Horror Tropes

          A trope can be defined as a plot device or character type that is commonly known and familiar to the audience watching the movie. If you have not noticed, the horror genre heavily depends on tropes. By using and re-using a set of concepts, audiences assume that they know what is coming next in the movie. While this might usually be the case, there are some films that use this set "expectation" to their advantage to make the real scare more unexpected. A jump scare, having nowhere to hide, an abandoned building, and the final girl are some of the most well known and noticeable tropes of the horror genre.

          In "Scream" (1996), this scene demonstrates how a jump scare is used very well. In this clip, the character is trying to escape after Ghostface tells her he is going to kill her. This scene is important because it is the first time the audience and the character see what Ghostface looks like. The jump scare used for this shot is extremely effective in introducing the audience to the killer in the film, the reaction of Drew Barrymore's character also amplifies the feeling of terror the audience feels for her as she runs for her life.

          This scene from "The Purge" (2013), uses the second horror trope mentioned in a slightly different way. The surveillance cameras of the character's home from this scene show the audience that the house is completely surrounded. This clip takes a new approach on what "no place to hide" can mean in horror films. Personally, I think the use of modern technology (security cameras) actually makes this scene even creepier, as many of us have security cameras or "Ring" for our homes. The shots in this scene of the masked killers surrounding the house makes the audience feel trapped, since the characters don't have anyway to escape.

Sources:
Loggie, Matt, and Matt Loggie. “6 Common Horror Film Tropes.” Raindance, 15 Oct. 2019, www.raindance.org/6-common-horror-film-tropes/.

YouTube, youtu.be/PJ4ZyHu0-DQ.

YouTube, youtu.be/e3mwmwPhr08.