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.
Yes, I like horror films, especially psychological horror because they create suspense without relying too much on violence. I can think of some other horror film clichés, such as a character hearing a strange noise and deciding to investigate it alone, lights suddenly going out, and people splitting up when they should stay together. Another common cliché is when a character falls while running away from the killer.
And also I don't really enjoy films like The Conjuring, I mean such films rely heavily on cheap jumpscare and stories that have been used a thousand times. I believe the The Conjuring universe is really overrated.
Personally, I don’t really enjoy horror films because many of them feel predictable. The clichés mentioned in the text, like the scary basement or the phone battery dying at the worst moment, make the stories less original. I think positive suspense comes from creativity, not from repeating the same patterns.
Another cliché I can think of is when the characters always decide to split up instead of staying together. That decision almost always leads to disaster, but it keeps appearing in horror movies. Also, there’s the typical scene where someone hears a strange noise and says, “Hello? Is anyone there?” before walking straight into danger.
In my opinion, horror films could be more interesting if they avoided these clichés and tried new ways to surprise the audience.
I like horror films, but specifically, the psychological horror one. I always look for the storytelling, such as how the plot, the characters and the atmosphere are constructed through stages, rather than a jump scare. As for clichés, dolls or doll-like girl are handy and abused elements in horror movies.
I like horror movies, especially movies about exorcisms such as The Rite or The Conjuring. I agree that many horror movies use the same clichés, like the “last girl” mentioned in the reading. I think this idea is interesting because the shy character usually becomes the strongest person at the end. However, I do not really enjoy movies with monsters or strange creatures because they do not seem realistic or scary to me.
No, I don't like horror films. I prefer comedies or romantic movies.
When I was 7 or 8 years old, I watched horror films like Chucky and Freddy Krueger, and I was terrified. I couldn't sleep for weeks and I felt very vulnerable. Since then, I have peferred other other kind of movies.
Do I like horror films?
No, I don’t. When it comes to horror movies, I will most certainly skip them. I’m not brave enough to watch or read anything creepy. Although horror movies are very popular in my country, I have no intention of watching them. Whenever I watch a scary movie, I always end up feeling frightened at bedtime, in the shower, or when I’m home alone. That’s why I’m not interested in watching them.
However, when I have time to watch films together with some friends, it is always exciting to watch horror movies rather than romance movies. I can feel the suspense, tension, and jump scares in the movie. Even though I close my eyes most of the time, I am still curious about what will happen to the characters and how the story will develop. But again, after I watch it, I can’t go to sleep or do my regular activities comfortably because I feel haunted by the horror scenes or the scary sounds from the movie. That’s too bad.
"Do you like horror films? Can you think of any more horror film clichés?"
I would not choose horror movies to watch, and I don't watch horror movies that much.
Not necessarily something cliché but a trope that I enjoy in horror films (or just films in general) is when the bully/the jock gets his/their redemption arc, then becomes the hero, rescuing and protecting people left and right. I enjoy seeing the fandom shift from hating on one character to defending them with their life the next.
the "saved-girl" is Ripley from Alien (1978)