My Favourite Cliches
Article by Bindi Lavelle

Often, I find myself when watching a movie bemoning the terrible over used cliches that are often too easy not to use. But this week it is high time to count down the top ten best cliches. Yes, awesome cliches that for some reason still rock.
10. Splitting up Equals death
It is a given that if a group splits up, someone is going to die. But some how a good director can introduce tension to this simple cliché.
9. Psyco Killer Can Walk Faster Than You
No matter how fast you run away from that axe wielding crazy guy, he can always catch up, by walking really slowly. And come on, isn't much cooler to walk slowly to your prey than rush.
8. The Obvious Vampire
Because all vampires dress like goths stubbling home from a night club and no one notices. However if you catch the bus wearing black no one will sit next to you.
7. Don't Look In The Mirror
You know that the villian is going to be right behind you. Simple and yet still effective.
6. Teenagers Make The Best Targets
Screaming teens seem to be the choice of victim for a lot of movie villians and as I am not in this age group so that brings a smile to my face as I imagine teen free mall.
5. Just The Wind
For some reason any creepy sound can be simply be attributed to the wind; why this is one of my favourites is that anytime the wind starts up all crazy, I like to think that it is not actually the wind but an alien mothership covering a near-by field in pods that will surely bring about the end of the human race.
4. The Killer Reveals His Plan
Just because its always nice to know the how and the why.
3. Only A Dream
This is a great device because it allows the film maker to insert a random but totally rad scene and not have to worry about continuity or it making sense in anyway because its only a dream.
2. Scary Dolls
This is gold, because toys just are not ment to be evil. Ever. Toys are the things of happy childhood memories, not slice and dice villians.
1. Creepy little Kids
For much the same same reasons as above little kids talking (or worse still singing) about ghosts or demons is very unseattling.
Cliches are an easy fix plot device which is why they are so abundant. Some have been used to death but thankfully under the guide of a skilled film maker these old tricks can still work for an audience.