There are some consistently used tropes in moviemaking that just instantly ruin a film and break audience members' suspension of disbelief. With shaky cameras, poor lighting, and incomprehensible dialogue, viewers shouldn’t be thinking about thepoor creative decisions of directorswhile they are supposed to be immersed in a cinematic world and enthralled by a compelling narrative. Yet, time and again, these same issues crop up, and it is impossible not to groan with frustration at the continued use of annoying movie tropes.
While not every movie that uses these techniques is terrible, and someincredible filmshave subverted them in very clever ways, they often do the movie a disservice and hint at lazy filmmaking. Issues like anoveruse of CGIhave plagued modern blockbusters, and viewers have been left shaking their heads at characters' actions that are so idiotic it’s clear they only did something to advance the plot. I understand that these tropes have their place, but I truly believeit’s time to retire these overused and often annoying clichés.
8Shaky Cam In Action Movies
Example: The Bourne franchise (2002 - 2016)
WhiletheBournefranchise is one of the most successful action series of all time, it also popularized the frustrating trope of frantic and chaotic shaky camera sequences. AlthoughThe Bourne Identityand its sequels were responsible for establishing a more gritty, realistic tone for post-9/11 action movies, their overreliance on a shaky camera style sometimes feels overwhelming, and it’s hard not to think the films would be better if they used this technique more sparingly.
Jason Bourne
With almost every action scene in aBournemovie using a dizzying camera style, the biggest issue with this trope was how quickly it caught on and how many other films imitated its style. Later releases likeTaken 2andQuantum of Solacewere heavily influenced by the shaky cams seen in theBournefranchise, and it’s a cliché that has continued right through to this day. While director Paul Greengrass deserves some credit for pairing his shaky style with carefully spliced scenes, not every filmmaker who uses this style does it effectively, and it can often disorient the audience.
7Inaudible Dialogue To Create Mood
Example: Tenet (2020)
Christopher Nolan is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today, whose movies walk the fine line between artistic integrity and box office gold. However, there’s one problem that has continued to pop up in his work, and that’s the fact that it can sometimes be difficult to understand what characters are saying without the subtitles turned on. This was definitely the case for Tom Hardy’s Bane inThe Dark Knight Rises, but the most egregious example came withTenetin 2020. This complex sci-fi thriller was already confusing enough without struggling to make out the dialogue.
Tenet’ssound became a hot topic when the movie was released, and it’s clear that Nolan prioritized a more visceral viewing experience over clearly spoken dialogue. While this worked well for the awe-inspiring power of its immersive action sequences, the truth is nobody is going to leave a theater happy if they struggled to make out what was being said.Nolan himself dismissed his criticsas being too “conservative” (viaGuardian) about the correct way to mix sound, but I don’t think it’s asking too much to know what a character in a movie is talking about.
6Lighting So Dark It’s Hard To See What’s Happening
Example: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
I am so sick of not being able to see what’s happening on screen in a movie, and this is a problem that’s only gotten worse over the years. I’m especially struck by this issue when I go back and watch old black-and-white films from classic Hollywood because it’s so clear the filmmakers had a far better understanding of the importance of proper lighting back then. These days, I feel like I’m constantly squinting my eyes just to figure out what exactly I’m supposed to be looking at.
One major culprit of this is the horror movie genre, and a particularly frustrating example isAliens vs. Predator: Requiem. This sequel to a crossover spin-off already had a lot working against it, without the barely visible alien foes looking so dark that it resembled two shadow puppets fighting on the walls of a cave. Although movies likeJawsperfected the idea that less is more by keeping its monster out of shot and building suspense, the darkness ofAliens vs. Predator: Requiemfelt more like a way to keep the budget down and mask its low production quality.
Example: The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
A well-placed jump scare can be an effective way of spooking audience members in horror movies and has been a consistent trope in the genre ever sinceCat Peopleback in 1942. While most viewers have become accustomed to jump scares in horror movies, when used sparingly, they can still disarm the audience and add to the tension and suspense of a movie. However, lazy filmmakers have exploited the power of the jump scare, and if a film is overloaded with them, it just becomes tedious and tiring.
The most notorious example of this wasThe Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, a disappointing sequel that contained the most jump scares of any horror movie ever (viaGame Rant.) With32 jump scares over just 100 minutes of runtime, audiences barely had a chance to get over their shock when any other sudden change, loud bang, or surprise appearance of a ghost was supposed to frighten them all over again. But the fact is that jump scares provide diminishing returns, as the more you use them, the less frightening they become.
4Dumb Character Decisions Just To Advance The Plot
Example: The Grey (2011)
Within movie criticism, there’s a term called “idiot plot,” which was popularized by the famed film critic Roger Ebert and relates to a story that’s “kept in motion solely by virtue of the fact that everybody involved is an idiot” (viaFar Out.) This includes every horror movie that has viewers screaming at the screen at the stupid decision to split up, sci-fi films that see scientists poking and prodding alien beings without making sure they are not deadly, or comedies in which everyone seems to be purposefully misinterpreting one another.
While there are some examples of this trope being used well, like the idiotic antics of Harold and Lloyd inDumb and Dumber, mostly it’s a result of lazy writing trying to establish certain plot points without first making them believable. TakeLiam Neeson’s character in the wolf-fighting action movieThe Greyand his incomprehensible decision to intentionally ignore all survival guides and abandon his crash site that was complete with shelter, fuel, and plenty of materials that could be used as weapons.
3Fake-Out Deaths
Example: F9 (2021)
Characters' deaths are supposed to have meaning, and it detracts from the movie’s impact when they are inexplicably brought back from the grave against all odds. While there are some examples of this trope being done well, such asGandalf’s return as Gandalf the White inThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, it has also become a cliché that modern Hollywood has come to rely on far too much. These days, when watching a major franchise and an important character dies, most audience members will just roll their eyes and wait to see how they are haphazardly brought back in the very next movie.
One shocking example of this was the case of Han Lue in theFast & Furiousfranchise, a character who first appeared in Justin Lin’sBetter Luck Tomorrowbefore being incorporated into the series inThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Han was a popular character, although the trouble was that he died in his very firstFastmovie, an issue that was surpassed by makingFast & Furious,Fast Five,Fast & Furious 6, andFurious 7all prequels, before at last revealing he had faked his death inF9. By this point, the plot gymnastics were hard to take seriously.
2Voiceover Doing All The Heavy Lifting
Example: Blade Runner (1982)
Few movies have more versions than Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classicBlade Runner, a great film whose theatrical version was bogged down by the overuse of excessive, unnecessary voiceover dialogue from Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard. With test screenings indicating audience members were confused about the plot, several long-winding voiceover sequences from a disinterested Ford were added to streamline the narrative and take away much of the movie’s impact in the process.
This was the perfect example of a voiceover doing all the heavy lifting and taking away the enjoyment of viewers immersing themselves in the movie’s world. While there’s an argument that Ford’s voiceover did add to the film noir, futuristic hard-boiled detective style of this film,Scott immediately removed the voiceover when he put together his own director’s cut, and hisFinal Cutedition also excluded it. Although voiceover can sometimes be an effective storytelling device, when it’s used unnecessarily, it makes movies boring and fails to realize that it’s better to show than tell.
1Overuse Of CGI And Green Screens
Example: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
The use of computer-generated imagery has been transformative for the film industry and has led to some of the greatest science fiction depictions ever seen on screen. Withmovies likeJurassic Parkbeing prime examples of everything great about cinema, the awe-inspiring impact of CGI is knowing how and when to use it, and an overreliance on digital technology can actually hinder a movie’s impact. The perfect example of this wasStar Wars, whose original trilogy remains timeless due to its incredible practical effects and whose prequel movies look woefully dated today.
TheStar Warsprequels had a lot of issues relating to overly complex storytelling and poor characterization, although it wasAttack of the Clonesthat took CGI overload to a whole new level. Instead of hiring extras as clones like in the previous movies, it was painfully obvious that it was just animated sequences that looked more like a PS2 video game cutscene than the outstanding visuals thatStar Warswas known for. While many may defend the prequel trilogy today, nobody would deny that it would have been better if it had focused more on practical effects.
