Less Talked about Horror/Slasher tropes?

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

Hey I'm planning a story that sort of deconstructs some slasher tropes, and I wanna hit some that don't get as much attention. Like we all know the doomed sex symbol, the final girl, the double tap, but I want the more subtle stuff people don't talk about as much. for example, horror characters often have a mix of normal human names and really weird nicknames that no one has ever had.

Give me what you got if you can think of some!

[skicoak]

The Doubter...
The "intellectual" character who usually gets a short monologue about looking at the evidence...ignores anything contradicting their opinion until their inevitable death.

[crowstories]

Okay, I don't know if these are really less talked about, but here's what comes to mind:

• serial killers are apparently pretty close to immortal
• slasher chases his victims at a slow, menacing plod, yet is always dangerously close to catching up
• slasher is getting revenge for tragic backstory, usually by killing teenagers who had nothing to do with said backstory
• teenagers/young adults who go on vacation in a group are almost certainly going to be murdered

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

Yeah, and I also find that the smarter characters also tend to die in the stupider ways. Like, they're running away from the killer and they trip and fall into a wood chipper or something.

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

The third item on your list is actually the set up for a joke in the latter half of the story!

[Llyrel]

It always cracks me up how bathrooms are apparently the deadliest place ever in horror movies. From ghosts showing in bathroom mirrors to murder showers and bathtubs, from evil voices coming out of plumbing to slipping in a pool of water/electrocuting yourself with a hair drier/WHATEVER, it honestly makes me wonder if most horror authors aren't just afraid of washing themselves

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

Being clean is a sin.

[crowstories]

When I was a little kid my mom used to warn me to be careful of slipping in the tub by telling me "90% of accidents happen within 5 miles of a bathroom."

It was a few years before I realized what a wiseass she was being.

[skicoak]

The bathroom IS the most dangerous room in your house statistically and according to insurers.

[crowstories]

I am, to this day, terrified of falling in the shower.

[Llyrel]

Really? I would have put my bets on the kitchen ._.
But yup, agreed with @crowstories about being terrified of falling in the shower/bathtub D: that is indeed horribly dangerous D:

[TheGentleArtist]

How about the constant quiet stare at the killer and then doing something?

Not immediately calling the police

The police somehow failing at/not doing their job, killed easily, and/or fits in the "Doubter" archtype

Phones either not working or conveniently at low power to die at just the right time when their needed (especially if they have not been used for nearly the whole movie)

The protags getting a weapon to defend themselves, then not use it at all or just drop it after one use

If the protags are or one of them is athletic, but not really showing/pulling the hussle.

[surenlicious]

For some ungodly reason they're ninjas who can perfectly stalk their victims. Mate shouldn't you eat, take a piss, visit yo momma?

[TheGentleArtist]

Apparently not

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

That last one is perfect. It's like they present a bunch of very different people with different skills, and then those skills are not used at all.

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

No. killing teens is life.

[TheGentleArtist]

Like, it's understandable if the killer is superhuman; but if it's just a basic human who is good at killing, I don't see how the protags don't just jump em' or at least one of them stalls/counter them in someway. Yes, you will not escape unscathed, but you stopped the situation from getting worse by dealing with it early.

[skicoak]

Really? I would have put my bets on the kitchen ._.

It is. Feel free to look it up so it doesn't look like I'm cherry picking supporting information.

Psychologically, the bathroom also is a room we most often put ourselves in a state of mental vulnerability by being naked or in compromising biological activities.

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

Houses are evil, we've established that.

[TheGentleArtist]

Monster House really puts that in perspective.