10 Annoying Movie Tropes That Can Ruin A Horror Movie
5. I've Fallen And I Cant Get Up
In the scenario of a killer or creature being in pursuit, the hapless victim, covered in dirt and bruises, makes a desperate dash for safety when - oops - a tree branch appears out of nowhere. They trip. Oh no. Their momentum is lost. If only they could leap to their feet without missing a beat, they might regain their lead. After all, the pursuer is literally just walking behind them with a determined jaunt.
But instead, the pursued flails on the ground for a moment, panting, panicking, and feeling hopeless. Are they having a meltdown instead of jumping up? Get up! What’s wrong with you?!
Yep, who hasn’t yelled that at the screen? It’s one thing to throw hurdles at the protagonist to build tension or explain why a final girl hasn’t sprinted down the highway to the nearest police station, but there’s nothing more infuriating - or nonsensical - than a character falling and, instead of immediately recovering (especially when they’re pumped full of adrenaline), they lie there having a pity party, hesitating to stand up and save themselves.
If you want to drain sympathy from a character, this trope pretty much takes the cake - and it needs to go.