Do you ever notice how certain genre of movies are always the same? It's as if they all follow the same rules. Here are the rules that I've noticed.
Teen Movies:
The parents are rarely seen. It's as if the stork brought them and they raised themselves. More times than not, these teen aren't even 18, but they seem to be on their own. Some examples of where this rule can be seen are: Can't Buy Me Love, Bring It On, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Can't Hardly Wait, Once Bitten, Bring It On: All or Nothing, The Faculty, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Heathers, and Lucas.
In addition to the first rule, if the parents are seen, they are dumbed down. The kids are usually able to get away with murder. They can usually outsmart their parents. Some examples are: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mean Girls, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Raise Your Voice, and The Perfect Man.
A Teen Movie must have a dance or a party. There will be any excuse to see the kids dancing. Some examples: Sixteen Candles, Carrie, Can't Hardly Wait, The Rage: Carrie 2, Grease, Grease 2, Can't Buy Me Love, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Once Bitten, American Pie, Prom Night, Never Been Kissed, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Scream.
Jocks and cheerleaders are man to everyone if they are not the main characters. They are cruel to everyone who is not a jock or a cheerleader. Some examples are: Can't Buy Me Love, Love Don't Cost a Thing, She's All That, American Pie, Bring It On, A Cinderella's Story, Bring It On Again, Cutting Class, Teen Wolf, The Rage: Carrie 2, Just One of the Guys, Not Another Teen Movie, and Princess Diaries.
The popular kids are also mean and only hang out with each other. This rule applies to non jocks and cheerleaders. They usually hang out with only about six people, yet they are considered popular. Where I went to school, the mean kids were not considered popular. Some examples are: Mean Girls, Pretty in Pink, Heathers, Karate Kid, Jawbreakers, Carrie, Confession of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Never Been Kissed.
If the main character is considered an “ugly duckling”, it will take little to no effort to be considered beautiful. All he or she has to do is take off their glasses and/or change their clothes and they're beautiful. This rule can be seen in Can't Buy Me Love, Love Don't Cost a Thing, John Tucker Must Die,, Princess Diaries, and She's All That.
Twenty somethings will play teens. More times than not, the “teens” are played by actors/actresses who are in their 20s or older. This rule can be seen in practically every teen movie ever made. This one is self-explanatory.
Mysteries/Thrillers
The psycho killers in mysteries or thrillers usually lose their sanity at some point during the movie. They are seemingly normal at first, but when their true intentions/identities are revealed, they become insane. Some examples are: Murder 101, Screams 1 – 3, Unlawful Entry, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Fatal Attraction, Swimfan, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Psycho 1, Fall Into Darkness, Copycat, Secret Window, Cutting Class, Crush, Fear, Wicked Games, A Babysitter's Seduction, Deceived, Whispers In The Dark, and Enough.
The killers in these types of movies become talkative. He or she will reveal their plans to their last victims just before they kill them. Some examples are: Screams 1 – 3, Scary Movie, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Murder 101, Fall Into Darkness, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, The Perfect Wife, A Job To Kill For, Single White Female, Twisted, High Crimes, Wicked Games, and The Curve.
The killers in twist endings are people who you don't suspect or have no reason to suspect. Some examples are: Mortal Thoughts, Rich Man's Wife, Usual Suspects, Twisted, Scary Movie, Wicked Games, Traces or Red, Murder 101, Murder By Numbers, Killer Weekend, Nick of Time, Rehearsal For Murder, Fall Into Darkness, Just Cause, Dressed to Kill, Whispers In The Dark, Pink Panther, and Hear No Evil.
Mysteries or thrillers will have at least one senseless killing. More times than not, the victim has done nothing to the killer that would give them reason to kill them. Examples are: Screams 1 – 3, Valentine, Deceived, Perfect Wife, Murder 101, Fall Into Darkness, I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Secret Window.
There have been moments in mysteries/thrillers where characters are seemingly scared for nothing. If they hear a strange noise, they will be scared and it turns out to be nothing. A few minutes later, the killer will surface. Some examples are: Sleeping With The Enemy, When A Stranger Calls Back, When A Stranger Calls, I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream, and Scary Movie.
This is all for now. Rules Part 2 will be coming soon. I hope that you all enjoyed them. Maybe you can come up with some of your own.
