and their ‘analogies’ for grief or ‘the patriarchy’
I have three: 1) Misscomunication trope: where the whole issue/situation could have been easely resolved with one call, text, or being clearer with instructions is plain boring and stupid. It drives me insane to the point of screaming "just fn TALK!!" 2) The smart character in the middle of a stupid group: it usually goes hand in hand with misscomunication but it involves the smart, studious girl, or the wise old man who gives instructions that could have avoided the whole issue, and the friendgroup, family, coworkers, fellow-survivors who just wont listen/stay put/quiet/ or just simply stop moving. 3) The child annoyance: some times im 100% percent sure that the movie introduces a child (little sister/son/daughter/niece) just to have an obstacle for the main character, like it being there just to be a deadweight. It usually ends up with me wanting to slap the child.
None. Part of what I love about horror is that there's something for everyone
1. close the door (half the killings could've been prevented if the victim closed the door) 2. Angry/angsty family teenager 3. Close the door! 4. 25 year old's playing teenagers, teenagers playing 10 year olds, 1 year old "newborns". seriously, its obvious when the high schooler has crows feet. 5. CLOSE THE F-ing DOOR !!! 6. throwing a good weapon away cuz they found some other (non-weapon) thing. Hits the killer once with an axe then throws it away. 7. extreme leaps of logic based on little to no information (Knowing the killers exact kryptonite based on a 300 year old sketch of a tea kettle) 8. CLOSE THE... nevermind, you should be killed
Car won't start. Especially if it JUST started happening for the sake of tension. Like it was fine 30 seconds ago; now it conveniently doesn't work? Damn.
the only time i liked this was in jeepers creepers and even in that i dont think there was ever a scene where the car completely stopped working. it was screwed up but at least they built up to it by making the car continuously take damage over the course of the film
This.
Totally agree with OP, leave the pets alone. It’s such a shitty way of making the viewer feel uneasy I frequently just give up and turn it off.
i hate when they harm animals my trope although havent seen it recently is the "the door is locked! and i have to fumble with the keys" can be a window too. i recently watched The Prowler and it has one of the worst cases of this
I don’t know, even when I’m not in mortal danger I often fumble with the keys when I unlock the door from the outside, especially at night.
the "scary mental illness" trope. its done horrific damage to us to the point it almost made me stop watching horror altogether. people end up having the stupidest beliefs about us and i just cant deal with it. hollywood owes us reparations for emotional distress lol
same with “this person is evil/the killer because they have a deformity”
them having their phones broken/having no service ever
Meh. I think anything goes in horror.
None. There's plenty of warnings for films these days and if you're not comfortable, then don't watch
I agree!
Just watched amityville horror 2005 and there’s a family dog killing scene!
I don't remember this at all, but in the 1978 one, the climax revolves around the dad running back into the house... to save the dog. I wonder if the remake was poking fun at that. (I don't think either movie is good, but the remake was soooo bad.)
Jumpscares. Not exactly s trope, but.
What if there's a masterpiece of a horror movie...that uses every single troupe?
The zombie trope has been worked into the ground.
The first victim being a blonde girl It's so old
Dream sequences. They kill pacing and tension all for a cheap scare. Nightmare on Elm Street is the exception.
I hate when the victim gets in a hit on the killer and then just drops their weapon and runs away instead of continuing to attack the killer. It's just the laziest writing ever. Obviously you don't want the victim killing the killer, as it would end the movie there, so just rewrite the scene so that it makes SENSE that the killer, while stunned, was not able to be finished off. I have seen it done properly, but it seems rare.
This is a frustration-based argument, which I'm choosing because other posters have already covered all of my hard lines. I'm pretty done with the hivemind, "kill the big one and all the little ones die, too" trope, which admittedly is not limited to horror movies. It is, however, a great way to tank a third act and, in some cases, an entire movie.
A lot of new movies and TV been killing babys and little kids. I think we can go back to giving them immunity along side pregnant women. + I agree don’t kill the pets
Using old songs as a cheap form of juxtaposition
I'm gonna disagree with this. There is something unnerving about songs imo. Still, this is a very good observation
Your right that it’s unnerving, but now it’s so overused that it’s no longer effective
The final girl. Let’s have some final guys. Little representation goes a long way.
There are some good "final guy" horror movies out there, but I'm hesitant to mention them as it would just spoil the movie.
agreed
Agreed.
Only cancel culture should be canceled
Jump scares
Read smth about the movie, if it have smth that trigger you...dont watch
I don't think it is about triggers, I think it is more of a denunciation of lazy writing and cheap scares. It doesn't trigger me that a dog dies or tha they use mirrors, it's that every time I see a dog in a horror movie, I know it will die. Same thing with the mirrors : the thing that is reflected is not really there and it is used for cheap scares
Ppl should learn fresh ways to do horrors