Poll Results: What Horror Movie Trope Do You Love to Hate?

With Halloween around the corner, horror movies and their tired cliches are inescapable. After narrowing down the seemingly endless list of terrible tropes, we asked you to vote for the ones you love to hate the most. Without further ado, here are the top three you chose:

3. Death by Sex

In third, we’re kicking it off with Death by Sex, a trope mostly found in slasher flicks like Friday the 13th and Halloween. Having sex in a horror film is a way to pretty much guarantee that a character is going to die. Not only has this trope been overdone, but it doesn’t contribute much to the plot either. It’s a solid way to kink-shame, and that’s all the more reason to be sick of it.

2. Based on a True Story

Coming in second for the worst horror trope is Based on a True Story. The list goes on and on for how many horror movies are based on “real events,” and it’s hands down, the most gimmicky way to get people in movie theater seats. How impressive would it be if writers were actually focused on writing good horror as opposed to spending that time trying to convince you that the second prequel in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe might be inspired by a true story. This trope suuuucks, unless we’re talking about The Blair Witch Project. Duh.

1. Let’s Split Up, Gang

And finally, to split up, or not to split up, that is the question. Unfortunately, the answer is often Let’s Split Up, Gang. It’s the only way of making chances of dying in a horror movie greater than having pre-marital sex. And no amount of yelling at characters on a screen about how stupid they are can fix this one. Needless to say, this is the most frustrating trope that haunts horror, and it rightfully has secured its place as the top horror trope you love to hate.


Valerie Lopez is a film intern who loves hearing herself talk about movies almost as much as watching them.