Common horror movie tropes that always offer a good scare

Whether you read our blog on the haunt for new horror movie merchandise or you simply enjoy the gruesome topics we highlight, this week we’ve decided to dissect the genre in search of the tropes we all love. Continue reading to immerse yourself in three common themes that always lay the foundation of a good flick!

The good ol’ jump scare

While some fans might argue that jump scares are cliché, this trope has stood the test of time and in our opinion, is an integral part of the modern-day film. As one of the most basic building blocks of horror movies, the jump scare is a technique that’s intended to scare the audience by surprising them with an abrupt change in image, sound, or event. This frightening shift surprises the audience, creating a suspenseful ambiance that leaves watchers at the edge of their seats.

Paranormal Activity, Scream, and IT: Chapters 1 & 2 are all notorious for jump scares as well as wicked horror movie merchandise.

The cell service is out-of-range

Whether the protagonist punctures a tire and is left stranded on an abandoned highway or they’re being chased by a killer deeper into the woods, characters in horror movies are constantly met with situations where they want to call for help only to find out that their cell phone lacks any sort of coverage. Perhaps this trope adds some much-needed suspense to the plot or the commonality of smart devices is causing scriptwriters to change their tune? Nevertheless, if there is no range of service, the problem where help can be reached and characters can be saved becomes quickly resolved.

Jeepers Creepers, Friday the 13th (2009), and Saw V are all great examples of circumstances where characters have their phones but lack sufficient signal.

The abandoned building filled with vengeful spirits

Haunted houses, deserted mental institutions, and dilapidated barns… the horror genre loves to take the audience on a journey to a creepy, abandoned building. Whether it’s something about depicting places where humans have left that strikes a chord with the audience or it’s simply because being forgotten allows the dust and cobwebs to build up, filmmakers continue to use grim locations as their horror sets, and more often than not, they’re filled with vengeful spirits. Perhaps that’s the reason they were abandoned in the first place?

Beetlejuice, The Conjuring, and Ghostbusters are perfect samplings that possess the above movie trope.

What other horror tropes are you drawn to? Drop a comment to share with our readers in the section below.