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With Halloween just around a corner, many of us are preparing to binge-watch some of the best horror movies. Scary movie plots can set a perfect Halloween mood by making us shiver with fear and suspense. However, there are also plenty of funny horror movies that leave us plain confused, rather than scared. This is usually because they are either ridiculously predictable and filled with everyone's favorite cliche examples or just don't make any sense.

We here at Bored Panda have compiled the most annoying cliches list, the ones that could ruin even the best horror movie plot twist. While we're not saying that all scary movies are guilty of these cliche quotes and actions, you'll definitely be able to recognize quite a few! Scroll below to read them!

#1

Running On A Road While Being Chased By A Car Cliche

Running On A Road While Being Chased By A Car Cliche

This one is actually a comedy gold. If you were chased by a car, wouldn't your survival instincts tell you to run somewhere where the car can’t drive? Well, not if you’re a horror movie character. It’s way too common for the protagonist to run on the road, in front of a car while being chased.

Di Bonaventura Pictures Report

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Enuya
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is even more funny, sometimes they run for a long moment before the car catch them up.

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#2

Women Can't Run Without Falling Down Cliche

Women Can't Run Without Falling Down Cliche

In real life, women are pretty good runners. Too bad horror movie script writers think otherwise. According to them, women can't run a mile while being chased by a killer without slamming their whole weight into the ground and that's when the killer gets them.

Lionsgate Report

#3

The Car Never Starts Cliche

The Car Never Starts Cliche

One of the most nerve-racking moments of horror movies is when the protagonist tries to escape from the claws of death. However, luck is never in their favor if they decide to flee the danger by jumping into a car. Because in horror movies the car never starts, for no apparent reason. Your brand new vehicle may have been working perfectly 10 minutes ago, but it won't start when you are being chased by a killer.

New Films International Report

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#4

Splitting Up Cliche

Splitting Up Cliche

If you wind up in situations when there’s a psycho killer running around murdering people, the best thing you can do is stay with as many people as possible to increase your chances of survival. What do horror movie characters choose to do in situations like these? They split up! Sure, they will cover more ground when searching for an escape, but usually, they will end up getting offed one by one.

Blinding Edge Pictures Report

#5

The Inconsistent Strength Of A Killer Cliche

The Inconsistent Strength Of A Killer Cliche

The villain is so skilled at killing that they make every irrelevant character drop like a fly, up until they encounter the main protagonist. Then suddenly a killer becomes weaker and clumsier than usual, giving an unfair advantage to the hero of the movie.

New Line Cinema Report

#6

Adults Are Useless Cliche

Adults Are Useless Cliche

In horror movies that revolve around teenagers or younger children, getting help from responsible adults is next to impossible. They usually never believe nor listen when children try to tell them about the crazy things that are happening.

New Line Cinema Report

#7

Betrayed By One Little Sound Cliche

Betrayed By One Little Sound Cliche

No matter how good is the victim's hiding spot is, there's definitely going to be a sound that will give away their location. We’ve seen way too many scenes of a victim hiding in a closet or under the bed and their phone going off helping the killer to find their victim.

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#8

The Speed Walking Killer Cliche

The Speed Walking Killer Cliche

It doesn't matter if the killer is crippled or missing a leg, he can even walk instead of running because he will always be faster than a victim sprinting in terror.

Dimension Films Report

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Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn't make any difference anyway, the sexy victim always trips over a dust particle .

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#9

The Mirror Scare Cliche

The Mirror Scare Cliche

It seems that the filmmakers just cannot resist this cliche. Every time there’s a mirror in a movie you know what’s about to happen - when the character looks at it they will suddenly see a reflection of a monster standing behind them.

unknown Report

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Misterscooter
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With some of these clichés, they do it well when they show the mirror or other expected scare moment, and then shift it just when you think the scare moment has passed.

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#10

Bad Cell Phone Reception Cliche

Bad Cell Phone Reception Cliche

At some point, scriptwriters probably realized that it's quite unconvincing for a character to never have a phone when they need to call for help. So they figured out a solution - bad reception. So when disaster strikes, phones are always useless.

Columbia Pictures Corporation Report

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Mr. Re-in-act-ment
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well Panic room is that they're trapped in a room full of steel that blocks all signals

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#11

The Dark Basement Cliche

The Dark Basement Cliche

If a horror movie character buys a house, there definitely will be a creepy basement where someone was murdered or will be murdered. Not to mention that the owners always feel the need to inspect weird noises coming from it, when they are alone. Also, that dimmed light bulb that hangs in the basement? Well, it most certainly will go out at the worst possible moment.

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#12

Ignoring The Elder's Warning Cliche

Ignoring The Elder's Warning Cliche

While we usually don’t expect for the main character to pack their bags and leave when some old person warns them about crazy stuff going on in a house they just bought, some consideration would make this scenario a little bit more believable and less of a cliche. Old people usually don’t just walk around warning people of danger for no good reason.

Paramount Pictures Report

#13

The Final Girl Cliche

The Final Girl Cliche

The final girl trope is prevalent is slasher horror movies when only one girl out of a group of people survives. The final girl is often portrayed as a shy, innocent person in the beginning, but as once the hell is unleashed she turns out to be the most resourceful and intelligent character.

unknown Report

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Naomi Armitage
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Virgin must survive. The Athlete, the Fool, the Whore, and the Scholar must die. The Old Ones demand it.

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#14

The Killer Is Invincible Cliche

The Killer Is Invincible Cliche

Even the most human-like villains in horror movies seem to be immortal. This invincible monster makes everyone drop like flies, and easily recovers from any hit he takes. And when a hero finally knocks down the bad guy, 10 minutes later he's alive and ready to hunt down the rest of his unsuspecting victims.

New Line Cinema Report

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Andres Tejeda
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or another common one related to this one. When they manage to knock out the attacker in the movie they don't out right kill him while he is incapacitated. Seriously Scream, I know what you did last summer, and others. If I go through all of the trouble of knocking him out best believe I am making sure he is dead.

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#15

Everyone Is An Idiot Cliche

Everyone Is An Idiot Cliche

One thing is clear - when a murderous psycho is breathing down your neck, only basic survival skills can save your life. But if you're a horror movie protagonist, then chances are that you're a dummy who keeps making one stupid decision after another, until you get bludgeoned to death. The protagonist making absurd, life-threatening decisions is one of the most prevalent horror movie cliches.

Dimension Films Report

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#16

Expert Shooter Cliche

Expert Shooter Cliche

Once the guns appear in a horror movie, despite never firing a gun before, every character becomes an expert shooter.

Dimension Films Report

#17

Creepy Children Cliche

Creepy Children Cliche

Children are generally innocent looking and not scary at all unless you see them in a horror movie, then they are freaky as hell.

Warner Bros Report

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Sandra La Madeleine
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OOOhhh this one is s**t though. Ever babysat a kid? They are freaking creepy. They can tell you weird s**t like you're gonna die while they are playing with a doll. Or stare at the corner of the bedroom for no reason like they see a freaking ghost. Children ARE SCARY FOR REAL.

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#18

The Black Guy Always Dies Cliche

The Black Guy Always Dies Cliche

Do you know who has definitely no chance of survival in a typical cliche-ridden horror movie plot? A black person. However, this cliche is beginning to die out as studios begin to realize that the main protagonist doesn't necessarily have to be white.

Universal Pictures Report

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Andres Tejeda
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being Mexican, if I see some serial killer people in the woods, house, suburbs, or wherever. Trust I will be gone. I will not stick around to investigate.

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#19

Jump Scares Cliche

Jump Scares Cliche

Cheap horror movies are known to use horrible jump scares to frighten their viewers. You can almost feel when something weird will jump in front of the screen for no reason at all. How about instead of startling viewers show something actually frightening instead?

Atomic Monster Report

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Andres Tejeda
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate these, not because they are scary (they are not), it just over used and breaks up all the tension that was built up during the movie. Its like blowing your load too soon and wondering what to do next.

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#20

Dropping The Keys Cliche

Dropping The Keys Cliche

It's unbelievable how clumsy protagonists can get when they are running away from a killer. Fear does make people frantic, but the number of scenes of characters dropping their keys while trying to unlock the door is incredible.

Columbia Pictures Corporation Report

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moggie63
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plus there are 17 keys on the keyring and the person never has any idea which is the car key. Even if it's their car.

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#21

The Same Old Creepy Locations Cliche

The Same Old Creepy Locations Cliche

If you’re a big fan of horror movies you probably seen way too many movies set in abandoned houses, creepy orphanages, mental institutions, basements, caves and so on. Despite the fact that in our minds these places are frightening, it's getting a bit repetitive, isn’t it?

Margaret Weir Report

#22

Murder In The Bathroom Cliche

Murder In The Bathroom Cliche

Not many people expect to be murdered in a bathroom, well maybe except those who watch a lot of horror movies. If you've seen a handful of them, you know how often killers assault their victims who are taking a shower.

unknown Report

#23

The Stereotyped Characters Cliche

The Stereotyped Characters Cliche

While not every horror movie is guilty of stereotyped characters, we’ve seen way too many of those which are. Usually, there’s not just one walking stereotype - there’s a whole group. Typically they are - a slut, jock, nerd, and virgin.

Lionsgate Report

#24

The Police Always Arrive Too Late Cliche

The Police Always Arrive Too Late Cliche

With all the obstacles horror movie characters face when trying to get help, waiting for the police is probably the most nerve-wracking. The character goes through hell and back trying to get help and a glimmer of hope appears when they finally call the police. However, as this cliche follows, the police can take ages to arrive and when they finally do - there’s usually no one left to save.

Jocelyn Augustino Report

#25

Sex Will Get You Killed Cliche

Sex Will Get You Killed Cliche

Horror movie fans know this already - if there's a scene of a couple getting naughty, they’ll both bite the dust. Because what better time to kill somebody than when they're having sex?

New Line Cinema Report

#26

Based On Actual Events Cliche

Based On Actual Events Cliche

While there are movies which really are based on actual events, others are nowhere near the real facts. Yet filmmakers still try to fool their audience into thinking otherwise. Even though there are many people who believe everything they're being told without second-guessing, even they have seen too many fake 'based on true events' announcements to believe them.

New Line Cinema Report

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r3dd3v1lL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I laughed my a*s off when this appeared at the start of The Conjuring. Couldn't take the movie seriously for one second after that.

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#27

Scribbling On The Walls Cliche

Scribbling On The Walls Cliche

A character's obsession with scribbling bizarre calculations, nonsense words and religious symbols on random surfaces has been a good depiction of some kind of mental disturbance. However, once every screenwriter began copying this idea, it became a cliche in the horror movie industry.

New Line Cinema Report

#28

Rising Tension When Nothing Is Happening Cliche

Rising Tension When Nothing Is Happening Cliche

Many horror movies are guilty of raising tension when nothing is actually happening. The viewers are often led to believe that the monster is coming closer, but then the protagonist discovers that the weird sound they're investigating is just a pet.

unknown Report

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Person2638
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah but that's what makes the movie good. You never know when the monster is near and you slowly let your guard down and BAM!

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#29

Investigating In The Dark Cliche

Investigating In The Dark Cliche

The first death in a horror movie often happens when one person in the group gets this excellent idea that they should go out alone in the dark to investigate a suspicious sound they just heard. The person is usually so unbelievably oblivious to the danger, that they never take anyone with them, not even a weapon of some sort.

FF3D Report

#30

Running To Hide Upstairs Cliche

Running To Hide Upstairs Cliche

When there’s an intruder in your house the safest option is to run outside and yell for help. But way too often protagonists are not aware of this option, so when they run out of the living room or a kitchen - they run upstairs and crawl under the bed, or jump in a closet. While it makes sense for children to do so, when you see an adult doing it, you know that scriptwriters did a sloppy job.

unknown Report

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Amreen Godhrawala
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And most horror movies are set in bungalows. No building apartment-type setting where you can run straight to your neighbour's house! Rich victims.

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#31

Creepy Dolls Cliche

Creepy Dolls Cliche

While most dolls look cute and innocent, watching too many horror movies can change this perception quickly. They have a way of making dolls look creepy as hell.

United Artists Corporation Report

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Enuya
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dols ARE creepy. Actually, the more innocent they looks, the scarier they are.

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#32

The Children Can See Spirits Cliche

The Children Can See Spirits Cliche

Many children have imaginary friends, but in horror movies, these 'friends' are usually vengeful spirits who will try to kill their whole family. And of course, parents only take their children's bizarre behavior into consideration after it's too late.

Twentieth Century Fox Report

#33

Cat Scare Cliche

Cat Scare Cliche

Cats are usually gentle and sweet animals, unless they are shown in horror movies, then they are creepy as hell. It usually goes as follows: the protagonist enters a dark room to investigate a strange noise - as they always do - and the viewers prepare themselves for something scary to happen. Then suddenly a cat jumps out of nowhere, angrily hissing for no good reason. These 'cat scares' are so prevalent that when you see a cat in a horror movie you know that this will happen sooner or later.

Paramount Pictures Report

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Jilltdcatlady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only reason a cat jumps out of nowhere, hissing and screaming, is you stepped on their tail. You might not die then, but you will be put on a list. -experienced cat slave.

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#34

Warnings In A Dream Cliche

Warnings In A Dream Cliche

The main character of the movie often has a dream or a vision of the stuff that’s about to go down. They take it as a warning and desperately try to convince everyone around them. Except no one believes them, so the protagonist is left alone to save all the clueless people around them.

unknown Report

#35

Indian Burial Ground Cliche

Indian Burial Ground Cliche

A scenario of a young family moving into a new property without knowing that their house is built upon an Indian burial ground was common in horror movie history. Gladly, this racist cliche of Native Americans trying to exact revenge on white people by haunting them is less prevalent these days.

Paramount Pictures Report

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diane a
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Native Americans deserve all the revenge they can get.

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#36

Screaming For Help In A Secluded Area Cliche

Screaming For Help In A Secluded Area Cliche

Screaming for help in an area where there are definitely people nearby can be life-saving. But when you’re trapped in a secluded area, such as a basement of a house located in the middle of the woods, chances are that nobody is going to hear you. So conserving energy for making an escape would make a lot more sense than yelling frantically. Also screaming while running with no chance of anyone hearing won't get you very far.

PalmStar Media Report

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Pan39
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like that one time of of Judaic world where they where in the elevator and that one girl screamed, it just f****d up all those whom where in it

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#37

Creepy Hitchhikers Cliche

Creepy Hitchhikers Cliche

If a character sees someone on a roadside needing help, they are definitely going to help them, no matter how suspicious the stranger looks. However, it always ends badly for them. While this scenario is quite believable and realistic, we’ve seen it way too many times already.

unknown Report

#38

No Guns Cliche

No Guns Cliche

The characters would have it so much easier if they could carry guns. However, this would probably make the movie end so much faster and with a lot less gore. That’s probably the reason why you rarely see a protagonist defending themselves from a killer with a gun.

Groundswell Productions Report

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Don Flynn
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They forgot the "everyone is a victim" cliche... some people would fight back

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#39

The Paranormal Expert Cliche

The Paranormal Expert Cliche

When a character in a horror movie scenario thinks their house is being haunted they usually consult a paranormal expert of some sort. Whether it's a Catholic priest, a demonologist or an actual ghost hunter, seldom do movie plots go without relying on the help of these experts.

Morgan Creek Entertainment Report

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Stille20
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... wouldn't you be foolish not to consult one of these guys if there was paranormal activity?

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#40

A Killer With An Axe Cliche

A Killer With An Axe Cliche

There are probably a lot of better murder weapons, but many horror movie slashers prefer to use axes. There’s just something about axes that makes every death awful and gory.

Warner Bros Report

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Miklós Nagy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indeed there are, but axes are multifunctional and you can possess one legally without bringing too much atent- oh, never mind, my lawyer just told me to shut the f*ck up!

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Basil
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh, I really don't think it's used too much. Especially since every time it's used it will always be held up against THAT ONE TIME (pictured above).

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Hendra Lim
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, axes is the best choice for beheading people in execution after all (not that the protagonist want to use it for beheading)

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#41

Recovered Footage Cliche

Recovered Footage Cliche

A first few successful attempts managed to captivate the audiences. But as of now, we've seen way too many movies about a recovered scary footage of someone getting murdered or possessed by a demon.

Castelao Producciones Report

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Fiendhunter
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, but the REC movie (the one in this screenshot) wasn't presented as "recovered footage from real events". The first-person camera was used as a resource to involve the audience in the action on a deeper level and make it seem more real. It was never meant to be "based on true story" or anything like that. Huh, just felt like pointing that out, REC is actually a good movie.

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#42

Killing A Loved One Before They Turn Cliche

Killing A Loved One Before They Turn Cliche

With a spike in the popularity of zombie horror movies, some of the old cliches are brought back to our screens. You must be familiar with the tear-jerking scene when a family member or a friend of a protagonist gets bitten by a zombie and is begging to be killed before they turn. While this scene is used to help viewers empathize with the horrible situation of a zombie apocalypse, we’ve seen this happen in so many movies that it has become just too predictable.

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I real life, some people would like to murder their relatives.....😜

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#43

The Death Of A Pet Cliche

The Death Of A Pet Cliche

Scriptwriters often use this old trope to elicit emotion, to the point that it is becoming boring and predictable. Pets usually don’t require as much character development as humans, so it's easier to make viewers feel empathy for a dead pet.

unknown Report

#44

Protagonist Is Ghost Cliche

Protagonist Is Ghost Cliche

You've definitely seen this one - a very disturbed protagonist is worried that their house is being haunted, then it is revealed that the character is a ghost who is actually haunting somebody else. Quite a few movies are guilty of this cliche plot twist.

Hollywood Pictures Report