Clichés are a constant debate in fiction, but horror? Horror takes it to another level. If you read, watch, or think about horror as much as I do, you start seeing the same tropes pop up over and over.
Now, I’m not saying you can’t use clichés. Some are fun! Some work in the right context. It depends on the story you’re telling, the audience you’re aiming for, and the tone you’re going for.
But there are some clichés so well-worn that they don’t add tension anymore—they just make your story feel predictable. And in horror, predictability is the enemy of fear.
So, here are a few horror clichés that could have your readers rolling their eyes. (Or worse—putting your book down. The horror!)
1. "Let’s Split Up!" (AKA: The Fastest Way to Die)
If you’re being hunted by something horrifying, the last thing you should do is divide your numbers and reduce your chances of survival. Yet, horror characters do this all the time.
Instead of splitting them up for no reason, find logical ways to isolate characters. Maybe something drags one of them away. Maybe a maze-like location forces them apart. Maybe someone has no choice but to leave the group.
But if they’re standing in a creepy house, fully aware that people are going missing, and they just casually suggest, “Hey, let’s cover more ground!”—you might be writing a parody.
2. The “It Was All a Dream” Plot Twist (Or, The Fastest Way to Annoy Your Reader)
Look, I get it. You want a mind-blowing twist. But the “it was all a dream” reveal has been done so many times that it rarely works anymore. Instead of shocking readers, it makes them feel cheated—like all that tension and emotional investment was for nothing.
Similarly, be wary of the “twist on a twist” approach—where the villain turns out to be someone completely unexpected, only for yet another twist to change everything again. At some point, readers stop feeling intrigued and start feeling manipulated.
3. The Haunted House That Ticks Every Box
I love haunted house stories. But if you’re going to write one, please make it stand out. Because at this point, we’ve all seen:
The creepy old mansion with a dark past (shocker!)
The vengeful ghost with unfinished business (groundbreaking!)
The cursed object causing everything to go wrong (never seen that before!)
The exorcism finale that fixes everything (how convenient!)
If you’re using a haunted house, ask yourself: What makes mine different? What can you do that hasn’t been done a thousand times before? Maybe the house isn’t haunted—it’s alive. Maybe the ghosts don’t want revenge, they want something worse.
Or maybe the house isn’t the problem. Maybe the people inside it are.
4. Overused Monsters (Give the Zombies a Break)
I love a good vampire, werewolf, or zombie story. But if you’re using one of these classic creatures, you need a fresh angle.
Think about why your monster exists. How does it reflect modern fears? What does it say about human nature?
I recently wrote a vampire story (yet to be published) where the vampire was a metaphor for online bullying. The more people engaged with the "drama," the more powerful the vampire became.
Or maybe ditch the usual monsters entirely! There are so many folklore creatures that don’t get enough love—banshees, selkies, wendigos, chimeras, gorgons. (And yes, mermaids can be terrifying. Trust me.)
5. Gore for Gore’s Sake
Horror doesn’t need buckets of blood to be scary. Gore is a tool, not a crutch.
If the story is already terrifying, a single gruesome moment will hit harder than pages of nonstop bloodshed. Think about Alien—there’s barely any gore in the first half, but when it does happen? It hits.
That being said, if your goal is full-blown splatter horror, then by all means, go nuts. Some readers love that. But if you’re aiming for psychological horror, don’t rely on gore to do all the heavy lifting.
6. Convenient Coincidences That Save the Day
Nothing kills tension like a lucky break. If your protagonist just so happens to stumble across the exact diary that explains everything, or if the villain just so happens to lose their powers at the right moment, the story starts to feel contrived.
Some common offenders:
Finding essential information at exactly the right time.
A conveniently placed weapon that solves everything.
A last-minute rescue that feels too easy.
A villain losing their powers just when the protagonist needs them to.
Coincidences can happen, but they shouldn’t resolve the story. Let your characters struggle. Make them earn their survival.
7. A Lack of Consequences (A Horror Story Without Horror)
Horror should feel dangerous. Actions need consequences. If characters make reckless choices, there should be a price to pay. If they survive, they shouldn’t just walk away unchanged.
Without consequences:
The story loses tension.
The stakes feel low.
Readers stop taking the horror seriously.
A good horror story lingers. It leaves scars. Whether physical, psychological, or emotional, the characters should feel the weight of what they’ve been through.
Use Clichés Sparingly (Or Subvert Them Entirely)
Clichés aren’t always bad. If they exist, it’s because they worked at some point. The trick is knowing when to use them, when to avoid them, and when to turn them on their head.
If you want to use a well-worn trope, find a way to make it fresh. Twist it, break it, reinvent it.
Because the scariest thing a horror story can be? Predictable.
What Horror Clichés Drive You Crazy?
Are there any horror tropes that make you roll your eyes? Or any overused monsters you wish would take a long, long nap?
Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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