Happy Goat Horror

What’s Gone Wrong (or Right)?

Alright, sit tight, grab your favorite horror flick, and let’s dive into one of the most overdone subjects in the genre—horror clichés. Look, I get it. Tropes are comforting. They give us something familiar to hold onto when we’re watching someone get chased through a dark house, but let’s be real—some of them need to be put out to pasture. On the other hand, there are those tropes that never get old and still manage to send a chill down your spine. So, let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the downright tired.

The Final Girl: Stale or Still Scary?

Ah, the final girl. You know the drill. She’s the one who survives the carnage, usually because she’s pure, virtuous, and a bit of a mess. There’s no denying that this trope has been done to death. It’s like the horror version of a “happy ending,” but let’s face it—there’s something oddly satisfying about it when done right. We’ve seen it in Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream, and a hundred others, but you know what? The formula still works. It’s a cathartic payoff to watch that one character overcome the terror and take down the villain. But let’s not pretend it hasn’t been milked so much it’s practically dry. The trick is not to let her become a cardboard cutout. Give her some depth, and she might just rise from the ashes of predictability. You’re Next and Ready or Not—those final girls kick ass, and they bring something fresh to the table.

Creepy Dolls: Time to Pack it Up?

Let’s talk about dolls. Or more specifically, creepy dolls. Whether it’s Annabelle or Chucky, these little nightmares have been terrorizing audiences for decades. And let me tell you, I’ve had enough. They’re all basically the same at this point: you’ve got your doll that’s possessed or evil or whatever, and it’s out to cause trouble. It was scary the first few times, sure, but now it’s like watching the same old trick over and over again. Sure, dolls have that inherently unsettling vibe—who doesn’t look at an old porcelain face and think, “Yeah, that thing’s gonna haunt me in my sleep”? But when they’re the go-to evil entity for every other film? Enough already. There are far more sinister things to be afraid of than a plastic smile. If you’re still making movies with haunted dolls, it’s time to think outside the box—unless, of course, you can do something groundbreaking with the idea. The Conjuring managed to do it, but I’m just not feeling the doll vibe anymore.

The Invincible Villain: Superhuman or Super Boring?

Here’s a classic: the invincible villain. You know the one. Jason, Michael Myers, Freddy. They can’t be killed, and no matter how many times you think you’ve seen the last of them, they always come back, stronger and scarier. Look, I get it—there’s a certain thrill in watching these guys keep coming after the unsuspecting teens, but it’s been done to death. Jason’s been resurrected more times than a horror movie villain has any right to be. You start to wonder, why even bother killing them off? Just keep running, and they’ll keep coming. The problem is, this lack of stakes drains the tension. If you know the killer’s just going to get up and keep coming, where’s the real fear? I don’t mind a villain with staying power, but the whole “invincible” shtick starts to feel more like a crutch than a creative choice. Give me a villain that feels like they could be defeated—not one that can just brush off a machete to the face and keep on trucking.

Tropes That Still Work: The Real Scares

Now, it’s not all bad. There are some tropes that still work, even in this age of overused formulas. Take, for example, the “haunted house.” Yeah, I know—it’s been done to death too, but when it’s done right, it can still send a shiver down your spine. The key is the atmosphere—the tension, the slow build. Look at The Haunting or The Conjuring. The house itself becomes a character. It’s not just creaky floors and spooky shadows. It’s a living, breathing thing that wants to eat you alive. That’s the kind of haunted house that sticks with you, not the one that throws a few jump scares your way and calls it a day.

Another one that still works? The slow-burn psychological horror. Forget the blood and guts—give me something that messes with my head. Hereditary, The Witch, The Babadook—these films don’t rely on loud noises or flashy effects. They get under your skin in subtle, horrifying ways. The terror isn’t immediate, but it builds. It’s the kind of horror that stays with you long after the credits roll. You don’t need an invincible villain or creepy doll to make me squirm when you’ve got a story that plays on my deepest fears. That’s the good stuff.

The Bottom Line: A Mix of Old and New

Listen, horror’s got its clichés. Hell, it practically invented them. But here’s the thing—some of these tropes still work because they’ve stood the test of time. They’ve been used and reused because they get results. The trick is knowing when to breathe new life into them and when to retire them for good. If you can find that balance, then we’re in for a good time. The genre’s got plenty of room for both the old-school comfort and the new blood that keeps us on our toes. So let’s keep what works, and let’s leave the tired stuff behind. I’m not asking for a complete overhaul, just a little bit of creativity and maybe a few fewer possessed dolls, okay?

That’s enough out of me. Now get off my lawn.