5. The Flashlight Just Died!
I am no longer able to accept a flashlight dying, I'm sorry. Sure, it's plausible that someone didn't change the batteries or the batteries are duds from having not been used, but it's not even the fact that it isn't believable. It's the fact that it just happens too often. Yes, getting plunged into darkness without notice is terrifying, but there are plenty of ways to achieve this result without using the dead horse of a flashlight dying. I appreciate movies, like The Descent, that show characters using flashlights throughout the film and then having them die - that's not only scary, but an excellent way to show the passage of time. Everyone knows the life span of a battery, so to watch as a flashlight dies off after new batteries were installed really effects audience members. However, I am not willing to look past a flashlight dying after being in use for all of three minutes. Sure, changing batteries once a year may not be common practice, but I always check batteries when I know there's a storm coming, when a storm has come, when I'm going camping, or when I'm going into the basement alone. I even bring batteries with me if I stay in a cabin that says it comes with things like flashlights and radios. Maybe I've overly cautious? Oh, and can I see a show of hands as to who uses their cellphone as a flashlight?