Supernatural Fiction Readers discussion
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Predictable Patterns & Overdone Tropes
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Hi Rey,Yep, I notice these tropes you describe over and over. I really like how you laid out the plots. I was thinking about the haunted house one myself this week. Another haunted house variation is when the ghost is malevolent and drives the protagonist from the house or drives the protagonist mad. Or the psychic is called in to unravel the horror.
It's possible to riff on the old tropes and come up with newness. The Spanish film The Orphanage definitely does that. I wish that film was based on a book; I would love to read it!
I think I'm reading one right now which will fit into the "overdone tropes" ... Sassy 21st century 20-somethings meet weird superstitious folk in a closed, primitive rural community. Of course the "superstitions" will turn out to be something horribly real ... or that's what I expect! But I'm less than a quarter the way through.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I think I'm reading one right now which will fit into the "overdone tropes" ... Sassy 21st century 20-somethings meet weird superstitious folk in a closed, primitive rural community. Of course th..."
Sounds fun! Let us know if the book ends up surprising you.
Ghost story - family moves in to new house... learn place is haunted... ghost is spooky but typically benign and just wants you to solve its murder.
Witch story - Witch was murdered. Witch wants revenge. Curse.
Possession - Nearly always a kid is the victim. Maybe it's just psychosis. Demon gets exorcised... or is it?!
Vampire - New kid in town is a vampire -or- new kid in town finds out someone their new town is a vampire. Vampires are almost never the popular jocks. Vampire may become friend, but it's sooo hard!
Serial killer - The killer is a "Schizophrenic."
Some of these are more common than others. While I know there are plenty of works that don't follow these patterns, I'm wondering if you've noticed any eye-rolling patterns or particular overdone tropes in fiction.