Oh No! A Cliche Horror Film! Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Blair Witch Project

Certainly the killer opening, Jack and Sally don't find out about their victim friend until the next day at school when the news of his or her death sends a shockwave of gossip through their classmates. Who could this murderer be? Will he strike again? Unrest is afoot.

"Scream", Wes Craven's 1996 satirical horror flick, was clever in this approach. Starting off the film by killing off already-popular Drew Barrymore, the writer/director subverted film-goers' expectations while providing a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the way horror movies were generally constructed. Later parody films like "Scary Movie" and "Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th" would do the same thing (with less tact) in later years. Proceeding titles in the "Scream" series continued to kill off major cast members before the film title appeared on screen. "Hatchet", Adam Green's 2006 romp into 'old-school American' horror (yes, another tongue-in-cheek homage) did the same thing killing of Robert Englund (of Freddy Krueger fame) in the first few minutes. "Saw II" was the first in the extensive franchise (released in 2005 and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman) to feature a deadly trap before the opening.

"The Blair Witch Project" is the odd one out. Because this semi-realistic mockumentary was filmed by its actors over the course of eight days, no one died until much later in the film to encourage realism. The movie was a forerunner in the 'shaky-cam' style of horror filmmaking years before the likes of "Paranormal Activity" and "Cloverfield", and it became the most profitable film until the former was released in 2009.

Answer: Funny Games

Some people just laugh at death; some people go against every obvious smart idea. Jack and Sally are now one friend down as per this idiotic move from one of their friends. And so the body count rises.

"Funny Games", an Austrian film released in 1997 (and re-released as a shot-for-shot remake in 2008 by the same director), was created by Michael Haneke. Certainly a weird entry into the thriller/horror genre, the movie constantly breaks the fourth wall and subverts its own realities to mess with its helpless victims and its audience. In the remake, starring Tim Roth and Naomi Watts, Watts' character is tied up and simply pushed into a lake.

"The Strangers", released in 2008 as well, saw its deaths in a single house. The same goes for the 2008 handi-cam film "Quarantine" while "Resident Evil", based on the video game series of the same name, took place in the underground facility known as The Hive. It was released in 2002.

Answer: Night of the Living Dead

"They're coming to get you, Barbara!" Alas, this victim should've seen her own fate coming. When Sally and Jack realize the severity of their situation, they realize that everyone is in grave danger. Soon, a pattern develops, and they head out to warn the rest of their friends.

A true horror forefather, "Night of the Living Dead" was released as a black and white film by famous horror director George A. Romero (who would go on to make tons of zombie films in later years). Released in 1968, the film was a benchmark for the genre. Not only was the film regarded by critics and viewers as a true game-changer, but they thought it was actually scary! Zombie films, in later decades, became a subgenre in itself with books, video games, and franchises devoted to the shambling undead. Barbara was one of the characters seen in the very beginning of the film; she and her brother were heading to the cemetery to visit their father. She came face to face with one of the early zombies. Her brother's line, "They're coming to get you, Barbara", is iconic.

Answer: Valentine

Uh oh! It's too late as once more, the killer strikes again. Maybe everyone should just stick together, not investigate the sounds in the basement, or make sure that they get reception on their cell phones. Then again... this is a cliche horror film...

Sally's sorority friend was dispatched in a scene similar to one in "Scream 2" in which Sarah Michelle Gellar's 'disposable' character was tossed off the front balcony of her sorority house while a party was held across campus. "Valentine", created by "Urban Legend" director Jamie Blanks, featured several female casualties at the hand of a disgruntled face from their past, but this 2001 film did not include this cliche setting seen in the other movies.

"Black Christmas", regarded by fans as one of the first slasher films, was directed by Bob Clark and released in 1974. It featured sorority girls stalked by a murderer hiding in their attic. "Sorority Row" was a 2009 remake of "The House on Sorority Row" (originally released as a slasher film in 1983). Both, clearly, contain sorority houses. "Decoys" was an alien flick released in 2004 and set on a college campus (including the sorority house).

Answer: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Jack and Sally have no choice but to wonder, could the police be behind it all? Who can they trust? No - the police aren't behind it. The cops called to protect them were attacked by the killer first. No one's coming to help them, and no one knows they're unsafe.

While the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", directed in 1974 by Tobe Hooper, did not feature an evil sheriff, the remake, released in 2003 under the Platinum Dunes name, did contain one. Also starring Jessica Biel, the remake of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" made over $100,000,000 in the box office and was the first to be created under Michael Bay's production company. A sequel (subtitled "The Beginning") was released three years later.
In the three other choices, "Slither", "Splinter', and Rob Zombie's 2007 "Halloween" remake, the police tried to help, often failing to do so. After all, if you could simply ask the police to solve things, it wouldn't be as horrific, would it?

Answer: My Bloody Valentine 3D

Yes, this being a blockbuster horror film and all, 3D technology needs to make its way in there somehow. Unfortunately, our cliche horror film was conceived before 3D made its reemergence in cinema and all of the enhancement work was done in post-production. Since our movie languished on the shelves an extra year (darn distributors... claiming that they can't find a release date) it never got around to all the early hype. It looks perfectly fine though... right? Right?

"My Bloody Valentine 3D", released early in 2009, was one of the first films in the horror genre to bring back the 3D technology which, in many cases, can be described as hideously unnecessary. Remaking a notoriously graphic Canadian horror film of the same name (sans the 3D) released in 1981, Jensen Ackles starred and the movie took in over $100,000,000. Not only was it in 3D... it was a remake too. How cliche.

"The Final Destination" (2009), "Resident Evil: Afterlife" (2010), and "Saw 3D" (2010) all utilized 3D technology as well, and all of them made oodles of money.

Answer: P2

With only a small length of rope, a piece of twine pulled from the elastic of a pair of underwear, two large tree branches, a sharpened stick, Sally's hairpin, and perseverance, the two manage to construct a trap that catches their killer. They embrace and decide to go for help... but not before discovering the truth.

"P2", directed by Franck Khalfoun, showed up in theaters in 2007. While not the most profitable film, this thriller was an unexpected gem from the mind of Alexandre Aja. A woman headed home on Christmas and was the last to reach her car in her office's parking garage. Little did she know, one of the security guards had plans for her. In the final sequence of the film, the victim was able to trap her crazed predator using a pair of handcuffs and convincing acting.

Answer: Darkness Falls

Alas! The killer is someone expected to be quite close to our male protagonist. Nonetheless, the duo is shocked to discover the truth. Little do they know, their killer is already working to free himself from their clever trap.

Although fairly supernatural, the creature seen in the 2003 film "Darkness Falls" wore a mask to cover her severely-burned face. The Tooth Fairy, as she was known, had her mask removed in the final scenes of the movie (set in a lighthouse) and she exploded in a blast of light. Although many famous horror icons (Jason, Michael Myers, Ghostface etc.) wore masks, many were much creepier without. "A Nightmare on Elm Street's" Freddy Krueger, the unseen ghosts of "Paranormal Activity", and the technological ghosts of "Pulse" didn't need to wear masks - they were scary enough!

Answer: Friday the 13th (1980)

This horror genre trope is known as the 'final girl'.

In Sean S. Cunningham's memorable horror film "Friday the 13th", only one girl, Alice, remained in the finale. The same could be said for Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) in "Halloween", Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in "Alien", and Sidney (Neve Campbell) in the "Scream" films. The other three films listed ("Deep Blue Sea", "Predator" and "The Thing") did not see any female characters as their sole survivors; "The Thing" actually contained no female characters whatsoever.

As the two plunge over the edge of the cliff, Sally screams in fear. Her boyfriend and his half-brother hurtle to the ground below; surely, both will never survive the fall. This is the moment the police arrive... moments too late. Sally is safe and the nightmare is over. Or is it?

Answer: Saw

The Jigsaw Killer (played by Tobin Bell) in several (hundred) "Saw" films debuted in the first movie of the series released in 2004. The series, quite the popular franchise, grossed upwards of $750,000,000 over the course of six films. Becoming, arguably, one of the most important series of films in the 2000s, the "Saw" films put the 'torture porn' subgenre out there every single year making Halloween "Saw" territory in theaters. Tobin Bell's character was killed in the end of the third entry of the series... though he appeared in flashbacks in all of the rest of them.

"1408" and "The Unborn" were both supernatural horror films and did not contain a flesh-and-blood killer. "Orphan", on the other hand, saw its killer meet their fate in the end (and oh was it satisfying).