Ranking Horror Movie Tropes | Tier List
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
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As much as we love horror movies, they're often filled with predictable or overused tropes: the cat jump scare, the car not starting, or someone saying they'll be right back...when they won't! Here is a list of some of the most common horror movie tropes and what I think of them.
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Cody J Leach
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Even still how can they know you are you...???..unless they see you
Love this horror List man IS because or this man i watch thé best franchises i love IS reviews ....
My favorite bad trope is when the person sees the killer, recognizing them, and instead of calling them by their name, they call them "you" to hide the person's identity from the audience.
@thomasffrench3639 Go outside
True, but they have to do that or the movie would be done 😂
@@jeremiahallyn4603 I totally get that, and that’s kinda why it makes me laugh. It is literally only there for the audience so they don’t guess the killer. Quentin Tarantino made fun of it on a podcast with Eli Roth on Happy Birthday to Me.
Yessss!
In all fairness.
" It was you". Is a practical thing to say in the moment. If in that situation. You would probably be more likely to say that. Than "Hey, John". "What's up"?
The worst part of dream fakeout is that it's almost always the scariest part of the movie, so it being fake just feels like such an insult.
Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 being a prime example.
@@ActuallyAlask Omg fr, never thought about i that way
💯
Yeah, when that happens in a movie, I just want to throw shit at the screen.
It's a sign that the rest of the movie is probably going to be dog crap
The BIGGEST cliche I hate that I am shocked isn’t here: the killer always hovers where you’re hiding. Most of the time, they don’t actually know the protagonist is hiding there but the stop right in front of them and pause for tension. It’s not tense, it’s sooooo overused and annoying.
Then the killer walks away only to jump the protagonist five seconds later even though they are staying in the same place.
YES! I hadn't thought of it, but now that you say it, I agree so much with this take!
@@timexi5704exactly 😛!! They crap on the security they give.
That's a great point. What a stupid and cheap move.
I love the black guy Joel from scream 2 who just walks out of the movie the first time that trope is mentioned
Lmfaooo I always think of Scary Movie “reporting live from Black TV, white folks are dead and we’re getting tf outta here!”
The actor pitched that idea to Wes Craven who didn’t know what to do with the character…
@@wardenmagellan2643The actor had the idea that he would call a cab to leave, and that's what he does!
Oh yeah the camera man right
@wardenmagellan2643 this is why Wes was so great, willing to listen. He did the bitches be tripping trope once and his daughter told him it was stupid and he never did it again. True greatness comes from being willing to listen and learn from others :)
Hospitals in horror movies that are completely deserted at night, or under construction with creepy plastic hanging everywhere
There's no emergency room in America not packed to the gills 24 hrs a day.
Hey Cody, I felt like you should have included "sudden sequel death syndrome." It's that trope where characters who survived the previous movie suddenly dies in the next one. This trope always grinds my gears.
Good one! Sometimes I think it helps to make the movie scarier (I personally liked how Hostel did it), but most of the time it is frustrating bc you want more of the survivors
Yeah it really irks me when they kill them off first thing in the sequel.
It really depends on the movie. I don’t mind it in Halloween Resurrection or F13 part 2, but it bothers the hell out of me in Maniac Cop 2.
@@amyburt9193 I think it becomes a problem when people start surviving more than 2 movies. This is the main issue with Laurie in the Halloween series. She’s supposed to be a normal girl, but all of the sequels make her into a overpowered movie character. The only time where I think it worked was Tommy Jarvis, as he has sort of an Ash Williams vibe to him.
@@thomasffrench3639 The older I get, the more I realize that about Laurie too- 3 movies I think should be cap for her in Halloween (whichever timeline you go with). But I do think Scream did well with Sidney (for 1-5 anyway). The only reason that works is bc it's a different person each time.
I also think the cat jumpscare was done really well in Alien, because its reason for hissing led to the real scare, adding to the buildup, it wasn’t hissing at Brett, but the Xenomorph, and Brett realizes it, just too late.
Yes! I was thinking of Jonesy, too!
Only question is how did it get in the cabinet
Wouldn't that be pet warning also then?
For years now, I've just called those great big kitchen knives "Michael Myers knives." Signature weapons are an absolute MUST if you want to create an iconic horror villain!
So what you’re saying you’re a vampire ? Need to be invited in lol 😂
"Based on a true story" is literally created for the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre to be a satire on government lies and media misrepresentation. Then people played it straight for Amityville Horror, and thanks to that movie, we are stuck with that terrible trope.
OMG, I feel that not being able to enter someone's house without knocking, including relatives like you said.
I finally convinced my best friend to just come in when he gets to my house after years, and he still sort of awkwardly comes inside. It cracks me up.
The "children drawing creepy things" is a cliché that I had to go through in real life. I was once an art teacher in a summer camp and there was a kid that was always drawing weird things and strange messages like "this is who I am and this is who I want to be" pointing to a drawing of a black and red monster. He used to put them on the walls of the classroom and asked me to leave them there.
It got to a point where I considered talking with my boss about that, I was worried that maybe he was going through some things at home.
I was also renting a room at a big 19th century creeky house because with the pandemy there was nothing else available, so there was only me and the old woman who rented the rooms living in this enormous old house with dolls, African masks, a room that was burned in a fire, old black and white photographs that a previous owner bought at a second hand store, an old basement that was sealed with wooden planks many years ago and many other horror films clichés.
One thing I love about final girls is how much variety you have for them. You got virgins, sexually active ones, military-trained ones, weak girls who gain inner strength, party planners, etc. and it's not like they are all just the virgin goody-two shoes that people say they are.
That was a great slight tweak in Cabin in the Woods.
@@jordansweet8054 i actually was not referring to Cabin in the Woods
Zombie Bites.
1. The people who hide that they've been bitten. It's done too much.
2. Inconsistencies in how long it takes to turn. It's so annoying when it takes a short time for side characters, but they look ill & practically dead the whole time leading up to turning, and then you have a main character who takes forever to turn and never once looks ill, until they suddenly turn. Just be consistent!
Train to Busan did it well where they changed based on how close to the brain the bite is.
I don’t remember where I heard this theory…
But the theory for the inconsistent zombie turn date is someone’s immune system. Someone with a higher immune system may stay human longer. It’s still overdone, and most the time used for the important characters or to add drama. I still thought it was an interesting theory!
@@DankrumStar It definitely is interesting! I'd never heard that before- thank you for sharing 😊
Someone send this to Hollywood so they could pump out good quality horror films.
Lol, I wish that would work. Seems like these days it's all the same old tired clichés. I don't even care about new horror movies because they all look like the same old tired crap.
You need to watch more horror films.Hereditary,Smile,Barbarian,Malignant,Reinfield,Abigail,Cobwebs,Sting.There are plenty.
The key one... i feel like the bigger sin is the person at the door, trying every key on their keychain trying to unlock it, or their car. Like, do you not know which key opens your house and/or car? But people being in cars and the person in the passenger seat is like "Well, start it and let's go!" And the driver is like, "I lost the keys..." and then they see them in the beam of the headlights lmao. Or when they have to get keys or something off the killer, and instead of just killing them, they slowly try to get the keys out their pocket or hand. Like in Scream 2, the cop car scene... like instead of trying to straddle the killer to get out the window, just find something to bash his brains in then get out at your leisure. You know it's a human that can easily die. Its insane.
In the examples I can think of. They're not familiar with the keys. But yeah if it's supposed to be their own damn house key. That would be pretty freaking weird.
@@kylemendoza8860 It usually is unknown keys, but there are a lot of times someone is fumbling with their keys to get into their car or something. It's usually unknown keys in building and stuff.
I don't mind incompetent cops if it fits the themes of the story, but them being competent makes things scarier.
Also, this could be combined with the following: "Double Tap", "I Dropped the Weapon", or "Nobody Carrying", but there are SO MANY horror movies where someone willingly throws the perfectly good weapon they have away after they have injured, slowed down, or even knocked out the baddie that is after them. They toss the weapon and run away. Also, to combine with something else on your list, when they "run away" they usually just hide somewhere, or stop and look back. If you are not going to kill them...JUST KEEP RUNNING!!! Great tier list!
Perhaps Jacob's Ladder is one example where it was all a dream worked. Or was it all in his head? Or the hallucinations of a dying man?
Yeah kind of a combination of both. That’s a great movie.
I'm so happy that you mentioned the black guy never dying first, because it's a joke I'm sick of people getting wrong.
Outside of Scream 2, I don't think I've ever seen this trope unless the movie in question had an all or mostly black case.
@@eldiosdelosninosesclavos9773 The only example is Friday the 13th part 3 and New Years Evil.
Not to sound judgemental but the first kill is a over zealous white person ..black dude isn't going to explore those noises.I wouldn't either lol 🤣
Yes, I never understood the "black guy getting killed first" because I could never remember a movie where it happened--except NOES 4 and technically Kincaid was one of the last surviving dream warriors. Glad Cody cleared it up
The only example I can think of this is The Shining
So, the "Pet Warnings" made me think of when I was in college. I had a dog and was living in a house with two other roommates. One night I was all alone because both roommates were staying at their respective boyfriend's apartments. Now, my dog was always my shadow. She almost never left my side; so, it was weird when she walked out of my bedroom randomly. I went to see what she was doing because she had not come back after a few minutes and she was standing at the foot of the stairs with the hair on her back standing up, and growling that low, guttural, growl, and just staring at the top of the stairs. I immediately grabbed her, grabbed my cell phone, and went outside on the side porch. I called my boyfriend at the time while looking at the stairs just waiting for someone to come walking down them. My boyfriend (who thought I was overreacting - that didn't last too much longer) came over and looked all around the house and found nothing. Did I feel silly...hell no. I would rather have trusted my dog than have been sorry. I still think about what that could have been. She never acted that way ever again in her 12+ years. ALWAYS. TRUST. YOUR. PETS.
Nobody does tier lists like you Cody. You take it to a whole other level and I appreciate your dedication.
The end of "Newhart" when he wakes up to his original TV wife, revealing the entire show was a dream, was always well done. Not horror, granted, but still good.
Yeah Dallas making the whole season a dream to bring Bobby back was done really well too. And I know a lot of people didn't like how Roseanne ended with it being her book, personally I loved that and I always put that in the same category of dream sequences to explain something away.
I understand 💯% about the "one last scare." I'm with you on that one, fully. They did sort of explain in the beginning of I Still Know that that shower scene at the end of the first one was a dream sequence, but I also understand that could be classified as lazy writing. Great tier list!
The worst example IMO of the “keep running” one is Sarah Mitchell Gellar character in “I know what you did last summer,” she was so close to escaping🤦🏼♀️🤣
I agree wholeheartedly
Newhart TV show ending : it was all a dream. Newhart wakes up from a dream and he's in bed with his previous tv wife from the original The Newhart Show as if Newhart was all just a dream.
First thing I thought of.
One of the only UA-camrs when I see a 30 plus minute video and get excited rather than nauseated by the run time, keep up the good work! 🙌
Haha that’s awesome
you are easily the best horror youtuber out there. always doing different and interesting takes/rankings/series and just an overall different idea and feel to the videos. keep up the awesome work man
Thank you. I appreciate it.
When bringing up horror tropes always makes me think of the Good Choices commercial from Geico 😂😂
Great tier list as usual.
I will this about the Dark Basement trope, the best use of that trope is without a doubt Barbarian where Justin Long doesn't even care if it dark or creepy, He just wants that square footage. also, that scene was the hardest I have ever laughed at a horror movie 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My favorite good jumpscare is the lawnmower kill from Sinister
Jump scares are fine in movies, but they need to be used correctly and help heighten the tension instead of deflating it.
The se7en sloth jump scare is awesome!
Sinister, Insidious, Exorcist 3, The thing, there are definitely times where jump scares are impactful and truly terrifying, sadly most horror films over use them and often make them fake outs anyways.
@@KingsNerdCave I love that we both came up with "The Thing" as an example of the perfect jumpscare. Pure Fuchs...
@@H0lyMoley When that stomach turns into a mouth I remember my mom gasping first time she saw it lol
@@KingsNerdCave Oooh we're thinking of two different jumpscares. Although I think both are fantastic.
Red herring is my favorite. I just love when a movie tries to fool you into thinking someone is one way, then ends up being completely different.
If they can actually fool you, I agree. Most times nowadays I think they show their hand.
I honestly love it when there's like 5 different red herrings where every single person has the same gloves/stopwatch/scarf.
@@CodyLeachYT This is the worst one of the lot for me. It's spoiled so many movies (and not just horror. Again, "Incredibles 2" and "Toy Story 2" both had this.) The villain could only possibly be one of two characters, and the film concentrates completely on one of them (often to the detriment of their character. Look at poor Whistler in Blade 2, brought back from the dead, only to basically have everything we liked about him in the first film removed so he could be used as a red herring for f--king Scud. Did anybody NOT think Scud was a traitor from basically the first minute he was onscreen?) I wish they'd stop using this one but it just keeps cropping up.
Click had a good “it was all a dream” ending 😂
I can’t imagine the editing process of one of these mammoth tier list videos. Nonetheless, that doesn’t make these videos any less entertaining and impressive!
This is such an interesting idea for a tier list ranking Cody! Super excited to watch & see what shows up!
I’m such a fan of these tier list. Keep em coming Cody!!
Can always rely on Cody to drop a huge video when I dont feel well to try to relax. You're the best.
Absolutely love this kind of content Cody! Thanks for all the great videos
The ‘Black Guy Always Dies’ segment had me rolling haha.
I think one of the only times I’ve ever actually noticed it since the 90s was Rob Zombies Halloween 2 with Octavia Spencer’s character. Doesn’t bother me at all, but I think it’s worth pointing out an example of it being used unironically post-Scream.
Also, an it’s all a dream ending that was awesome was the original Jacobs Ladder. Maybe stretching the definition of ‘dream’ a bit, but it is all a final nightmare that he’s having on his death bed. That was an awesome ending.
lol yeah as soon as I read in my head “I tolerate the black character dying” I was like aw fuck this is the end.
@@CodyLeachYT 😂
This is such a great idea for a tier list and enjoyed a lot of your takes. Great job, Cody.
I live and breathe for videos like this. Keep em comin!
The only movie that actually nails the "it was all a dream" trope is Mulholland Drive by David Lynch. But since it is from David Lynch, it is not a movie for everyone.
I second this. I would like to see Cody review more of his films, but I doubt he’d like most David lynch stuff.
I love your ranking videos
Hey Cody! This was a great idea for a video here! I love your stuff and you're one of my go-to guys when it comes to hearing opinions about horror movies. You're a great critic and I am sure you know more horror movie tropes than I do. I have only been watching horror movies for three years.
Chefs kiss , kosher video, Cody. Love nerding out to these 🤘🏻
Normally put dropping the keys under let it die. But then I thought about it, as much as I drop my keys in real life, I’m putting it in the tolerate because it’s very realistic, whether you’re in situation or not.
I love this channel just due to all the original video ideas you have
Glad you like them!
Just saw Last Stop in Yuma County. Loved it, thanks for the rec!
Cody your ideas are top tier, such a fun idea and I filled out my own tier list...there's a lot of tropes out there that need to die...but the good thing about horror is that even those tropes can still work...creative writers and directors always find some way to make them work somehow. Great job.
Been waiting for this one, Cody. About to watch. I expect some GOOD rants!
I wouldn't consider Jacobs Ladders ending to all be a dream, but that is probably the best example I can think of that mostly works.
Was my pick too
I really want you to do more of this ! It’s freaking awesome
Great video and concept
Love your tier lists
This video was so so entertaining! I watched every second! Love your humor!
A perfect video to start my shift at work, doing the tier list along with these videos is always super fun.
Once you explained the double tap category I immediately went "ohhh" because I thought you meant when you actively make sure the killer is dead DEAD. Like in "Sick" when the girls go crazy making sure the killers are dead by bashing they shit in. The useless husband and parents trope is so crazy to me because if you first instinct isn't to protect your spouse/kids you deserve anything awful that happens to you.
Great video Cody . Thanks man
I've been watching your content for years. Thank you so much for your simple honesty about T + A! LOL
OK cody this is buy far the most interesting video of yours by a mile and I love all your video's but I could watch this over and over again to break down each category on this list, well done sir 👏
Wow, thank you! Glad I’m keeping things fresh.
that's what we need man, keep it coming 👍
Just wanted to drop by and say I am enjoying the video. Something about your videos is calming for me. Thank you 🙏
You are so welcome
Nice. Was really pleased when I saw this vid. Always enjoy the content, and I got smashed up and left with broken bones and bruised ribs and lungs in a motorbike crash a couple of days ago, and a nice long vid like this is just what I need while I'm resting up recovering. Cheers
What I liked about how Scream handled the running up the stairs thing is that they explained WHY Sidney made that decision. She tried to go out the front door but the chain lock was on it and that was the only other place she could go in a split seconds notice, LOL! That's why I love Scream. Even if they're making fun of a cliche, they find a way to make sense out of why the character would make that decision.
Cody you gotta do ranking the BEST horror movie character decisions next :D. Love your content!!
I’m going to back you up on the T&A ranking and provide you some cover from a female perspective. One example I’ve heard women complain about as far as an “unnecessary” semi-naked scene is at the end of (my favorite horror movie) Alien when Ripley strips down. Aside from the fact that I wish she had been wearing big girl panties, the thought of vulnerable exposed flesh up against pointy teeth, claws, knives, etc., increases the anxiety 10-fold. Everyone feels at their most vulnerable when naked, so it completely makes sense in a horror setting. Once the alien’s hand pops out, I can’t breathe again until she gets that space suit on. It’s like - “OK, now I’m prepared to tackle this bullshit. Bring it on!” Obviously, that’s not always the director’s INTENTION, and it’s about throwing a bone to the guys (pun intended). But regardless, it’s incredibly effective at increasing the terror. BTW, it’s adorable/hilarious when you go out of your way to be extra diplomatic around certain issues (gender, race, etc.). And I definitely know WHY (hostile accusatory comments in 3…2…1…), but I think you do a terrific job with it. I always agree with you on that stuff and appreciate your efforts to be respectful to everyone. ❤️
Oh I agree that nudity can be a fantastic way to show vulnerability. It’s a legit artistic choice that can add a lot. It’s just that a lot of horror movies just use it for titillation, although there is so many different examples of it being used well
lol it’s such a slippery slope when you approach saying something that can be misconstrued or taken out of context. Like cartwheeling through a minefield.
Thanks for the backup on T&A!
I just say I'm equal opportunity and would like to see more male skin to balance the scales.
@@politefan8141 agreed! It’s ALWAYS half-dressed women. Seeing half-dressed guys would be just as effective. I feel cheated.
What a video pal. I had to fly from Germany to Holland on to Ireland. I downloaded this and it was perfect viewing. Great work
Glad it helped
You’re the GOAT when it comes to tier lists
Hiding under the bed always makes me laugh. I’d have to shove suitcases, boxes, shoes to the side and still would have my ass hanging out
You're the Best Cody! Loving These Tier Lists Man! 🤘🤟🤟
YOOO i love your ranking videos!
This might be the best tier list yet. Great idea. Tropes and horror tropes in particular, are something we horror fans can debate for years. Great video.
Fallen is an excellent example of a possession film that has a original style in the portrayal of that demon
This is one of your best videos. Really entertaining and I agreed with the vast majority of these tropes too 😂
I love how out of pocket these tier lists are. It’s refreshing
I think the ending of Dead of Night (1945) worked for me, with how the protagonist has an eerie feeling of deja vu and slowly realizes he has dreamt about the inn and the people in it. Only to wake up at the end with a sense of dread, and go on to repeat the day. The cyclicity worked for me, like he was trapped in purgatory/hell.
Maybe not exactly "it was all a dream" but a nice spin on it. That movie had a lot of tropes, but I would assume it was innovative at the time, so I loved every single trope in it.
Sounds good! I need to check it out? Is it streaming anywhere or do u know how to find it?
Supposed to sleep… then i get a notification from Cody. Oh well. Can’t wait🙌
Great video man!
In I Know What You Did Last Summer, it was explained in the sequel that Julie had been having nightmares of Ben Willis still coming after her. The opening scene was her in a church confession booth confessing what happened in the first movie and it was Ben Willis she was talking to. So... that actually falls into the "it was all a dream" trope LOL! So, I assume it was the same at the end of the sequel. Just another dream.
Oh man can’t wait for this one
The tripping thing is annoying but it's actually pretty realistic. When your adrenaline is pumping, especially from pure fear, you turn into Bambi. There's a million videos of people doing this too and it's hilarious.
Have you done a video ranking your top kill, or top 3 kills, per franchise? Be interesting to see how different franchises stack up against each other for gore, practical effects, and creativity
Lmao “not going down there, I definitely hear something breathing”
Man I love these tier lists.
Also: your take on needing to be invited in is SO on brand since you love vampire films! 😂
Hahaha uh oh…busted
The ONLY "It was just a dream" ending I can forgive is Krampus only because they add in the Krampus bell. I dig it cause its already been said that Krampus didn't give that luxury to grandma and the family in denial can use that excuse.
I don't like killer teleports, with the exception of Michael Myers, because the shape feels like he moves in and out of reality, so it is very fitting to the supernatural aspect of his character. Jason should just run.
Jason used to run very fast on screen in part 2, 3, and 4 in 5 and onward he apparently gained an unexplained teleport power
Hell of a video Cody, this was a damn great idea for a tier list, now towards the turns out to be a dream, it's not horror but Adam Sandlers Click, that one to me is a banger that fits the it was only a dream category just not horror
Mulholland Drive is far and away the best execution of the "it was all a dream" trope
I never clicked on a video so fast😊😊. I’m a huge fan of your channel and I love the slasher genre🤟🏾😊
It is the vampirism (not politeness) in Cody that prevents him from entering a family member’s home without permission.
Have we seen a video of Cody outside in the daytime?
I love the medicine cabinet scare is in Wrong Turn 5 when One Eye is looking for Lita after she left it open and he closes it. I also love it in FVJ when Mark does it and it's just Freddy in the reflection not both of them.
BOOM 💥
NEVER STOP MAKING THESE!
I think they use the 'Red Herring' trope in My Bloody Valentine 3D and I think they used it pretty well there.
Probably my favorite tier list so far.
Great tier list
Saw used a Creepy Doll well.
So did Seinfeld. Poor George. Edit: and Jerry with Mr. Marbles. 😮
Great tier list.
List is amazing 🔥
But dream fake out is rank too low because if it wasn’t for a dream fake out movies like the descent wouldn’t be as good especially with out that ending 👀
T&A? I NEED IT!
I don't mind dumb characters, but you need to establish that a character is actually dumb. If they are established to be a normal intelligence there is no excuse that they make constant dumb decisions.