The Most Difficult Thing to Do in a Horror Movie, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the thing you think is the most difficult!

Updated on May 9, 2024 06:26

Deciding what the most challenging action in a horror movie can be as harrowing as the movies themselves. Different scenes evoke various feelings of fear, tension, or desperation, proving that what unnerves one person might not affect another the same way. This subjective experience is what makes ranking these moments both intriguing and necessary. By participating in this ranking, users contribute to a broader understanding of what truly makes a scene in a horror film difficult to watch or characters' actions tough to perform. Your votes help illuminate the nuances of fear and challenge in horror cinema, providing insights that are shaped by a diverse array of perspectives.

What Is the Most Difficult Thing to Do in a Horror Movie?

1

42
votes
Survive

Surviving is the ultimate goal in a horror movie, but it is often the most difficult thing to achieve. The protagonist must overcome various obstacles and dangers to stay alive, and even then, there is no guarantee of survival.
Survival Horror is a subgenre of horror movies that focuses on the survival of the main characters in terrifying and dangerous scenarios. The main objective is for the characters to stay alive until the end of the movie, often facing supernatural or psychotic threats.

Atmosphere: Intense and chilling environment

Limited Resources: Scarcity of weapons, ammunition, and healing items

Vulnerability: Protagonists are often weaker than the enemies they confront

Puzzles: In-game puzzles that need to be solved to progress

Isolation: Characters are often alone or in small groups, isolated from help
2

39
votes
Escape

Escape is another difficult task in a horror movie. The protagonist must find a way out of the dangerous situation they are in, which can be challenging when they are being chased by a killer or trapped in a haunted house.
The 'Escape' is a thrilling moment in a story where one or more characters manage to break free from a dangerous or difficult situation, often leading to a dramatic turn of events and increased tension in the narrative.

1: The escape can be a climax or turning point in the story.

2: It can involve physical or mental challenges that the characters must overcome.

3: The escape may require careful planning or improvisation.

4: Characters may face significant risks or consequences if the escape fails.

5: The escape can be facilitated by the characters' skills, wit, or external help.
3

35
votes
Solve the mystery

Many horror movies involve a mystery that needs to be solved. The protagonist must figure out what is causing the terror and how to stop it, which can be difficult when dealing with supernatural or otherworldly forces.
Solving the mystery is a commonly used plot element in horror movies where the protagonists are faced with a series of mysterious events or a supernatural presence. The characters embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the horror they are experiencing, often involving unsolved crimes, haunted locations, or paranormal occurrences. This plot device builds tension and suspense as the characters attempt to unravel the mystery, leading to a climactic reveal or revelation.

Importance: Highly important in many horror movies

Tension building: Creates suspense and intrigue

Character development: Allows viewers to connect with the protagonists

Plot twists: Often involves unexpected turns and surprises

Clues and hints: Scattered throughout the movie to engage the audience
4

23
votes
Trust others

In a horror movie, it can be difficult to know who to trust. The protagonist must navigate a world where everyone could be a potential threat, and they must decide who to rely on to help them survive.
Trust others in the context of a horror movie refers to the challenging act of relying on, confiding in, or believing in the intentions and actions of other characters. It involves establishing a level of faith and confidence in others, despite the circumstances suggesting that they might not be trustworthy.

Vulnerability: Characters putting their lives at risk by trusting the wrong person

Suspicion: Constant doubt and uncertainty about the true intentions of others

Betrayal: Characters being deceived or backstabbed by someone they trusted

Paranoia: Psychological state of fearing that anyone could be a potential threat

Character development: The gradual development of trust or lack thereof, showcasing the emotional journey
5

15
votes
Face their fears

Horror movies are designed to scare viewers, and the protagonist must face their fears in order to survive. This can be difficult when dealing with phobias or past traumas that are triggered by the events in the movie.
Face their fears is a psychological challenge within the horror genre where characters are forced to confront their deepest and often most terrifying fears. It is a pivotal moment in a horror movie where the characters must overcome their own anxieties and vulnerabilities in order to survive or defeat the antagonistic force.

Importance: Critical

Tension: Intense

Character Development: Significant

Plot Advancement: Crucial

Emotional Impact: High
6

8
votes
Stay sane

Horror movies can be psychologically taxing on the protagonist, and it can be difficult for them to maintain their sanity in the face of the horrors they are experiencing.
In horror movies, the "Stay sane" challenge refers to the arduous task of maintaining one's mental stability and emotional well-being in the face of terrifying and horrifying experiences. It involves resisting psychological breakdowns, managing intense fear and anxiety, and avoiding succumbing to the overwhelming terror that surrounds the characters.

Mental resilience: The ability to endure extreme fear and stress without losing one's sanity.

Emotional strength: The capacity to control and contain emotions in unsettling situations.

Survival instincts: The aptitude to react and make rational decisions in life-threatening scenarios.

Self-preservation: The dedication to prioritize one's safety and escape dangerous situations.

Resourcefulness: The skill to think quickly and creatively to find ways to survive.
7

11
votes
Make the right decisions

The decisions the protagonist makes in a horror movie can mean the difference between life and death. It can be difficult to know what the right thing to do is when faced with terrifying situations.
In a horror movie, one of the most difficult things to do is to make the right decisions, as it often involves choosing the best course of action to survive or minimize harm in a dangerous, high-stress situation.

1: Requires quick thinking

2: Involves weighing potential risks and benefits

3: Often dependent on limited information or unclear circumstances

4: May impact the survival or safety of oneself or others

5: Subject to emotional and psychological pressures
8

5
votes
Overcome physical limitations

If the protagonist has a physical disability, it can be even more difficult for them to survive in a horror movie. They must find ways to overcome their limitations and adapt to the dangerous situation they are in.
Overcoming physical limitations in a horror movie refers to the challenge of portraying a character with a physical disability who must endure and survive terrifying or dangerous situations. This aspect requires careful execution to realistically depict how the character adapts and overcomes their physical limitations while facing intense horror elements.

Supportive characters: Including supporting characters who understand, assist, or empathize with the protagonist's physical limitations

Character portrayal: Authentically representing characters with physical disabilities

Storyline: Constructing a compelling narrative that incorporates the character's physical limitations into the horror plot

Acting and performance: Finding actors with physical disabilities who can convincingly portray the challenges and strengths of their characters

Accessibility: Ensuring the movie accommodates various audiences by providing captions or audio descriptions for viewers with disabilities
9

4
votes
Find a weapon

Having a weapon can be crucial in a horror movie, but finding one can be difficult. The protagonist must improvise and use whatever they can find to defend themselves against the killer or monster.
The Find a Weapon is a crucial task that the protagonist must undertake in a horror movie. It involves locating a suitable tool or implement that can be used to defend against or defeat the impending threat or antagonist. The significance of this task lies in the fact that finding a weapon provides a sense of empowerment and increases the chances of survival in a life-or-death situation.

Type: Various types of weapons can be found, such as firearms, melee weapons, improvised weapons, or supernatural objects.

Accessibility: The weapon must be within reach or reasonably obtainable within the given context of the movie.

Limited Resources: The protagonist may be restricted by limited resources, creating an additional challenge in finding a suitable weapon.

Reliability: The weapon should be reliable and effective enough to be a viable means of defense against the threat.

Risk vs Reward: Different weapons may present varying levels of risk or drawbacks, making the decision-making process crucial.
10

2
votes
Overcome their own flaws

The protagonist's flaws can often be their biggest obstacle in a horror movie. They must overcome their weaknesses and grow as a character in order to survive.
Overcome their own flaws is a common and difficult challenge faced by characters in horror movies. It involves characters recognizing and addressing their personal flaws or weaknesses in order to survive or overcome the horrifying situations they find themselves in. This can include traits such as fear, arrogance, lack of trust, recklessness, or even being haunted by past traumas.

Recognition: Characters need to first acknowledge their flaws or weaknesses

Self-reflection: Characters must reflect on the impact of their flaws and how they contribute to their dangerous situation

Transformation: Characters need to undergo personal growth and change in order to overcome their flaws

Decision-making: Characters must make crucial decisions to address and eliminate their flaws

Perseverance: Characters need to continuously work on improving themselves and not give up when faced with adversity

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Ranking factors for difficult thing

Level of fear and tension

The ability to instill fear and create a tense atmosphere is a crucial aspect of a horror movie. A higher level of fear and tension will make it more difficult for the characters to remain calm and make rational decisions.
Realism and plausibility

A horror movie can be more challenging if the events and situations are more believable and relatable. The audience will be more easily drawn into the story if they can imagine themselves in the characters' shoes.
Presence of supernatural elements

Supernatural elements, such as ghosts, demons, or other unexplained phenomena, can increase the difficulty for the characters. These elements often defy logic and reason, making it harder to predict or understand their actions.
Isolation and confinement

The feeling of being trapped or isolated is a common theme in horror movies. This factor can make it more challenging for characters to escape the danger or seek help from others, increasing the level of difficulty.
Complexity of the antagonist/monster

A horror movie antagonist or monster that is intelligent, unpredictable, or has a unique set of abilities can significantly increase the difficulty for the characters.
Psychological aspects

Some horror movies play with psychological themes, making it more complicated for the characters to distinguish between reality and illusion, or trust in their own perceptions and decisions.
Emotional connection to characters

A horror movie where the audience is emotionally invested in the characters and their survival can make it more difficult to watch, especially if those characters are placed in peril or forced to make tough decisions.
Moral dilemmas

Characters facing moral dilemmas in horror movies, such as choosing between their own survival and the greater good, can increase the difficulty of their situation.
Unpredictability and twists

A horror movie that keeps the audience guessing by introducing unexpected plot twists and turns can make it more challenging and suspenseful.
Gore and violence

The level of gore and violence can impact the difficulty of a horror movie. Gruesome scenes can make it more difficult to watch, and it can also affect the characters' psychological state and decision-making abilities.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult thing to do in a horror movie. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or thing is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1950 views
190 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each thing once every 24 hours. The rank of each thing is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most difficult thing to do in a horror movie

Horror movies have been a popular genre for decades, with many audiences seeking the thrill of being scared out of their wits. In these movies, the characters are often put in terrifying situations where they must fight for their lives against supernatural forces or deranged killers. While watching a horror movie can be a thrilling experience, it's important to remember that the characters on-screen are facing some of the most difficult challenges imaginable. From facing their deepest fears to overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the most difficult thing to do in a horror movie can vary from film to film. In this article, we will explore some of the most common challenges faced by horror movie characters, and examine what makes them so difficult to overcome.