Horror movies often rely on certain recurring themes or tropes in order to build suspense and create a sense of fear in the audience.
In this article, we’ll look at the creepiest horror tropes that help to keep people hiding behind the sofa.
What Are Horror Movie Tropes?
A trope in a horror movie is a common recurring theme or element that is used to build suspense, create a sense of fear, or establish the conventions of the genre.
Some examples of common horror movie tropes include:
The Final Girl: A trope in which the last remaining female character survives to the end of the movie and defeats the villain.
The Killer’s backstory: Giving the villain a backstory, such as a traumatic event that led to their psychosis, can add depth to the character and make them more relatable to the audience.
Jump scares: These are sudden, loud noises or visual surprises that are intended to startle the audience.
The isolated location: Setting the story in a remote location, such as a cabin in the woods, can create a sense of isolation and vulnerability.
The “Don’t go in there” moment: This trope refers to a scene in which a character is warned not to go into a particular place, but goes in anyway, usually resulting in a scary or tragic outcome.
The “It’s all in your head” twist: This trope involves a reveal that the events of the story were not real, but rather a hallucination or dream.
The monster under the bed: This trope refers to a monster or villain that is hiding in a place where it is not expected, such as under a bed or in a closet.
The creepy child: This trope involves a child who is depicted as being evil or possessed.
The haunted house: This trope involves a house or other location that is believed to be haunted by ghosts or other supernatural entities.
The possession: This trope involves
Iconic Horror Movie Tropes
Here are some examples of iconic horror movie tropes that have become recognizable and enduring elements of the genre:
The slasher: This trope involves a killer who uses a weapon, such as a knife, to stalk and kill a group of people, usually teenagers. Examples of slasher movies include Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The zombie: This trope involves reanimated corpses that crave human flesh and can only be killed by destroying the brain. Examples of zombie movies include Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead.
The haunted house: This trope involves a house or other location that is believed to be haunted by ghosts or other supernatural entities. Examples of haunted house movies include The Haunting and The Amityville Horror.
The monster: This trope involves a creature, such as a vampire, werewolf, or Frankenstein’s monster, that stalks and kills people. Examples of monster movies include Dracula and The Wolf Man.
The body horror: This trope involves graphic and disturbing images of the human body being mutilated or transformed in grotesque ways. Examples of body horror movies include The Thing and The Fly.
The psychological horror: This trope involves a story that plays with the audience’s mind, making them question what is real and what is not. Examples of psychological horror movies include Rosemary’s Baby and The Silence of the Lambs.
The possession: This trope involves a person being possessed by a demon or other evil entity, resulting in them behaving in violent or supernatural ways. Examples of possession movies include The Exorcist and The Omen.
These are some of the most iconic horror movie tropes, but there are many other examples that have become part of the genre and are still used in horror movies today.
Common Horror Film Tropes
Here are some examples of common horror film tropes that are frequently used in the genre:
The Final Girl: A trope in which the last remaining female character survives to the end of the movie and defeats the villain.
The killer’s backstory: Giving the villain a backstory, such as a traumatic event that led to their psychosis, can add depth to the character and make them more relatable to the audience.
Jump scares: These are sudden, loud noises or visual surprises that are intended to startle the audience.
The isolated location: Setting the story in a remote location, such as a cabin in the woods, can create a sense of isolation and vulnerability.
The “Don’t go in there” moment: This trope refers to a scene in which a character is warned not to go into a particular place, but goes in anyway, usually resulting in a scary or tragic outcome.
The “It’s all in your head” twist: This trope involves a reveal that the events of the story were not real, but rather a hallucination or dream.
The monster under the bed: This trope refers to a monster or villain that is hiding in a place where it is not expected, such as under a bed or in a closet.
The creepy child: This trope involves a child who is depicted as being evil or possessed.
The haunted house: This trope involves a house or other location that is believed to be haunted by ghosts or other supernatural entities.
The possession: This trope involves a person being possessed by a demon or other evil entity, resulting in them behaving in violent or supernatural ways.
The “False ending” trope: This trope often used to shock the audience and make them believe the story has ended, only to reveal later that it continues.
The “found footage” trope: This trope often used to make the audience feel like they are watching real footage, which adds to the realism and scares.
These are some of the most common horror film tropes, but there are many other examples that have become part of the genre and are still used in horror movies today.
1. The Mirror Horror Movie Trope
The mirror horror movie trope is a common element in the horror genre that involves the use of mirrors as a means to create fear and suspense. In this trope, mirrors are often used to create a sense of unease, confusion, and disorientation. Mirrors are also used to create a sense of the supernatural, as they can be used to show things that are not visible to the naked eye.
Here are some examples of how the mirror horror movie trope is used:
Reflections of the supernatural: Mirrors can be used to reflect ghosts, monsters, or other supernatural entities that are not visible to the naked eye. This can create a sense of unease and confusion, as the audience is not sure what is real and what is not.
Reflections of the protagonist’s fears and anxieties: Mirrors can be used to reflect the protagonist’s fears, anxieties, and inner demons, creating a sense of psychological horror.
Reflections of the past or alternate realities: Mirrors can be used to reflect past events or alternate realities, creating a sense of uncertainty and confusion.
Reflections of the villain: Mirrors can be used to reflect the villain, creating a sense of the supernatural and adding to the villain’s mystique.
Reflections of the protagonist’s true self: Mirrors can be used to reflect the protagonist’s true self, creating a sense of self-discovery and unease.
These are some of the ways that the mirror horror movie trope can be used in a horror film, but it’s also important to note that the trope can be used in various other ways, that can be adapted to each film’s story, genre and style.
2. Jump Scare Horror Movie Trope
A jump scare is a common trope used in horror movies to create a sudden, intense shock and to startle the audience.
Jump scares are typically accompanied by a loud noise, such as a musical sting, and are often accompanied by a visual element, such as a monster or ghost appearing on screen.
Jump scares are often used as a cheap and easy way to create scares in a horror movie, but they can also be used effectively as a tool to build tension and suspense.
They can be used to create a sense of unease and fear, and to keep the audience on edge. Jump scares are also often used to create a sense of unpredictability, as the audience does not know when the next jump scare will occur.
Jump scares are a versatile trope, they can be used to represent a variety of things, from the physical manifestation of a monster, to the sudden realization of a character’s fear.
Examples of Jump scares:
A monster jumps out from the shadows
A ghost appears suddenly in the mirror
A character is grabbed by an unseen force
A loud noise is heard and a character turns around to find nothing there.
Jump scares can be very effective in horror movies, but they should be used in moderation, as overusing them can lead to desensitization and a lessening of their impact. When used effectively, jump scares can be a powerful tool to create a sense of fear and tension in the audience.
3. Found Footage Horror Movie Trope
The found footage trope is a popular device used in horror movies, in which the story is presented as if it were actual footage discovered after the events depicted on the film took place.
This can be in the form of video tapes, CCTV footage, or videos shot by the characters themselves. This trope often used to create a sense of realism and to blur the line between fact and fiction.
The found footage trope can be used in a variety of ways in horror movies, for example:
To create a sense of realism: The found footage trope can be used to create a sense of realism by making the audience feel as if they are watching real events unfold. This can be particularly effective in horror movies as it can make the audience feel as if they are experiencing the terror firsthand.
To build tension and suspense: The found footage trope can be used to build tension and suspense by making the audience feel as if they are watching the events unfold in real-time.
This can be particularly effective in horror movies as it can create a sense of immediacy and danger.
To create a sense of voyeurism: The found footage trope can be used to create a sense of voyeurism by making the audience feel as if they are watching something that they shouldn’t be watching.
This can be particularly effective in horror movies as it can create a sense of unease and guilt.
To create a sense of mystery: The found footage trope can be used to create a sense of mystery by making the audience question what they are seeing and what the true nature of the events depicted on the film are.
Examples of found footage horror films are: The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield, [REC], V/H/S.
It’s important to note that the found footage trope can be overused, and it can become repetitive. To avoid this, filmmakers should ensure that they use the trope in a way that adds to the story, and not just as a gimmick.
4. Creepy Clowns Horror Movie Trope
The trope of creepy clowns in horror movies refers to the use of clowns or clown-like characters as a source of fear or horror in film.
This trope has its origins in the circus, where clowns have long been associated with the macabre and the uncanny.
In horror movies, clowns are often depicted as malevolent or evil beings, using their playful facade to conceal sinister intent. Examples of horror movies that feature creepy clowns include Stephen King’s It, American Horror Story: Freak Show, and Terrifier.
5. The Twist Ending Perspective Horror Movie Trope
The twist ending trope in horror movies is a plot device in which the audience is presented with a surprising revelation that changes their understanding of the story.
This revelation often occurs at the end of the film and can involve a character’s true identity, a hidden motive, or a previously unseen aspect of the story.
The twist ending can be used to add an extra layer of suspense and intrigue to the story, as well as to subvert the audience’s expectations. Some examples of horror movies that feature twist endings include The Sixth Sense, The Others, and The Village.
6. Let’s Split Up Horror Movie Trope
The “let’s split up” trope in horror movies is a common plot device in which a group of characters, usually friends or family, decide to separate and explore different parts of a location, usually a haunted house or a forest.
This decision is often motivated by a desire to cover more ground or to investigate different areas more efficiently.
However, this decision usually leads to disastrous consequences, as the characters who split up are more vulnerable and easier to pick off one by one by the antagonist or monster. This trope is often used to create tension and suspense, as well as to build a sense of isolation and vulnerability for the characters.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “let’s split up” trope include The Cabin in the Woods, The Blair Witch Project, and Friday the 13th.
7. The Cute, Creepy Child Horror Movie Trope
The “cute, creepy child” trope in horror movies is a common plot device in which a child character, who appears innocent and adorable at first, is revealed to be something far more sinister.
This trope can be used to create a sense of unease and discomfort for the audience, as the child’s innocent appearance is juxtaposed with the evil or terrifying actions they are capable of.
This trope often plays on the audience’s expectation that children are innocent and can be trusted, making the revelation of their true nature all the more shocking. Examples of horror movies that feature the “cute, creepy child” trope include The Omen, The Exorcist, and The Orphan.
8. Don’t Go In There Horror Movie Trope
The “don’t go in there” trope in horror movies is a common plot device in which a character is warned not to enter a certain location or investigate a particular object, but ignores the warning and proceeds anyway.
This trope is often used to build tension and suspense, as the audience knows that something dangerous is likely to happen to the character who ignores the warning
. This trope also serves as a way to establish the rules of the story’s supernatural or horror element, as well as to create a sense of foreboding and dread.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “don’t go in there” trope include Halloween, Alien, and The Ring.
9. A Clumsy Escape Horror Movie Trope
The “clumsy escape” trope in horror movies is a common plot device in which a character, who is being pursued by a monster or antagonist, attempts to escape but fails due to a series of mishaps or mistakes.
This trope is often used to create suspense and tension as the audience watches the character fumble and make mistakes while trying to escape, making their situation more dire.
This trope can also be used to create a sense of vulnerability and helplessness for the character, and to make the audience feel a sense of frustration and hopelessness.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “clumsy escape” trope include The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and Saw.
10. Left With Bruises Horror Movie Trope
The “left with bruises” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which a character, who is being physically or emotionally abused, is shown to have visible bruises or injuries as a result of the abuse.
This trope is often used to show the reality of abuse, making it more visceral and real for the audience.
This trope also serves to show the physical and emotional toll that abuse can take on the victim and the severity of the situation. It may also be used as a way to reveal the abuser’s true nature, and to build suspense and tension as the audience wonders when or if the abuse will be discovered.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “left with bruises” trope include The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Misery, and The Perfection.
11. The Final Girl Horror Movie Trope
The “final girl” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which the last surviving female character of the story is the one to defeat or outsmart the antagonist or monster, often in a final confrontation.
The term was first coined by Carol J. Clover in her book “Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film” in 1992.
This trope is often used to create a sense of empowerment and strength for the female character, as well as to subvert the audience’s expectations of traditional gender roles in horror films.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “final girl” trope include Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Silence of the Lambs.
12. The Car Won’t Start Horror Movie Trope
The “car won’t start” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which a character, usually the protagonist, is trying to escape from a dangerous situation, but their car fails to start, preventing them from leaving. This trope is often used to create a sense of vulnerability and helplessness for the character, as well as to build suspense and tension as the audience wonders how they will escape.
The trope also serves to build a sense of isolation and confinement, making the situation more dire.
This trope can also be used to create a sense of foreboding and dread, as the audience may begin to question whether the car’s failure is a coincidence or part of a larger scheme.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “car won’t start” trope include The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and The Fog.
13. A House With A History Horror Movie Trope
The “house with a history” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which a house, mansion, or other building is revealed to have a dark and sinister past, often involving death, murder, or other horrifying events.
This trope is often used to create a sense of unease and discomfort for the audience, as the idyllic and peaceful appearance of the house is juxtaposed with the evil that has occurred within its walls.
The trope also serves to establish the rules of the story’s supernatural or horror element, as well as to create a sense of foreboding and dread. Examples of horror movies that feature the “house with a history” trope include The Amityville Horror, The Haunting, and The Haunting of Hill House.
14. Humans Are The Real Monster Horror Movie Trope
The “humans are the real monster” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which the primary antagonist or source of fear is revealed to be human, rather than a supernatural or otherworldly entity.
This trope is often used to comment on societal issues such as greed, power, and corruption, and can be used to criticize the darker aspects of human nature.
The trope also serves to subvert the audience’s expectations of a typical horror story and to create a sense of unease and discomfort by suggesting that the true horror is not some fantastical creature, but rather the evil that exists within ourselves.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “humans are the real monster” trope include The Silence of the Lambs, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The People Under the Stairs.
15. A Doll Possessed Horror Movie Trope
The “doll possessed” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which a doll or other inanimate object is revealed to be possessed by a supernatural or evil entity, often leading to terrifying and deadly consequences.
This trope is often used to create a sense of unease and discomfort for the audience, as dolls are commonly associated with childhood innocence and playfulness, and their possession subverts those associations.
The trope also serves to establish the rules of the story’s supernatural or horror element and to create a sense of foreboding and dread. Examples of horror movies that feature the “doll possessed” trope include Child’s Play, Annabelle, and The Conjuring.
16. One Last Scare Horror Movie Trope
The “one last scare” trope in horror movies is a plot device in which the story builds to a climax, the antagonist or monster is seemingly defeated, but in the final moments of the film, there is a final jump scare or twist, usually involving the antagonist or monster not being truly defeated, and still being a threat.
This trope is often used to leave a lasting impact on the audience, and to create a sense of unease even after the credits have rolled.
This trope is also used to subvert the audience’s expectations, as they believe that the danger has passed and the story is over, only to be startled by one last scare.
Examples of horror movies that feature the “one last scare” trope include Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Final Destination.
What Is A Movie Trope?
A trope in movies is a commonly recurring theme or device in storytelling. It refers to a clichéd or predictable element in a movie that has become recognizable to audiences due to its frequent use in multiple films.
Tropes can be used to convey a certain mood, emotion, or message, and can be found in all genres of movies. They can be used to create suspense, humor, or a sense of familiarity for the audience.
However, tropes can also be used to create a sense of predictability, which may lead to the audience feeling unengaged or unimpressed.
Tropes can be a double-edged sword, they can be used to create emotional resonance and to make the audience feel something, but at the same time they can make a movie feel formulaic and unoriginal.
Horror Movie Tropes – Wrapping Up
In conclusion, horror movies use a variety of tropes to create suspense, tension, and unease for the audience.
These tropes can include the creepy clown, the twist ending, the “let’s split up” trope, the cute, creepy child, the “don’t go in there” trope, the clumsy escape, the left with bruises, the final girl, the car won’t start, the house with a history, humans are the real monster, the doll possessed, and the one last scare.
These tropes have become familiar to audiences due to their frequent use in horror films and can create a sense of familiarity and predictability.
However, when used effectively, these tropes can also create a sense of unease and tension, making the audience feel invested in the story and the characters.
