Willem Dafoe in The Clearing (2004)
The character stops his or her car to talk to an approaching stranger.
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Poll: No, Don't Do It!
These things are repeated so often that they're cliche; they also seem to be obviously unwise and yet movies still depict them over and over again. Of these common tropes, which is the dumbest thing a character can do?
Make Your Choice
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Idris Elba in No Good Deed (2014)
On a dark, rainy, and desolate road, a stranger's car is broken down and another character, instead of calling for a tow truck or the police, offers the stranger a ride. -
Jack Nicholson in The Shining (1980)
The character assumes closing and locking a door will protect them from a crazed attacker. -
Natasha Gregson Wagner in Urban Legend (1998)
The character knows that there's a psychopathic killer on the loose in the area, but gets into a car without checking the backseat (or underneath the car) before getting in. -
Drew Barrymore in Scream (1996)
Continues to take calls from a threatening stalker. -
Taraji P. Henson in No Good Deed (2014)
When a threat is imminent, the character, instead of calling police or other emergency service, calls a friend or family member. -
Rose McGowan and Kurt Russell in Death Proof (2007)
Takes a ride from someone he or she doesn't know, even someone who seems, shall we say... questionable. -
Scott Speedman in The Strangers (2008)
The character gets out of his or her car to see who did things like smashing the windows and writing threatening words on the car and if they're still around. -
Liv Tyler and Laura Margolis in The Strangers (2008)
Instead of running as fast as he or she can, a character tries to crawl away, as if it will be less noticeable. -
Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Patrick Wilson, and John Brotherton in The Conjuring (2013)
The characters continue to live in a haunted house. -
Taraji P. Henson in No Good Deed (2014)
Walks into their dark house even though the door was open or window broken. -
Naomi Watts and Brady Corbet in Funny Games (2007)
The character is suspicious of someone but allows them into his or her home. -
Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, and Daniel Zovatto in Don't Breathe (2016)
"Sssh, there's someone in this strange dark house that could be dangerous, but come on in!" -
#14
Everyone seems to know that there's safety in numbers. Everyone, that is, except a lot of horror film characters, who have the best defense of being in a group but leave it to go out on their own. -
Friday the 13th (1980)
"Phwew," the character sighs. After getting the weapon away from the attacker and seemingly disabling the perpetrator, the character gives a sigh of relief -- and then leaves the weapon right there in grabbing distance of the attacker. -
Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle in Halloween (1978)
The hero has disabled the sadistic killer. You'd think, after going through so many near-death experiences, said hero would run as fast and as far away as possible, or call for help, or do something. But no, they assume the resilient killer is dead, put down the weapon, perhaps even sit down right by the never-say-die attacker, and do absolutely nothing.
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