History Main / HorrorHatesARulebreaker

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic in this genre. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. Never place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. Never get any water on them or have them drink it. Never feed a Mogwai after midnight. Breaking the second rule creates a batch of new Mogwai, who're far less nice than Gizmo, them tricking the protagonist into breaking the third rule[[note]]by ripping the wires out of a mains-powered analog clock[[/note]] allows them to metamorphosis into the eponymous gremlins. Luckily, the first rule proves to be the key to defeating them.
* In ''Film/TheGravedancers'', the protagonists draw the wrath of three angry ghosts by dancing on their graves during a drunken wake for their friend; having been encouraged to do so by a mysterious poem they found on their friend's grave.

* ''Film/TheRing'': Watching the cursed tape will attract the attention of Samara, who'll show up to kill you seven days later. The only way around this is to [[spoiler: copy the tape and trick someone else into watching it, passing the curse on to them]]. Even [[spoiler: finding the corpse of Samara and laying her body to rest won't help; she's too bitter and angry to let the curse go.]]

* ''Film/TheRing'': Watching the cursed tape will attract the attention of Sadako, who'll show up to kill you seven days later. The only way around this is to [[spoiler: copy the tape and trick someone else into watching it, passing the curse on to them]]. Even [[spoiler: finding the corpse of Sadako and laying her body to rest won't help; she's too bitter and angry to let the curse go.]]

** SCP-1384 is a humanoid statue with seemingly omnipotent powers -- but it's also a pawn in a life-sized board game whose rules have to be learned by chance. It's fully sapient and quite chatty, but a single wrong move or misstep allows it to take a turn and move closer to freedom.

** The unnumbered SCP in the 4000 slot is heavily implied to be the (or at least ''a'') LandOfFaerie. The place has a byzantine network of rules, many of them concerned with names and the act of naming, and breaking any of them has [[GrandTheftMe dire consequences]].

* ''Literature/HowToSurviveCamping'': The whole series revolves around the list of rules written by the campsite owner, and how breaking them ''always'' ends horribly for those involved. Break rule #9[[note]] don't fall for the lady in chains' WoundedGazelleGambit[[/note]], and the lady in chains will kill you. Break rule #6[[note]] don't sleep anywhere besides your tent or a hammock you have personally set up [[/note]], and something will ''probably'' kill you in your sleep. Break rule #18[[note]] don't do business with the children without a wagon [[/note]], and the owner will kill you, [[UnscrupulousHero as a precaution]]. Break rule #4[[note]]You may dance with the dancers if they welcome you, but back off if they don't and never look at the musicians [[/note]], and the dancers [[FateWorseThanDeath may not even grant you the mercy of death]].

** In order to ensure humanity's continued survival, every year the Organization must sacrifice a group of people to appease [[JerkassGods the Ancient Ones]] by having five sacrifices act like horror stereotypes via drugging, disturbing one of many [[ArtifactOfDoom artifacts]] which summon monsters from deep in the Organization's vaults and then being hunted down by that monster. The "Whore" has to die first and the "[[FinalGirl Virgin]]"'s death is completely optional. The "Athlete", the "Scholar" and the "Fool" can be killed in any order as long as they're not the first to be killed and as long as the "Virgin" outlives them. However, the sacrifices ''must'' be killed off before sunrise the next day. [[spoiler: Marty (their designated "Fool") ends up becoming immune to the drugs the Organization was using (thanks to his stash of marijuana) and survives with Dana.]]
** There are other scenarios playing out in other countries around the world that are meant to follow the tropes specific to the horror stories of those cultures. Only one of these scenarios is needed to succeed, [[spoiler:but these all went OffTheRails too, causing the Ancient Ones wake up to start [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the end of the world]]]]...

* Fairies are typically depicted as beings that you '''do not''' want to cross. There [[https://theforgottenlibrary.tumblr.com/post/94435119934/faerie-etiquette-what-to-do-if-you-meet-one-of are many fairy rules that you should follow, should you encounter one]]. Their main weakness is iron.

** The unnumbered SCP in the 4000 slot is a specific ritual that opens the way to the last refuge of Faerie. The place has a byzantine network of rules, many of them concerned with names, and breaking any of them has [[GrandTheftMe dire consequences]].

Sometimes this is an inherent part of how the horror works; the protagonists have cursed themselves by doing the wrong thing or being in the wrong place. Other times, it might be more a case that they're in the hunting grounds of some supernatural creature, and have to follow the rules to avoid it (or should have followed them to avoid this situation). More often that not, the rules are consistent, [[BlueAndOrangeMorality but absurdly unfair]], and creatures bound by them are more than happy to use ExactWords.

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic in this genre. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. Never place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. Never to get any water on them or have them drink it. Never feed a Mogwai after midnight. Breaking the second rule creates a batch of new Mogwai, who're far less nice than Gizmo, them tricking the protagonist into breaking the third rule[[note]]By ripping the wire of a mains-powered analog clock[[/note]] allows them to metamorphosis into the eponymous gremlins. Luckily, the first rule proves to be the key to defeating them.

* ''Literature/HowToSurviveCamping'': The whole series revolves around the list of rules written by the campsite owner, and how breaking them ''always'' ends horribly for those involved. Break rule #9, and the lady in chains will kill you. Break rule #6, and something will ''probably'' kill you in your sleep. Break rule #18, and the owner will kill you, [[UnscrupulousHero as a precaution]]. Break rule #4, and the dancers [[FateWorseThanDeath may not even grant you the mercy of death]].

* Fairies are typically depicted as beings that you '''do not''' want to cross. There [[https://theforgottenlibrary.tumblr.com/post/94435119934/faerie-etiquette-what-to-do-if-you-meet-one-of are many fairy rules thay you should follow, should you encounter one]]. Their main weakness is iron.

-->--'''Steven''', ''Film/TrickRTreat''

* Fairies are typically depicted as being kind beings. However in most mythologies, they are depicted as beings that you '''do not''' want to cross. There [[https://theforgottenlibrary.tumblr.com/post/94435119934/faerie-etiquette-what-to-do-if-you-meet-one-of are many fairy rules thay you should follow, should you encounter one]]. Their main weakness is iron.

->''"All these traditions... jack-o'-lanterns, putting on costumes, handing out treats; they were started to protect us. But nowadays? No one really cares."''
-->--'''Steven''', ''Film/TrickRTreat''

-->'''--Steven, ''Film/TrickRTreat'''''

* ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'': Anyone who solves the Lament Configuration will summon the Cenobites and be dragged into their dimension. While most people who seek the box are aware of its true purpose, the Cenobites don't care either way, as Kirsty finds out. The only reason they'd make an exception is if the person was forced into it by someone else, [[WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic as it is desire that summons them, not hands]].

* ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'': Anyone who solves the Lament Configuration will summon the Cenobites and be dragged into their dimension. While most people who seek the box are aware of its true purpose, the Cenobites don't care either way, as Kirsty finds out. They only reason they'd make an exception is if the person was forced into it, [[WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic as it is desire that summons them, not hands]].

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic in this genre. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. Never place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. Never to get any water on them or have them drink it. Never feed a Mogwai after midnight. Breaking the second rule creates a batch of new Mogwai, who're far less nice than Gizmo, them tricking the protagonist into breaking the third rule allows them to metamorphosis into the eponymous gremlins. Luckily, the first rule proves to be the key to defeating them.

->''"All these traditions...jack-o'-lanterns, putting on costumes, handing out treats; they were started to protect us. But nowadays? No one really cares."''

* A humanoid EldritchAbomination with incredible magical powers, Moguro Fukuzou of ''Manga/TheLaughingSalesman'' can make any wish of yours come true for free, provided you can follow the terms of his agreement. His "agreements" usually consist of one single rule that you must never, ever break. When his clients almost inevitably do, he uses his powers to humiliate them, ruin their lives, or at times even cause their deaths (though he doesn't ''directly'' kill them). However, simply not making a deal with Moguro isn't an option -- reject his services, and he'll ruin your life anyway.

* Watching the cursed tape in ''Film/TheRing'' will attract the attention of Sadako, who'll show up to kill you seven days later. The only way around this is to [[spoiler: copy the tape and trick someone else into watching it, passing the curse on to them]]. Even [[spoiler: finding the corpse of Sadako and laying her body to rest won't help; she's too bitter and angry to let the curse go.]]
* ''Film/TheGrudge'' has a fairly harsh example; the moment anyone enters the haunted apartment, the ghosts begin stalking them relentlessly, killing them and making them new tortured spirits to claim yet more victims. [[spoiler: Even leaving can't save you]]. The franchise eventually takes this to its logical conclusion [[spoiler: making the curse become TheVirus after it escapes the apartment.]]

-->''"Let the bad color not be seen. It attracts them.''
-->''Never enter the woods. That is where they wait."''

** In order to ensure humanity's continued survival, every year The Organization must sacrifice a group of people to appease [[JerkassGods The Ancient Ones]]. By having five sacrifices act like horror stereotypes via drugging, disturb one of many [[ArtifactOfDoom artifacts]] which summon monsters from deep in The Organization's vaults and being hunted down. The "Whore" has to die first and the "[[FinalGirl Virgin]]"'s death is completely optional. The "Athlete", the "Scholar" and the "Fool" can be killed in any order as long as they're not the first to be killed and as long as the "Virgin" outlives them. However, the sacrifices ''must'' be killed off before sunrise the next day. [[spoiler: Marty (their designated "Fool") ended up becoming immune to the drugs The Organization was using (thanks to his stash of marijuana) and survives with Dana.]]
** There are other scenarios playing out in other countries around the world that are meant to follow the tropes specific to the horror stories of those cultures. Only one of these scenarios is needed to succeed, [[spoiler:but these all went OffTheRails too, causing The Ancient Ones wake up to start [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the end of the world]]]]...

[[/folder]]

* ''Film/TheVillage'': The titular {{Commune}} lives in fear of [[DontGoInTheWoods monsters in the woods]] and have a strict set of rules to avoid their attention. {{Subverted|Trope}} with TheReveal that [[spoiler:the monsters are villagers in costumes, trying to keep the community isolated by fear]].

-->''Never enter the woods. That is where they wait.''

* The ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' is basically all about studying these sorts of entities...and using those rules to keep them contained (even if it costs the lives of a few "D-Class" personnel). Sometimes this is as simple as keeping a cursed item in a locked drawer, or keeping a monster in a TailorMadePrison. Other times it can be as bad as keeping entire towns cordoned off, and filled with highly trained (or disposable) agents.

** In order to ensure humanity's continued survival, every year The Organization must sacrifice a group of people to appease [[JerkassGods The Ancient Ones]]. By having five sacrifices act like horror stereotypes via drugging, disturb one of many [[ArtifactOfDoom artefacts]] which summon monsters from deep in The Organization's vaults and being hunted down. "[[FinalGirl The Virgin]]"'s death is entirely optional, but the other four ''must'' be killed off before sunrise the next day. [[spoiler: Marty (their designated "Fool") ended up becoming immune to the drugs The Organization was using (thanks to his stash of marijuana) and survives with Dana.]]

I'm accepting any and all suggestions for a snappier title ('''[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php/AlternativeTitles/RuleBasedHorror VOTE HERE!]]'''). Feel free to add your own suggestions to it.

Indexes:
* DeathTropes
* EveryoneHasStandards
* HorrorTropes
* NarrativeDevices
* OthernessTropes
* TwistEnding

''Draft begins below the line.''
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