5 Horror Tropes That Need To Die #HorrorFan
5 Horror Troupes That Need To Die
Ah, horror tropes. These common plot devices are what keeps the horror world revolving. We all have our favorites, and there’s many to pick from. We’ve all watched as the pretty young victim runs up the stairs to evade a killer, despite the front door being mere feet away. We’ve enjoyed the long dark hair creepy child hell bent on revenge, and we’ve snickered as a large group of teenagers decide their best chance of survival is to split up.
But when is it time to bury a trope? When do we stand united and say, “If I have to watch one more useless small-town sheriff brush off a bloody teenager’s first hand account of murder, I’m done!” The answer will be different for everyone, and I would love to know which tropes make you roll your eyes in frustration. For now, I’ll share mine. Here are five horror troupes that I believe need to die:
#1 The Virgin vs. The Slut
Image from Pure available on Hulu
If you follow me on twitter, it’s probably not a surprise that I can’t stand this troupe. Surely, as a society, we can move past female shaming, especially when it’s always the woman’s virtue being examined under a microscope rather than the man’s. Yet, movies still employee this common plot point which basically says only those “pure” deserve to live.
I recently watched Pure on Hulu. It’s about a group of teenage girls and their fathers who attend a yearly purity retreat. Basically, their entire worth is based on whether or not they’ve “sinned” with the opposite gender. It’s not just sex that will damn their souls. Even a small peck on the lips is enough to send these “sluts” to eternal damnation. When I started watching, I was certain I’d made a terrible mistake and prepared myself for the virgins to win the day. Yet, this movie fights the troupe in a very feminist “in your face” sort of way. More movies need to do this.
#2 The Black Guy Dies First
Image from Us
I mean, do I really need to go into this one? Can we all just stop with the token black guy who dies instantly? Can we just stop with token minorities in general? Come on, Hollywood. Do better. And I suppose they’re taking baby steps in the right direction. Jordan Peele has been kicking butt in the horror industry. The 2019 Blumhouse production Sweetheart, available on Netflix, features Kiersey Clemons, who masterfully carries the entire plot on her shoulders. Nia DaCosta directs the upcoming remake of Candyman.
#3 Not Making Sure The Bad Guy is Dead
For the love of all that is holy in horror movies, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE BAD GUY IS DEAD! I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I won’t tell you which movie I watched, but I recently enjoyed horror film where the protagonist stabbed the villain, the villain tumbled and appeared dead, but just to be safe, the protagonist beheaded the villain. I literally cheered.
I understand why this trope exists. An “I’m back from the dead” villain not only adds tension, but it also creates a never ending horror franchise (I’m looking at you Halloween). At the same time, it makes the protagonist look ridiculous. There is usually some huge climax where the protagonist and the villain finally have their big show down. They get pretty beaten up, and then the protagonist does one final stab to the chest, or one final shot of the gun, and the villain “dies.” Okay, fine, but then the protagonist turns their back, or worse. They drop their weapon and approach the “dead” body. I mean, really? Any “bad ass” credibility the protagonist gained is now quickly replaced with “you’re an idiot” points. Plus, we’ve all seen enough movies to know that the villain will get one last swing at revenge, so is this plot point really surprising anyone?
#4 Vampires
What We Do In The Shadows
Okay, before everyone #cancels me, let me explain. I actually love vampire stories. I drooled over Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire, watched and rewatched Blade, and have seen pretty much ever version of Dracula. The vampire sub-genre of horror can be a lot of fun. It can also be overdone and stale.
Presenting vampires in a new and interesting way is challenging. Added to that is the Twilight franchise, which saturated the market for so many years that vampire fans, such as myself, couldn’t stand the thought of seeing one more vampire movie. It was too much. So it became a challenge for writers and producers to reinvent the vampire and make this trope fresh.
For me, it’s fallen flat with one exception. I love What We Do In The Shadows, a TV show that follows the life of three traditional vampires and one emotional vampire as they navigate daily life. It’s funny, original, and a great way to revamp a much used horror subject.
Another fresh take is the feminist horror movie A Girl Walks Home At Night (2014). This is about skateboarding vampire who preys on abusive men.
Oh, and if you just want a good laugh, check out Vampire’s Kiss (1988) staring Nic Cage.
#5 The Bathroom Mirror Jump Scare
If you’re opening the mirror of your bathroom’s cabinet, beware. Something is behind you. It’s such a common jump scare that it’s basically become a horror rule. Scary things seemed drawn to the bathroom. Creepers. Let me have “me” time! Sheesh! And for goodnesssakes, stop writing messages with your fingers on my foggy mirror. Do you know how hard it is to keep glass clean?
Okay, those are my picks. Now it’s time to tell me what you think! Remember, we’re all different with different tastes and preferences. I mean no offense to anyone who enjoys these tropes.
