The Horror of the Elderly | Expired Movie Tropes

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Intro 00:00
The Making of "The Other" 02:55
The Forgotten Members of Society 04:38
Examples in Horror 07:18
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[@PossessedbyHorror]

Click here sbird.co/42LsTV4 or visit the app sbird.co/3NfuRru and use my code HORROR to get 55% OFF your first month at Scentbird. What’s your favorite fragrance? Comment below!

[@graceleathers5970]

As someone who works in aged care and sees naked elderly people with dementia etc most days I work, I really appreciate this video. I often have people say they could never do my job and “I don’t want to touch naked old men” and they don’t understand that these are just people, and they deserve proper healthcare.

[@nasanoir310]

Personally, I just don't want to be touching random naked people, anyway, regardless of age.

[@moniqueengleman873]

Thank you. I worked in several nursing homes and I learned so much about their big lives.... That were so diminished now. If we are lucky we will have the privilege of growing old.

[@connorcliffton4723]

I was raised to ALWAYS respect your elders and its always stucks with me old people are awesome and it's really sad what some of them end up going through if I do grow old (Fentynal Addict) I hope I don't have some of the health problems that really make some lives not worth living anymore fuz u csn see it on a person's face if they are ready to take the long nap 😢

[@moistwrmonastring1017]

I almost went into aged care because most of my family went into that field and I love old people! You get me

[@Quinn91202]

@@moniqueengleman873where is the privilege in your body and mind falling apart? Arthritis cancer dementia als eye sight osteoporosis ect

[@daviddixon8674]

The true horror of the elderly they never show in movies is the....driving. Too scary for the big screen

[@rememberpickles]

South Park did it well as a horror comedy.

[@heeyaustin]

The trope i cannot STAND is when the character is revealed to be mentally ill and all of the scary parts of the film were just their hallucinations the whole time. BUT! I think Black Swan did it in such an effective way which is why it’s still my favorite movie

[@davidnaja]

I always laugh at people who demonize the elderly, cause, uh, you do realize that's gonna be you one day, right?

[@singingsiren82]

I think a fear of aging is a part of it

[@michealvega1373]

You think we're all making it that long aye 😎?

[@VocabuLarry85]

Just keep living is what I always say

[@Marlie_553]

Who does that

[@Digglerism]

Isn't that the reason horror movies use elderly stuff? Because people are scared of getting older and forgotten. Or possibly losing their mind due to old age.

[@connorbee9679]

I find the horrifying part of Pearl getting it on with her husband is their deep physical desire BETWEEN serial killing. Just... jumping from one activity to the other. (which isn't an elderly person issue, just the horror of compartmentalization). I love Pearl and X

[@angelgood1867]

I SO agree with this. She was obviously "wanting some love" before the killing began, but it was the killing that got them both off. I think this scene would've been a lot more affective within the idea Ti West was trying to portray if it'd happened before the killing began, but after the s*x scenes between the young actors.

[@alptraum7644]

i'm so glad you commented on x, because i had that exact same thought. when i saw it in theaters more people had a visceral, grossed out reaction to the scene with pearl and howard than they ever did to any of the killings, or the sex scenes involving younger characters.

[@fant0n]

Oooh, that’s a great idea for a series. Now I’m waiting for a killer with a mental illness trope

[@catrinag.9262]

I agree with you

[@justin12378]

I understand what you’re saying but anytime a human killer is presented, they’re mentally ill. You can’t present a killer without mental illness because the only reason they’re killing is bc they’re mentally ill, even if it’s not explicitly said.

[@aaronshouting588]

Don’t all killers have a mental illness?

[@societycrumbles]

​@@aaronshouting588 No, they don't. And the op meant stigmatizing mental illnesses by making the killer / bad guy a person with a mental disorder. Like M. Night loves to portray schizophrenics / DID as dangerous and evil.

[@Phantom-kc9ly]

I mean, to be a serial killer something is pbviously wrong

[@zoejanota5993]

I also think the use of the eldery in horror helps us communicate or reckon with our fears of loneliness and loss. The elderly are often portrayed as riddled with grief or being so alone that it drives them to violence or obsession, and thats something that id say most ppl really deeply fear because it is such a glimpse into what our futures could be

[@drewberriesandcream]

the scary naked old lady trope should have ended with the shining. nobody has done it as effectively since.

[@tiafielding]

Biggest nope for me in horror tropes is definitely using mental health issues as something horrifying. Especially Dissociative identity disorder (DID) has been used in so many movies it's just... *shivers in disgust*

[@hectormontalvo5565]

Bro maybe you have never dealt with mental patients like I have. But they can be very scary or at least unnerving and a lot of times trouble makers who are rarely arrested. Or arrested and then easily released. If you haven't dealt with dangerous mental patients consider yourself lucky.🙉

[@tiafielding]

@@hectormontalvo5565 I never said people with mental illnesses can't be scary. I said it's an overused trope, which is what she was asking for?

[@hectormontalvo5565]

@@tiafielding got it!👍

[@AvoCamilo]

What do you mean?, anger and psychosis are considered mental health issues, which cause most of the crimes in the real world

[@angelthedemon666]

​@@AvoCamilo psychosis isn't mostly dangerous for other people, psychotic people are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crimes

[@lunaacacia]

Absolutely love the direction your channel has been going recently!

[@blackforge1374]

I didn't realize how prevalent elder-phobia was until I saw X, and it really turned something in me. So glad you made this video. Whenever I start to get icky feelings thinking about aging or the elderly, I remember my favorite Irish seanfhocal (proverb): Do not resent growing old; many are not given the opportunity.

[@baddiebrookie]

That was a really beautiful quote 🥹💖

[@dapistol1970]

Biggest expired movie trope: witches doing x because they've given themselves over to Satan. It's so over-done, untrue, and Christianity-centric, and even when the film isn't explicitly about witches it's used as a reason for the haunting, possession, etc.

[@honeyandlavender_]

It’s always elderly women and very young women who are “crazy” or possessed. **eye roll so hard I saw my neurons**

[@VickyScreams]

My most hated overused horror trope is the protagonist having a pet purely so the pet can be brutally killed as the first big sign that scary stuff is happening. It instantly turns me against a film especially after losing a pet to a long illness recently. It happened in a hugely successful and popular film last year that I might have enjoyed otherwise, but it was so horrible and unnecessary that I couldn't enjoy the film after that point. Not saying the film as a spoiler, but it was totally ruined for me, but this trope.

[@salamipiranha3249]

I never really thought about this but I agree 100%

[@moistwrmonastring1017]

On the other hand, a horror troupe I LOVE is when the protagonist has a pet and they sense an otherworldly presence and try their best to protect their owner. It’s always interesting, especially if it’s a more unconventional pet that somehow knows something is off

[@carolinem5515]

It's true, I know many people have made comments recently about 'it's a girl that dies first' or 'it's a person of colour that dies first', but it's actually the dog that dies first!

[@muffen5148]

I see both sides like on the one hand perpetuation of stereotypes can be harmful for obvious reasons but I also think that there is a very real fear of getting old and also a fear of watching your families mental well being deteriorating if you’ve been there I feel like uk how scary that can be however I get how demonizing those issues can also be unhelpful to that issue. Thank you for the video :)

[@ceilinh6004]

Relic (2020) is another interesting movie that tackles the horror we have for aging. A big part of the horror, and the reason for the prevalence of this trope, is that it forces us to confront our own very real mortality. Every morning, we are one day older, and one day closer to death. When you've seen relative after elderly relative lose themselves to one form of dementia or another before dying, it really brings home the fragility of identity, and the brevity of our lives.

[@ignagomez1103]

In IT part 2 . Pennywise transforms itself into an elderly woman who then, we see naked and then becomes a naked elderly monster. I think this is related to your essay video. I really enjoyed it❤

[@nasanoir310]

Barbarian worked really, really well. It did put a unique spin on things, though.

[@joannawinters6592]

It was such crap

[@crisvis8905]

Barbarian was a goofy cringe fest

[@Sweetinfernalcreature]

I think the reason why a lot of filmmakers or people in general demonize the elderly is because it’s a window in to our own mortality. We know that one day we will die and when you’re in your elderly stage, you are closer to death then you have been since you’ve been born. Another reason I think this is because when we were kids, we meet with a lot of older family members, and they are so strange and foreign to us. They are different than the way that we view our parents. Sometimes you have to speak differently to your grandparents if there are of a certain age, if they’re losing their hearing or help them and watch them if they can’t walk as well. I think those learned childhood fears are one of the many reasons why the elderly are used as a scare tactic in horror movies. It plays on fears we had long forgotten about.

[@muelitasgoblingirl]

Ok, so while the use of old people doesn't bother me, i agree with you in everything you said and the way you explain it. Maybe it's cause in Mexico we are used to take care of our elderly. I mean, even in disney movies they represent mexican families with an old granny in it 😂 Like you said, it's a cultural thing. Anyway, glad you're back and hope you're feeling so much better ❤

[@devonmunn5728]

It is nice to see Sarah acknowledge the treatment of the elderly she has seen is very much a Western thing and not the same thing in other countries

[@muelitasgoblingirl]

@@devonmunn5728 Yes, and that's what's great about this video.

[@MrConstancejames]

This is (one of the major reasons) why I **HATED** X. I absolutely detest when people put on prosthetics to look old and then add exaggerated saggy breasts, etc. I immediately check out when I see stuff like that. Older folks can be portrayed by older actors. I am so glad you addressed this because I see it in movies far too much. I have never found it entertaining (and the prosthetics often looks really tacky).

[@CLICKERisQUICKER]

Gen Xer here. These movies hit differently when you have a parent with dementia. Old is scary as hell.

[@americagrace8244]

i enjoy elderly horror when the horror is based on knowledge and experience, and not on physical appearance and mental deterioration. the former builds up the character of the elderly, and the latter tears them down.

[@ElectricSugar1]

A great idea for a series and a great commentary about this trope. Cant wait to see the next videos :D

[@abstergo06]

I don't like to be that person saying this but the horror of the elderly is proprably one of the horror genres that is the most effective on me and i really like it. I DEFINITELY agree with everything you said regardless of my liking of this sub-genre (same goes with mental health issues by the way), especially since they could easily use the scare elements in a more respectful and qualitative way. My grandmother has got a form of degenerative dementia and the lady in The Visit reminds me a lot of her when she has a breakdown, minus the killer aspect of course. I would love for more movies to explore the horror of the elderly from their point of view though, I think it could be a great trope to explore

[@ezzz666]

In case you haven't watched it, there's a film called La Abuela (The Grandmother) from 2021 directed by Paco Plaza (same as REC and Verónica), it's about a grandmother and her granddaughter, it explores the youth, the old age... I'd like to hear your opinion related to this video. Greetings from Spain!

[@camejko]

I don't mind this trope at all. It freaks me out and it works.. It doesn't make me thing any less or more of old people

[@kashandrea]

Your videos are always the best! Appreciate your unique perspectives 🤎

[@adam-l74]

I definitely get tired of certain tropes but I loved the themes X explored about aging and desirability.

[@whiro8945]

We need a playlist! ❤ so good and insightful

[@msalisbury]

This topic and idea for a series scratched an itch I have had since I got my psych degree in 2018, love the analysis and I LOVE that you made sure to put the disclaimer of what perspective this is coming from, that made the sociologist side of me squeal with happiness.

[@catrinag.9262]

The Amusement Park actually scared me a lot and made me think I never want to be elderly. It broke my heart.

[@GhostPirateEntertainment]

Great job with this video. I think it’s an important topic to be discussed

[@savannahs8268]

I’d be interested in your take on Relic. I thought they handled this topic so well

[@curlwhurl8054]

I'm so excited for this new series! It's such a fantastic, original idea! And as a horror lover with an interest in psychology, who is training to be a therapist, it is perfect for me!

[@mutatedsilverunicorn]

Sadly, Ageism will always be an issue, sadly, because society has drilled into us that growing old is bad. Also, we treat older adults like they're children or beneath us which isn't right either. Anything that uses this trip urks me and I can't watch it. Also, for M. Knight: He used my disability, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, in Glass and portrayed it completely wrong. It drives me nuts because I struggle enough to get people to treat me like I am human, but now they watch Glass or Unbreakable and try to handle me like I am a doll that will break just by breathing.

[@austindolan7182]

the reason old people in horror works is because we're ultimately afraid of getting old ourselves, and how poorly our bodies will function by then. one trope i want to be done with is malfunctioning AI. it's not gotten annoying, but i have a feeling it's going to, especially with megan being a hit.

[@devonmunn5728]

Also to point out about The Taking Of Deborah Logan *anyone who doesn't want to be spoiled don't read any further* I haven't actually seen the film nor do i care to but i did see a tweet pointing out the use of the Monacan Tribe and making up a legend about them that isnt true for horror purposes. Now i no people will bring up the "well it's fiction so its not a big deal" yeah sure but due to the general American populace not having alot of education on Indigenous people nor will some people even check falsehoods or the actual information regarding Indigenous tribes and even when it is fictional and a person knows that it's still fucked up to use a Indigenous tribe to horrify audiences

[@nileshollowthorn]

My biggest expired trope (and not saying that the conversation isn't important) is all the movies where something is happening to someone and no one believes them. It's predictable and played out and we get it. Even so, I still adore some movies that do this when done well.

[@anotherealm47]

I been loving your most recent videos!

[@crystal_waters725]

A trope i really hate is when a movie leads with being a supernatural horror and spends the whole time heavily building it up only for it to be revealed that there was nothing supernatural going on at all. It makes me feel like my time was wasted and now we have to play catch up to explain the truth. Ex. The Boy, I See You (netflix), The Village (this one wasnt too bad)

[@daffyphack]

It's one of the reasons I had trouble with X is that once it got to "gross old people" I immediately went "we're still doing this in 2022?"

[@marianabookz]

i would love to see other videos like this! for example, poc dying first in horror movies, unfortunately theres's so many movies where this happened, and i would love to see you talk about it

[@wendygreene]

I've worked with the elderly for over 20 years, and although it is a ramped upversion of what we call "sundowning" (a time of day when dementia patients may become more agitated), I did still like the film 'The Visit'. Most people with such advanced dementia wouldn't be as coherent as the couple portrayed was in the daytime.

[@HauntedHippie]

LOVE this. This was so refreshing, can't wait for more psychology based videos!! Was such a wonderful marriage of your older content and horror content

[@chillytoes1]

Hi Sarah, I have to push back on the put into a home to rot and die. Most of these people are deeply loved, and see their family, they have a disease, or condition that makes it difficult to care for them at home, or they need constant care (sundowning syndrome), or family have young children at home. Some places are terrible, but if they are properly regulated they can be great places where they're taken care of by caring people. Assisted living and ltc is where I got my nursing start, I didn't want to start there, but I did grow to love it.

[@egmorox13]

M night’s post after earth filmography has all been either “old people scary” or “mentally ill people scary” or a combo of both. I think KATCD was an interesting look at “is it mental illness or is the apocalypse coming” so I guess it’s a step forward

[@Digglerism]

I think the criticism of The Visit is kinda odd. I dont think the horror of the movie is derived from "old people running around being creepy" I think the horror comes from idea of trusted loved ones not being that. The fear of children stranger danger. Also these elderly actors are getting work which is pretty non-typical in Hollywood. I think people fail to realize these are paid actors taking jobs that are mostly offered to younger actors.

[@mrs.ericalaurenhornmason3825]

Happy Wednesday 💜🩷💋❤️💖💘✨

[@thomasgeorge5856]

thank you for speaking about this topic! i had to watch my dad slowly die of alzheimer's and i cannot stand when illnesses are the crux of the horror. like i get its a fear for people but it isn't done tastefully or accurately 99% of the time!

[@bombspark2469]

I've been feeling exactly the same way and so happy someone saying in this. also the movies you mentioned are exactly same ones make me think. X and The Visit!

[@joeertman]

Old People is actually so underrated, I love what you said abt the commentary and you did a good job explaining how you feel it’s different from The Visit, I enjoy both movies but I very much agree

[@moistwrmonastring1017]

Old people in horror movies just make me laugh and sometimes make me pretty sad. Like I don’t wanna watch an evil old lady die!!?! I like old people, actually, and seeing them hurt feels so shock value-y, but why would I WANT to be shocked and upset? I watch horror movies to laugh at troupes and get scared to relieve stress, not to be uncomfortable and get even more stressed 😭

[@helena8678]

THANK YOU!!! im soooo over an old woman's naked body being the scariest, most shocking thing a filmmaker could show

[@nasanoir310]

Watch Beau is Afraid and you'll get plenty of other types of naked people, too. And some actually original stuff, too, ig.

[@isibellee]

This is crazy I was just talking to a friend about this the other day! I think old age and the fear of aging could be incorporated into horror in an interesting way but I hate when it’s just look how scary these people are…. they‘re old… and then even if they do turn out to be killers or something the whole build up was still just scary because… old people.

[@JennyKing]

The trope of women who have lost a child going on a murder spree or stealing babies or whatever really gets on my nerve. Run, for example

[@Ali093]

This video is so poignant and perfectly laid out. Thank you for making a video about this and I'm EXCITED about this series!!

[@Horrorzeit]

You always have the best ideas and I love the new content 🖤

[@deargabby74]

Great video! I agree 100% on everything you laid out. You know what's funny is that *very very* few people look good naked anyway, regardless of their age, so the fact that filmmakers find it necessary to show older people naked for shock value makes it all the more upsetting and makes the filmmaker look that much more callous and 'creatively impoverished'.

[@princeapoopoo5787]

God, X is one of the most brilliant explorations of sexuality in horror. 💜 Resident Evil 7 is a game example of a killer old woman that I enjoy. It helps that she's just another member of a messed up family and not singled out because she's old. Having her head creepily follow you despite the fact that she's seemingly asleep oooogh

[@ga75]

i watched gonnjiam asylum thanks to you and i was scared shitless,thank u so much

[@teddieundin]

I’m very much into both horror and fragrance. So seeing your favorite perfumes was so much fun! :)❤️🙏🏼

[@davidmenke7552]

Yeah, after seeing Barbarian (which I LOVED) I was kinda done with this trope, too. It's like, "Okay. We get it. Long breasts are scary. Next" LOL. I appreciate any conversation about ageism but I'm still on the fence as to whether this trope has/is actually causing any real harm to the elderly. I think many of us can watch a movie like "X" and be grossed out by specific scenes and laugh with friends about how gross it is to watch old people have sex...and then we can also go home and love, respect, appreciate and honor the old people in our lives whether that be parents, neighbors or whomever. It's okay to find young and traditionally attractive people having sex to be "hot". And it's okay to find old people having sex be the opposite of "hot". And as you noted, vice versa is true, too! It's all okay. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the mental illness trope in horror.

[@sophie60126]

you’re so pretty!!

[@Singlehandedchaos]

Super excited about this series! Would love love love an episode about mental/physical disability and deformity. I think its one of the BIGGEST tropes across all of the horror genre, and as a double amputee and also someone on the autism spectrum who is ASLO a big horror fan, every time i watch a new movie i'm just bracing myself for either the subtle or overt ableism that I know is inevitable lol.

[@catrinag.9262]

Girl I love Scentbird. I was on the subscription but cancelled due to money not the service. I need to start it back up again.❤️

[@royalhorror]

I wish elderly people would be used more in smooth and normal storylines or if the aging aspect is part of the storyline , then make it like “The Manor 2021” did . Excited for upcoming videos on these series

[@jeffburnett2392]

When I was younger, the movie "House", his Aunt scared the crap out of me 😂😂

[@Crazymoviefan_23]

I hope you make another of these! This one was very thought-provoking.

[@kaitlynmarie2640]

I love how honest you are and just speaking your mind. I love these new videos. Also I agree with this video. The only really uncomfortable part for me in x was when pearl was laying next to max naked. (I didn’t know mia played both at the time). But I agree with everything you said. My expired movie trope is i hate when movies have sa in it and they use it for scare factor

[@kirac.7368]

Great perspective and looking forward to this series!

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

8:46 I had no idea she was supposed to be Pearl omg lol

[@m6508]

Omg I've been talking about this same subject with my friends for a while now!!! Really hope you do more content on problematic horror tropes!

[@esaalien.]

Great video!! 😊 A trope that I think is kind of ridiculous is the 'couple in a bad relationship on the verge of breaking up but decide they do love each other because of the horror they just endured together'. The Strangers, Purge Anarchy, and 3o Days of Night all had that trope and it just feels kind of goofy to watch lol 😅

[@tenacious_she]

Not horror, but the most expired movie trope for me is the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope.

[@bryna7]

So sick of this one

[@WoahLookAtThatFreak]

...Huh? I'm not familiar with that trope

[@kittyslasher]

im excited for this series! i think it'd be great to maybe feature people in these videos who fit the demographic of the trope to hear their imput on it too!! ❤❤

[@shawnsatrinarodriguez4429]

It's similar genre learning towards using creepy little girls and not so much creepy little boys.

[@kotaac.]

Please do more horror book videos!! Got into reading books in general bc of that one vid where u praised the deep lmao

[@KurtCobain-ru1hy]

Hey Sarah! Your channel has been such a huge comfort for me as of late and I always look forward to your videos 💕 Do you think you’d be interested in making a top 10 horror movies with no jumpscares ?

[@emmaberger3748]

I think it is that deep sometimes because what the media portrays is the attitudes we adopt, especially dangerous if we DON’T question them

[@sharpayme]

Ngl when i clicked on this video, i was HOPING you would talk about the amusement park. And im so glad you did, thank you. Everyone should watch it.

[@carriemoscoe3159]

I agree. Now let’s subvert it and use an ELDERLY final girl!🎉🎉

[@user-ey4yo4ci1k]

your videos are always entertaining even if I disagree with your opinion, you're so good at this

[@noahmunoz6697]

thank you so much for opening the debate around these things

[@HannahC438]

My biggest trope that I am SO tired of is animal death for no other reason than being “scary” like the dog dying first so you know shits about to get real. It is not scary. It makes me so sad and I hate watching it. Honestly it really takes me out of the movie

[@michaelkennedy2888]

Idk if it's an expired trope, but the troop of falling ion love with a bigot is my lease fav

[@vithelovers]

Really cool format ! I look forward to seeing more of this series !!

[@taylorschahn5596]

As someone who takes care of an elderly family member, please remember many people put their relatives in assisted living because it is EXTREMELY difficult to take care of a grown adult who can't take care of themselves. A lot of people who weren't treated well by elderly family members through the years are not going to care because the care and respect was not earned. All elderly people aren't precious perfect angels. But to Sarah's point, trying to scare an audience with a naked elderly body is pretty offensive and sad. Growing older is a blessing and we should see it as such.

[@brunomuninn4978]

There's one not mentioned that I loooved. "The Manor" on Amazon Prime Video. I loooved the ending.

[@ellagrace237]

this new content is so fun, I’m looking forward to more video essays!!!

[@hannahshark8080]

Just started the video and I'm already liking and waiting for the new one 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@reputation8383]

I really like the idea of you dissecting expired movie tropes. This ine was particularly interesteing to someone whonused to work in elderly care. I currently work in mental health services so am particularly interested to hear about mental health as an expired trope.

[@kat8559]

Oooh i know im gonna love this series. I love ari aster's movies but I am put off a bit by his portrayals of disability

[@sophie60126]

you’re back!

[@KaroKafka]

OMG, love this! 🖤 So well said. Looking forward to more video essays like this.

[@jem5771]

commenting right at the start to say i love the idea for this series!

[@kathleenchapman3890]

I'm not adverse to the elderly in horror films. The scariest movies are about crazy old people or crazed kids! Just go with the flow....btw I'm an old lady!

[@problem.skinnn]

Love your videos ❤ I find it really interesting that you have a problem with this and mental illness as a trop, yet you love M Night Shyamalan. To me, he is the worst for using mental illness especially, to the point where I struggle to appreciate a lot of his films. I look forward to your video on the subject anyway!