Line #52 Main/BackingIntoDanger


1	%%
2	%%
3	%% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.
4	%%
5	%%
6	%% Image selected via crowner in the Image Suggestion thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1452266899092104700
7	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php?crowner_id=nmwp43a9
8	%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
9	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Balto}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/balto_goose_bear.png]]]]
10
11	Despite having spawned its very own field of study, "situational awareness" ultimately boils down to a simple concept: being constantly vigilant of everything that's going on around you, so that you won't be caught off-guard and can react quickly and effectively if something were to go wrong. Yet simple as that concept is, many characters simply aren't very ''good'' at putting it into practice. They may become so preoccupied with being ambushed from behind that they end up walking backwards, not looking where they're going... only to find themselves backing into the exact threat they're trying to avoid.
12
13	Backing into Danger is a perennial [[HorrorTropes horror trope]], particularly in the SurvivalHorror or "monster movie" subgenres, but it can just as easily appear in action movies, or any movie with a strong element of suspense. It can take various forms, but the most basic version is that a character backs into something dangerous or scary because they [[FailedASpotCheck didn't think to look in the direction they were actually moving]].
14
15	A less cartoonish variation of this trope can occur when a character isn't obliviously walking straight backwards, but simply fails to protect their blind spots properly. For example, a soldier or police officer may be skulking through hostile territory, but instead of keeping their back against a wall, they simply leave their back unprotected. This can lead to them walking right into danger because they couldn't adequately watch every exposed angle.
16
17	Yet this trope need not be limited to horror films. Comedies, cartoons, and less-serious films often [[PlayedForLaughs play this trope for laughs]] in various ways, the most common method being two people ''both'' walking backwards while searching for a threat, and colliding with each other. This often results in a JumpScare for the characters, with or without a ReactiveContinuousScream. This was especially popular with Hanna-Barbera cartoons, particularly [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Scooby and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo]].
18
19	Subtrope of FailedASpotCheck, which is about failing to notice something important even when actively looking for it. Contrast BackingAwaySlowly, which is about backing ''away'' from an awkward or crazy situation. See also BehindTheBlack, which is when objects or people outside of the camera's view are assumed to be completely absent, even when they would logically still be nearby.
20
21	----
22	!!Examples:
23
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
27	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'': Ducky walks backward right into an angry Sharptooth.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
31	* Used in ''Film/BladeTrinity'', though rather than because of a jump-scare, Hannibal King just defeated some [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Reaper-strain-looking vampire dogs]] and was backwards-walking while FlippingTheBird. Then [[AmusingInjuries fell through a broken skylight]].
32	* Creator/TheCoenBrothers' rom-com ''Film/IntolerableCruelty'' plays the Scooby-and-Shaggy version dead straight with two lawyers armed with pepper-spray stalking around a darkened house. The moment they enter the house you know [[DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat what's going to happen...]]
33	* In the film ''Film/{{Mimic}}'', a redshirt finds a cache of giant mutant cockroach eggs under New York City. He's so horrified (even though he's an entomologist and these eggs were expected) that he backs away, right into a giant mutant cockroach.
34	* ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'': While exploring the raided space station at Regula 1, [=McCoy=] gets a CatScare when a rat scuttles past behind him. Instead of turning and continuing forward, [=McCoy=] walks backward for a bit, and ends up backing straight into a PeekABooCorpse.
35	* In ''Film/VanHelsing'', upon realising there's a werewolf in the large armoury with her, Anna does this in true "horror movie idiot" fashion by walking through the middle of the room (leaving herself open to attack from all sides) while brandishing a pistol (which, being a ranged weapon, gives an even more compelling reason to look ahead and try and spot the monster from as far away as possible). She also commits the other stereotypical horror movie mistake of not looking up, despite knowing that [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves are capable of a]] CeilingCling.
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Literature]]
39	* In ''Literature/EdenGreen'', the title character explores an abandoned church in search of a harmless, herbivorous alien monster, and finds something terrifying. Then, while backing away from it down a dark hallway, she bumps into something even worse.
40	* Also parodied in one of the ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' books. [[spoiler:Then he spins around again and winds up face-to-face with a monster.]]
41	-->Arthur backed down the passageway, feeling increasingly nervous. After a while, he realized that this was because, in every horror movie he'd ever seen, when the hero backs slowly down a passageway, he winds up backing into a monster.\
42	At this point he spun round very suddenly, and saw nothing.\
43	He started backing down the passageway in the other direction. After a few moments, he realized that he was now backing ''toward'' whatever he had been backing away from in the first place.\
44	This, he could not help feeling, was a very foolish thing to do.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
48	* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode where Sam and Dean are TrappedInTVLand, the sitcomesque SpecialEditionTitle shows them walking backwards into each other while hunting. They jump, turn, and then laugh at each other.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Video Games]]
52	* In ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}'', this is a good way to crash into Slendy's shins if he wasn't in your field of vision already.
53	* Can happen in ''Videogame/TeamFortress2'', where you backpedal and bump into your 'teammate', and find yourself unable to walk further. Congratulations, you just bumped an enemy Spy, and he's poised to strike at [[BackStab your exposed back...]]
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Western Animation]]
57	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lampshaded in the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS13E12TheLastestGunInTheWest The Lastest Gun in the West]]". Bart, running from a attacking pit bull, climbs over a fence and backs away from it; when a safe distance away, he relaxes, saying, "Ah, safe at last. Now, I'll just turn around, and confirm that safety," only to find a menagerie of menacing creatures ready to attack.
58	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BackingIntoDanger