History Main / HorrorHatesARulebreaker

** In order to ensure humanity's continued survival, every year the Organization must [[HumanSacrifice sacrifice]] a group of people to appease [[JerkassGods the Ancient Ones]]. These days, simply [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod throwing someone into a volcano]] won't cut it, and a more elaborate ritual is needed: namely, having five sacrifices act like horror movie stereotypes via drugging, having them disturb one of many [[ArtifactOfDoom artifacts]] which summon monsters from deep in the Organization's vaults, and then having them hunted down by that monster. The [[DeathBySex "Whore"]] has to die first, and the "[[FinalGirl Virgin]]"'s death is completely optional. The [[JerkJock "Athlete"]], the [[{{Nerd}} "Scholar"]], and the [[TheStoner "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 all. 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 personal stash of marijuana that they missed, and survives with Dana (at least, until [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Ancient Ones throw a tantrum]] in response). The Organization ''thinking'' that they'd killed Marty and prematurely announcing that he's been sacrificed is the first moment that gets the Ancient Ones grumbling.]]

* ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'': Each domain of TheUnderworld has its own Old Laws that range from simple prohibitions ("[[IGaveMyWord Your Word Is Your Bond]]") to elaborate obligations (everyone visiting [[ForeverWar the Killing Fields]] must join a side, receive a rank, and behave appropriately to it). The [[UndeadAbomination ruling Kerberoi]] sense any breach of the Law and take great pains to punish it -- fleeing back to the living world isn't enough.

[[folder: Film -- Live Action]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Mythology and Folklore]]

[[folder: Video Game]]
* ''VideoGame/UntilDawn'' basically has two rules; stay away from the mountains after dark (where you're at risk of [[spoiler: being eaten by Wendigos]]), and don't [[spoiler: eat human flesh while you're there, allowing the spirits to possess you and transform you into one]]. The latter was broken in the backstory by [[spoiler: some miners who were trapped in a cave-in]], and the former's done by the main characters, and also happens in the prologue ([[spoiler: which also ends with the character being forced to eat the flesh of her dead twin to survive, allowing a Wendigo spirit to possess her]]).

[[folder: Web Original]]

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

** The Teke Teke is the ghost of a girl who was cut in half after falling onto a railway track; she walks of her elbows and carries a scythe with which to bisect her victims. One specific legend concerns her appearing to those who have learned her story and threatening to kill them in the same what she died unless you answer her questions correctly; in order to survive you must address her by her real name (Kashima Reiko) and tell her to find her legs on the Meishin Expressway, or by shouting "Kamen Shinin Ma!" ("Mask Death Demon!").

** The Aka Manto will appear to people in the last stall of a public restroom and offer a choice of either red or blue paper; if you choose the red paper he will slash them up until your corpse is drenched in your own blood, if you pick the blue paper he'll strangle you until your skin turns blue[[note]]some versions have him offer capes instead of paper and the consequences of your choice are different: having the skin off your back flayed off for red and having all the blood drained from your body for blue. Plus one ghost story had him offer to put a police woman in a "red vest" and then cut their head off causing the blood to stain her vest red.[[/note]]. If you try to out wit him by asking for a different colored paper you'll instead be DraggedOfftoHell, except for yellow paper in which case he'll dunk your head in the bowl of the toilet you were still using. The only way to avoid any of these unpleasant fates is to refuse any paper.

** The Aka Manto will appear to people in the last stall of a public restroom and offer a choice of either red or blue paper; if you choose the red paper he will slash them up until your corpse is drenched in your own blood, if you pick the blue paper he'll strangle you until your skin turns blue[[note]]some versions have him offer capes instead of paper and the consequences of your choice are different: having the skin off your back flayed off for red and having all the blood drained from your body for blue. Plus one ghost story had him offer to put a police woman in a "red vest" and then cut their head off causing the blood to stain her vest red.[[/note]]. If you try to out wit him by asking for a different colored paper you'll instead be DraggedIntoHell, except for yellow paper in which case he'll dunk your head in the bowl of the toilet you were still using. The only way to avoid any of these unpleasant fates is to refuse any paper.

** The Aka Manto will appear to people in the last stall of a public restroom and offer a choice of either red or blue paper; if you choose the red paper he will slash them up until your corpse is drenched in your own blood, if you pick the blue paper he'll strangle you until your skin turns blue[[note]]some versions have him offer capes instead of paper and the consequences of your choice are different: having the skin off your back flayed off for red and having all the blood drained from your body for blue. Plus one ghost story had him offer to put a police woman in a "red vest" and then cut their head off causing the blood to stain her vest red.[[/note]]. If you try to out wit him by asking for a different colored paper you'll instead be Dragged Into Hell, except for yellow paper in which case he'll dunk your head in the bowl of the toilet you were still using. The only way to avoid any of these unpleasant fates is to refuse any paper.

** 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 [[TheScottishTrope names and the act of naming]], and breaking any of them has [[GrandTheftMe dire consequences]].

*** Lock the boy in his room with four bowls of salt, a bucket to relieve himself into, a statue of Buddha to pray to and all the windows covered with newspapers written with more protection spells on them.
*** Leave him in the room until 7:30 am, with explicit instructions not to open the door for anyone until then, especially since Hachishaku-sama can imitate other peoples voices.

*** there aren't any accounts of what's supposed to happen if these rules aren't followed, but urge fact that the rules are in place to begin with…

*** If you can get behind her before she gets behind you.

* Japanese myth, urban legends, and ghost stories tend to be particularly fond of this trope. Most of the popular urban legends and creepy pastas to come out of Japan have some set of rules you must follow or a special trick in order to survive.

** SCP-1384 is a humanoid statue with seemingly omnipotent powers -- but it's also a pawn in a life-sized board game whose rules it refuses to divulge because it knows the Foundation wants to contain it while it wants to be free. 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. [[MortonsFork And one of the rules they ]]''[[MortonsFork do]]''[[MortonsFork know is that if thirteen days pass without the Foundation making a "move", the statue can advance a space]]''.

** SCP-1384 is a humanoid statue with seemingly omnipotent powers -- but it's also a pawn in a life-sized board game whose rules it refuses to divulge because it knows the Foundation wants to contain it while it wants to be free. 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.

* ''Manga/PetShopOfHorrors'' involves Count D and his petshop of very rare and very exotic pets, many of which often can appear human to clients who are searching for something in life - a pet to help them get over the loss of a child, or to cope with unrequited love. Count D's contracts always include specific instructions in regards to taking care of these pets, including things that they are not to do. And when these rules are inevitably broken, Bad Things tend to happen to the clients as a result.
* ''Manga/TheLaughingSalesman'': Moguro Fukuzou, a humanoid EldritchAbomination with incredible magical powers, 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.

[[folder: Film]]

* ''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]].

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic example of this trope/genre of horror. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. The first rule was never to place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. The second rule was never to get any water on them or have them drink it, as this was [[BizarreAlienReproduction their primary means of reproduction]], and when this rule was broken, it resulted in a number of Mogwai getting born from Gizmo's back who weren't nearly as nice as him. The third and final rule was never to feed a Mogwai after midnight (something the new Mogwai tricked the protagonist into doing by means of ripping the wires out of a mains-powered analog clock), because that would result in the Mogwai undergoing a transformation into one of the eponymous Gremlins. The key to defeating them turned out to be weaponizing the first rule, which worked on both Mogwai and Gremlins alike.
* 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/ReadyOrNot:'' The protagonist must spend the entire night on the mansion's grounds in a literal life or death game of cat and mouse. The rules say she can leave freely after that, however the family who own it must kill someone during the game as a sacrifice. [[spoiler: It's not made exactly clear whether newcomers (Grace, in this case), ''must'' be the sacrifice, as several maids were offed during the game, but the family decides not to take any chances.]] At the end [[{{Satan}} Mr. Le Bail]], true to his word, [[spoiler: allows Grace to leave with a respectful nod, and [[LaserGuidedKarma kills off the entire Le Domas family after they break the rules trying to kill her as the sun rises]].]]
* In ''Film/DeadSilence'', the antagonist (the murderous ghost of a female ventriloquist) can't kill someone if they don't scream first. She does NOT make it easy to keep silent.
* ''Film/TheCabinInTheWoods'':
** In order to ensure humanity's continued survival, every year the Organization must [[HumanSacrifice sacrifice]] a group of people to appease [[JerkassGods the Ancient Ones]]. These days, simply [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod throwing someone into a volcano]] won't cut it, and a more elaborate ritual is needed: namely, having five sacrifices act like horror movie stereotypes via drugging, having them disturb one of many [[ArtifactOfDoom artifacts]] which summon monsters from deep in the Organization's vaults, and then having them hunted down by that monster. The [[DeathBySex "Whore"]] has to die first, and the "[[FinalGirl Virgin]]"'s death is completely optional. The [[JerkJock "Athlete"]], the [[{{Nerd}} "Scholar"]], and the [[TheStoner "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 all. 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 personal stash of marijuana that they missed, and survives with Dana (at least, until [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Ancient Ones throw a tantrum]] in response). The Organization ''thinking'' that they'd killed Marty and prematurely announcing that he's been sacrificed is the first moment that gets the Ancient Ones grumbling.]]
** 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 to wake up and [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt destroy the world]]]].
* ''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 when her curiosity gets the better of her. 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]].

* ''WebOriginal/CatGhost'': A mysterious entity only appears when [[spoiler: Elon looks in a mirror. The only way to make it go away is for Elon to run away from her reflection]].
* ''Literature/TheHoldersSeries'': Each installment is a set of precise, albeit [[PurpleProse usually florid]], instructions to pass the Holder's trial, with any minute deviation bringing death [[AndIMustScream or worse]]. Success earns an ArtifactOfDoom in a CosmicHorrorStory, so there isn't really any winning option.
* ''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]]. Break rule #21 [[note]]Stay hydrated, and vodka mixed with gatorade is ''not'' an acceptable substitute[[/note]], and you really have only yourself to blame for your subsequent and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking completely mundane]] hospitalization.

The good news is, supernatural terrors tend to follow rules. The bad news is, you might not know them, and if you broke them it might already be too late. Maybe you couldn't resist the dare to enter the woods, or [[ForbiddenFruit being told to stay away from the creepy house]] made it [[SchmuckBait all the more tempting]]. Perhaps your car broke down on the wrong backwater road, or you were [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished kind hearted]] enough to lend the wrong [[BewareOfHitchhikingGhosts traveller]] some assistance. It would have been nice if the UntrustingCommunity were more willing to warn outsiders (or at least have someone more credible than a creepy old man warn people), but hey, the last few ignored them anyway.

* There are many ways to kill a skinwalker. In Navajo culture, Skinwalkers can be defeated if you find out its real name. Other known ways to defeat or kill a Skinwalker is if you call it out on being one in public. You can also defeat them by getting them to talk in animal form.

->''"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''

Subtrope of InevitablyBrokenRule. This trope could be considered the origin of quite a few other tropes (for example, the idea of a WeaksauceWeakness comes from monsters in folklore that could be defeated by everyday items, if used correctly). It's the calling card of TheFairFolk when they're played for horror, and often how a creature subject to ThePunishment operates. It is also closely related to the way GothicHorror revolves around the Natural Order of Things (whether Nature, God, or some other cosmic structure) punishing those individuals who dared to break its rules.

This trope could be considered the origin of quite a few other tropes (for example, the idea of a WeaksauceWeakness comes from monsters in folklore that could be defeated by everyday items, if used correctly). It's the calling card of TheFairFolk when they're played for horror, and often how a creature subject to ThePunishment operates. It is also closely related to the way GothicHorror revolves around the Natural Order of Things (whether Nature, God, or some other cosmic structure) punishing those individuals who dared to break its rules.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeCoolScoobyDoo'': The episode "Doo Not Disturb" has a hotel haunted by the [[MonsterOfTheWeek ghost of the hotel manager's deceased strict mother]], who stalks those who violate the very peculiar rules placed on signs around the hotel. It's a ScoobyDooHoax, of course, [[spoiler:perpetrated by the hotel manager's disowned [[CainAndAbel evil brother]] who [[RejectingTheInheritance didn't want to run the place]] the same way [[MyBelovedSmother their mother]] did. It turns out he wants a hostile takeover, literally, of the old hotel in spite of his success with another hotel he [[StartMyOwn started on his own]] by scaring the guests to make it go under]].

* ''WesternAnimation/BeCoolScoobyDoo'': The episode "Doo Not Disturb" has a hotel haunted by the [[MonsterOfTheWeek ghost of the hotel manager's deceased strict mother]], who stalks those who violate the very peculiar rules placed on signs around the hotel. It's a ScoobyDooHoax, of course, [[spoiler:perpetrated by the hotel manager's disowned EvilTwin who [[RejectingTheInheritance didn't want to run the place]] the same way [[MyBelovedSmother their mother]] did. It turns out he wants a hostile takeover, literally, of the old hotel in spite of his success with another hotel he [[StartMyOwn started on his own]] by scaring the guests to make it go under]].

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic example of this trope/genre of horror. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. The first rule was never to place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. The second rule was never to get any water on them or have them drink it, as this was their primary means of reproduction, and when this rule was broken, it resulted in a number of Mogwai getting born from Gizmo's back who weren't nearly as nice as him. The third and final rule was never to feed a Mogwai after midnight (something the new Mogwai tricked the protagonist into doing by means of ripping the wires out of a mains-powered analog clock), because that would result in the Mogwai undergoing a transformation into one of the eponymous Gremlins. The key to defeating them turned out to be weaponizing the first rule, which worked on both Mogwai and Gremlins alike.

* The ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' series is a classic example of this trope/genre of horror. The adorable little Mogwai named Gizmo had a number of rules that anyone taking care of one needed to know. The first rule was never to place a Mogwai [[WeakenedByTheLight near bright light, especially sunlight as that would kill them]]. The second rule was never to get any water on them or have them drink it, as this was their primary means of reproduction, and when this rule was broken, it resulted in a number of Mogwai getting born from Gizmo's back who weren't nearly as nice as him. The third and final rule was never to feed a Mogwai after midnight (something the new Mogwai tricked the protagonist into doing by means of ripping the wires out of a mains-powered analog clock), because that would result in the Mogwai undergoing a transformation into one of the eponymous Gremlins. The key to defeating them turned out to be weaponizing the first rule, which could work on both Mogwai and Gremlins alike.* 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.