Katherine Webb of ScreenRant is just one of many people that could possibly state the many different things that we dutifully ignore in horror movies and she can go into why as well. When watching a scary movie there are a few different formulas that we as the audience know are likely to be implemented and it’s not something that many directors deviate from all that often. There will be a threat of some kind, a legend, a cautionary tale, or a mass murderer that has yet to be revealed, and a protagonist or several protagonists that are meant to stop it even if they don’t know as much at the time. There will be conflict, a climax, and a resolution, but somewhere in the middle we’ll get to see some of the most pointless and dumb acts of bravery, stupidity, and who knows what else that can be added into the movie to give it a sense that it’s not just a simple story from point A to point B, but a mishmash of humanity in all its triumph and vapidity that just doesn’t seem to change all that much from one movie to another. Let’s face it, people are paid to lose all sense in a horror movie, because if they get to fight back it becomes something different that doesn’t necessarily fit the mold.
Here are just a few of the dumbest things we tend to ignore when watching horror movies.
5. People keep having sex in the worst places at the worst times
This almost seems like one that’s kind of forgivable since when the mood strikes and people want to get their freak on there aren’t a lot of moviegoers that are going say ‘oh no don’t do that dummy’ since there are usually plenty of guys in the audience that want to see a show. But in a dark place, in the middle of the woods, and especially when there’s a threat that the characters know of and should be concerned about, sex is about one of the last things that should be on their mind. Many a time it’s been seen that sex is one of the top reasons why people get killed in horror movies, and it’s usually because the sense of danger is, at that moment, seemingly lessened or non-existent. For Leah Setzer of Odyssey this is pretty low on the list but it’s still an ill-advised activity.
4. They pick the dumbest hiding places imaginable
Seriously, if you have a serial killer hot on your trail this isn’t the worst thing in the world since there’s a good chance that human error might make them walk right by you as they could think that you kept running, like a smart person would, and didn’t bother to corner yourself where they can pick you off easily. From Laurie Strode trying to hide in a closet to the basement in The Conjuring, there are some seriously bone-headed moves that people pull in horror movies that we just seem to shrug our shoulders at. Running off into the woods might not be a good idea as Sarah Schneider from Odyssey states, but at the very least there’s a chance to get a drop on the killer, if you happen to be armed, strong enough, and not so frightened out of your wits to actually do something.
3. They make a ton of noise while trying to elude the killer
It’s bad enough that some folks are seen walking into dark spaces and saying something like “Hello?” or “Is anyone there?”, but making noise when you should be trying to elude the killer and nto call attention to yourself is about as dumb as it gets when one wants to survive. Some people in the movies manage to make a pretty good showing of being quiet, but others seem to tromp around without a care in the world and are then seemingly shocked when the killer is able to discover where they went with the greatest of ease. Note to horror writers, if you want some real suspense, let’s remember the lesson from A Quiet Place, silence isn’t just golden, it’s a certified lifesaver.
2. It’s usually assumed that messing with the unknown is okay
Sure we can read from an ancient book that’s bound in human skin, it’s all just make-believe. Right? Huh boy, if a person had a nickel for every movie that’s ever been made about messing with forces that humans don’t know enough about they’d at least have enough money to buy a value meal at McDonald’s. Each and every time it would seem when the unknown is uncovered in one form or another, people have to mess with it. Hey look at this neat tomb with all these dire warnings about curses and such, maybe we should poke around and dig something up. Or how about we go and open a portal to another world that we know little to nothing about and hope that whatever lives there doesn’t see it as an invitation. Curiosity is bound to be humanity’s downfall one way or another, especially in the movies.
1. Common sense seems to dissipate when people are in danger
This is almost a catch-all when it comes to horror movie since the moment that danger presents itself in one form or another even the most hardened individual either goes down like a sack of potatoes because they’re too confident, or they run screaming because they’re so terrified. People forget how to grab a weapon and get to swinging when they’re scared and in need of some sort of defense, and in horror movies especially it seems that folks have been given a pass on being brave since running away or dying in the most gruesome fashion seems to be what’s really desired.
There are horror movies that break this mold, but a lot of times they’re not seen to be anywhere near as popular as the familiar movies that we get to laugh at.
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