The Descent Part 2– Handcuffs
This is a decision that is simply inexcusable, and I’m not just talking about the decision to make a sequel to The Descent (and go off of the American ending too!). Not only does Sheriff Vaines (Gavan O’Herlihy) force an amnesia-ridden Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) to go back into the caves to help find her missing friends (what kind of law enforcement does that?), he actually handcuffs himself to Sarah so that she can’t get away from him in the caves. Nothing wrong with that plan, is there? Vaines appropriately dies when Sarah cuts off his hand to prevent them both from falling off a cliff.
House on Haunted Hill – Splitting Up
Full disclosure: I love William Malone’s remake of House on Haunted Hill. It’s not a perfect movie but there are plenty of things to love about it: great gore, fun characters, nifty effects (and some not-so-nifty ones). It’s just a fun time, but that doesn’t mea n it isn’t without its flaws. The biggest flaw of which is actually the catalyst for all the mayhem that takes place later in the movie, so it sort of has to happen, but it’s still dumb. After the house goes into lockdown, Pritchett (Chris Kattan, playing against type) tells everyone that the house is going to kill all of them. Rather than stay in a group in the main room of the house, they keep splitting up, leading to all of them getting butchered one by one.
Scream – Not Calling the Police
Wes Craven’s Scream is notable for pointing out the terrible decisions that characters in horror movies always make, yet the characters in the film all too often make those same decisions. Case in point: Casey Becker not calling the police. The killer does point out that they wouldn’t make it in time because they’re in the middle of nowhere, but that’s still no reason not to call the police! Maybe they would have made it in time!
The Happening – Bargaining With the Plant
Not much needs to be said about this. When Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg) discovers that plants are causing mass suicides around the world, he tries to talk a plant down and apologize for mankind’s abuse of the planet. His decision to talk to the plant doesn’t have any repercussions, it’s just an incredibly stupid thing to do.
What are some of your favorite bad decisions in horror movies? Let us know in the comments below!
