For example. When hiding from a masked serial killer, who is stalking around outside in the darkness somewhere, do not do so anywhere near the kitchen window of your hired cabin. As far as I am aware glass is not nutcase proof. If you, the protagonist, are framed in shot anywhere near a window, chances are in a few nerve tingling beats the looney will have smashed through the window, grabbed a meat tenderizer and shoved it up your left nostril.
Never answer a phone, show your boobs, have a barbeque or drink beer, all will end in your untimely demise by the most messy means possible - probably involving involving something pointy.
However, the most important thing we can learn from this favourite of genres is never, ever go into the forest, woods or densely populated copse without knowing you are probably going to end up hanging by your goolies from the tallest tree. Never go into the woods even if you are off to take a basket of food to your Grandma and show her your lovely new red cape. Don't even think about having a cheeky outside wee! Basic knowledge people.
Here is a perfect case study.
EXPOSURE (2018)
Director - Austin Snell
Screenplay - Austin Snell and Jake Jackson
Starring - Carmen Anello, Owen Lawless, Lynn Lowry and Bruce Smith
Myra and James are off to the Rocky Mountains to stay in a cabin in the woods (uh-oh!) once owned by James' grandparents. They are hoping the trip will help them mend their relationship which is on ground rockier than the territory they are travelling on. It is not hard to understand why as early on James displays behavior that would place him as a strong candidate for Mayor of Douchetown, Dicksville, Idaho.
Things are going well to start with, the couple are getting along quite nicely and even have a crack at a bit of an adult clothes off wriggle session, you know...just because. Myra, an artist, decides it is time do a spot of painting of her beautiful surroundings, so happy i she that things are going well. She admits the medium is outside of her comfort zone, and we soon learn she is not wrong. She spends the best part of the day daubing a picture of such staggering basicness she would be lucky if it earned her a gold star in Mrs O'Shaunessys primary school art class. Suddenly, she hears disembodied voices in the wind rushing through the trees. She shrugs it off as being in an unfamiliar environment.
However, tensions rise as Myra starts to believe James is hiding something about the history of the house and what happened to his Grandparents before they vacated their lovely home in the country. To make matters worse James disappears into the night, called by the mysterious voices, only to return ever more douchey than before! Slowly he begins to turn into a monster, possessed by the evil that lurks within the alluring innocence of the surrounding wilderness. Is this the dark secret he has been hiding, a monster that had done for his relatives so many years before. What will become of his relationship with Myra now that is not only an asshole, but all crusty and covered in demon spawn? Will Myra ever be able to paint a trees that don't look like lollipops?
Exposure is billed as being a throwback to the horror movies of the 70's and 80's. The kind of film you used to have to wait until the tape rewound before you could start watching. The kind of film you had to beg your Dad to drive down the shop with you to rent because you weren't old enough to get it yourself. (Kids - to translate the last sentence. Imagine having to ask your Dad to take the Parental lock off the wi-fi so you can download GTA. Same thing). It is en effective movie but does come with a few problems of a problematic nature.
The main problem is that the film never really seems to know what it wants to be before it settles on monster movie and finds its feet just a moment before it is too late. The poster has a tag line that says "Nature is a haunted house". However this isn't a ghost story, it feels like it to start with, featuring voices in the wind creepiness. Then it changes tack, James being infected by a cocoon of sorts he fishes out of the lake. Is it an alien life form? Zombie frog spawn from Hades? Then we have a scene where James' long since missing Grandfolks suddenly turn up, wondering around the woods, all befuddled, in their jim-jams, all infected and such. They must have been in there for years, and no doubt are very late for Bingo at the church hall! So now we are in comedy territory.
Again Carmen Anello brings her A game as she has to battle with herself to bring her relationship with James to a bloody end. She is certainly one to look for in the future.
Exposure is worth a look, it makes for a great after pub midnight movie. You can find it on VOD from October and on Showtime from 15th October. It would a much wiser option than going skinny dipping in the lake behind the camp councilors hut.