As an avid horror movie enthusiast, I have for years enjoyed the most well known and iconic horror movies that paved the way for the entire genre such as the "Scream" franchise, "Halloween", "Nightmare on Elm Street", etc. However, with the creation of such iconic films and the impression they made on the genre, it seems that horror movies had begun to follow similar plots and tropes from the founders of horror. I'd made it my mission many years ago to seek out horror movies that break the genres solidified mold, so without further introduction here is my top ten trope defying horror films that I felt were worth noting.

1. "Hush"

The protagonist of the movie hush is a deaf woman who lives alone in the deep forest which in and of itself is breaking the mold of the common protagonist. The premise of the movie is that a seemingly cunning serial killer breaks into the woman's home with the sole purpose of killing her, but he is dangerously unaware of her physical and mental capabilities and the embark on a violent back and forth battle for survival. The movie is violent and extremely intense and does not leave much room for a breath at all. As a woman who appreciates the depiction of a strong female lead, this movie really did not let me down. (It is on Netflix if the premise intrigues you)

2. "It Follows"

Though there are many movies that include a particular strain that plagues the entire human race that usually results in the manifestation of zombies. This movie, however, includes somewhat of a sexually transmitted epidemic. The main character engages in a relationship with a man who she eventually has sex with, and he informs her that she will be confronted by sinister beings that will attempt to kill her. These sinister beings, however, are completely unlike any other horror antagonist I've seen in all of the movies I've watched. The movie has a strange aesthetic and was wildly praised by critics racking up a rating of a whopping 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty unheard of in the realm of horror film reviews. "It Follows" is also on Netflix if it peaks your interest.

3. "Would You Rather"

Though the film did not receive as many rave reviews, the premise of "Would You Rather" stuck out amid the common horror movie plots. The main character Iris, portrayed by Brittany Snow, is informed by her cancer-ridden brother's doctor that there is a wealthy man willing to give her money if she participates in a "game" held at his home. The game, however, takes a violent and unexpected turn when the players are made aware that the only way to win the game is to outlive the other contestants. Would You Rather may fall under the "b movie" category, but it holds a rather creatively superior place in my heart for its bold attempt at trumping common horror movie tropes, and it's also on Netflix.

4. "Get Out"

In nearly every single aspect, "Get Out" absolutely obliterated every horror movie trope you could imagine, starting with the main character. It was practically unheard of in the realm of the horror genre for the main character to be anyone other than a blonde, white female let alone a black male. Not only did the casting break common stereotypes, the director, and screenwriter Jordan Peele made a point of including micro aggressions commonly directed toward the black community in an effort to subtly make his viewers aware of their own mistakes. This movie is confusing and intense and will leave you feeling insanely uneasy. Oh, and there are a few major plot twists, which any horror fanatic can appreciate.

5. "Oculus"

Wow, just wow. If you're in search of a horror movie that will have you whispering "what the hell just happened" every five minutes, "Oculus" is the movie for you. Centered around siblings Tim and Kaylie who are still attempting to mend their frayed relationship after losing their parents a decade before, the pair (with their very disturbing level of sexual tension) attempt to outwit and out live the sinister mirror that they believe is behind the demise of their parents. This movie is confusing and does not leave room for even a moment of a distraction if you want to even attempt to follow along.

6. "Devil"

Something about being trapped in an elevator with a bunch of strangers is a nightmare in and of itself, and with the added stressor of one of them being a murdered, I can only imagine the amount of panic sweat that was swirling around that enclosed space. The plot essentially states that one of the patrons riding this very elevator is not actually your average serial killer taking advantage of their situation, but quite possibly the devil itself. The movie is violently graphic and equally disturbing, and in spite of its lack of insanely positive reviews, this film holds a special place in my heart for scaring the hell out of me when I was just a young little horror movie fanatic.

7. "The Houses October Built"

Chances are if you have a love for horror movies you have a special adoration for all things spooky. (i.e. Halloween, haunted houses, etc.) "The Houses October Built" is a found-footage style horror film centered around the search for the terrifying haunted houses in the country. The main protagonists are hopeful at first, but the hopefulness is quickly wiped clean when the monsters of the haunted houses begin stalking them. Personally, I'd never found a horror movie with a plot similar to this film and was impressed by the intensity and the trope defying turns the film took despite its lack of media attention. You can marvel in its cinematic intensity on Netflix.

8. "Evidence"

I'll be honest, this movie could use a little bit of work, but "Evidence" does fall under the category of "trope defying" in many different ways. The film is partly found footage and partly follows detectives assigned to multiple homicide cases out in the middle of nowhere. Unlike other found footage horror flicks, however, the footage plays a massive part in the case being solved. On top of that, the film has more plot twists than I could count and there are very few dull moments. Again, this film is featured on Netflix.

9. "Megan is Missing"

Oh, man. Megan is Missing is one of those movies that sticks with you years after you watch it. Though it does go hand in hand with a common trope, found footage, this film is far from ordinary. Centered around two seemingly opposite friends Megan and Amy, "Megan is Missing" is about Amy's effort to find Megan when she all but disappears into thin air after she'd planned to meet up with a man she met online. The film takes a few very dark turns and though this movie isn't considered a horror film to many, the graphic nature of many scenes reserves this film a spot on this list. It is shocking and painful to watch at times, but I have to appreciate the risks it takes in an effort to set itself apart from other films in the genre.

10. "Don't Breathe"

This is a fresh one, and in my opinion, deserves even more recognition as a creative and thrill-inducing film. "Don't Breathe" quickly defies common genre tropes by introducing the main characters as home invaders, and the antagonist as a PTSD ridden blind man. In an effort to make enough money to flee her toxic home life with her little sister, anti-hero Rocky buys into a plan to rob a reclusive blind man. Their plan, however, did not anticipate the man being even more delusional and dangerous than previously expected. This movie is intense, violent and disturbing, and you'll find yourself conflicted with moral issues throughout the entirety of the film.