Top 75 Smartest Decisions in Horror Movies

#75: Checking the Door Cameras

“Weapons” (2025)

While grieving his missing child, Archer finally steps up with a possible solution. His idea is to check the security cameras of various families in the neighborhood. With a little amateur sleuthing, the man determines what direction each kid is running. It’s an ingenious plan that the cops probably should’ve thought about before. After triangulating these positions, the father receives a tip that sends him straight to the right spot. It all sets up a finale that’s as brash and bold as it is violent. Zach Cregger’s tight script lets you follow along like an investigator. Keeping the audience at bay, the filmmaker still makes it known how effective this investigation can be.

#74: Following the Rules

“Zombieland” (2009)

Using important guidelines, Columbus survives his adventure through the zombie apocalypse. He exercises caution in any number of situations that keep him safe and ready for action. This includes staying limber, fit, and adaptable. Bathrooms should be checked with extreme caution, with a trusty weapon always coming in handy. The character’s run-in with Tallahassee and other survivors puts these rules to the test. Even when he’s forced to go back and save his friends, the hero knows to stick to his code. We think if the undead ever take over we’ll need to do a rewatch to get a few extra tips.

#73: Letting the Villain Get Close

“Heretic” (2024)

In this horror movie, two Mormon missionaries end up locked in a disturbed person’s home. Only one makes it to the end face-off with Hugh Grant’s antagonist. Sister Paxton listens to Mr. Reed’s final monologue and even lets him in close. Just when he least expects it, the nemesis gets a surprise in the neck. The move gives the young hero a chance to flee. You could call the evil guy short sighted, but he did fall for an effective blow. Not sure if he’ll ever understand the error of his ways though. Grant’s villain might be charming, but he’s clearly been outsmarted by his uninvited guest.

#72: Backing Up

“Jeepers Creepers” (2001)

Trish and Darry Jenner are on the worst road trip ever. Interrupted by the Creeper, the siblings don’t have an easy go of it. This all leads them to a nighttime confrontation. Trish ends up hitting the villain with her car, doing the best she can to subdue the enemy. The driver then makes a smarter decision than others have in horror movies. She decides to back up over the nemesis, running him over for good measure. It’s a meta moment that shows these characters are more skilled than they appear. “Jeepers Creepers” doesn’t end there, but it does give the heroes another chance.

#71: Trick Basement

“Halloween” (2018)

Michael Myers is nothing short of a stubborn guy. Throughout the series and this film, he shows how deadly he can be. The villain seems smarter than everyone until he messes with Laurie Strode. With the heroine defending her home and family, the stage is set for a dramatic ending. Myers doesn’t account for some added fortifications in the main character’s house. When he’s surprised by a few hidden features, the slasher antagonist finds himself trapped. A barrier prevents an exit and a massive fire keeps him at bay. While he isn’t completely gone, the enemy meets his match with some skilled opponents.

#70: Making Sure It’s the Right Shark“Jaws” (1975)

Everybody worries in this movie about the titular enemy. After catching a tiger shark, it appears like things might be okay. The mayor wants the beach to stay open and goes along with everything. Hooper thinks otherwise, cutting into the aquatic predator to be sure. The oceanographer and Brody figure out that there’s nothing human inside the dead fish. With this news, they know to keep looking for the real target. It’s a smart and gross way to double check the right answer. On their own investigation, the heroes use this information to go on their own hunt. It’s often the more scientific characters that can be pivotal in horror plots.

#69: Zero Gravity

“Alien: Romulus” (2024)

For a sequel to a long-running franchise, this entry still has plenty of surprises. This includes a new way to fight the xenomorphs. Rain and her trusty android are cornered, but a rifle and zero gravity help. Aliens start to float and make for much easier targets. They’re also thrown off their usual moves, making it harder to attack. Some well-placed shots take each one out and send their acid flying. “Alien: Romulus” is never more tense or exciting than this late-game scene. Just when you think it could all crumble, the hero finds a way to outsmart her otherworldly predators.

#68: One Way

“It Comes at Night” (2017)

To survive an apocalypse, a family lives a secluded life in a remote home. They have one door that accesses the house and another behind that. This helps centralize all of their worries, with every other entry way boarded up or inaccessible. It’s especially helpful when another group shows up to complicate things. The rules might be strict, but they ensure that there’s no extra surprises at all hours of the day. Many movie characters over the years might’ve benefitted from the same concept. With this film, doomsday preppers could learn a thing or two.

#67: Iodine

“28 Years Later” (2025)

Ralph Fiennes is a mystery in “28 Years Later,” with his whereabouts and motives proving elusive. The hero finally meets Dr. Ian Kelson and realizes the latter is a wizard with the undead. More specifically, he’s figured out that the infected don’t love iodine. It makes him look extra frightening for the average human as well. Along with his inventive blow darts, the man might just be the most resourceful of the entire cast. Fiennes’ reserved performance only makes the guy that much more compelling. Regardless of what happens in the sequels, Kelson might be the safest character to work alongside.

#66: Zombies Ignore Animals

“Dawn of the Dead” (2004)

When the survivors need to send important items to a neighbor, they realize that they can use a dog. It turns out that the zombies in this “Dawn of the Dead” don’t react to animals. As the humans watch from the rooftop, they see Chips slip by unscathed. You could see a system like this working well with a fully-stocked building. Things get complicated when Nicole goes after the pet, but it’s hard not to blame her for wanting to save it. The survivors leave for another area and you could imagine them using the same method elsewhere.

#65: Cheeseburger Order

“The Menu” (2022)

In a movie full of fine dining, this one features a surprisingly simple dish. Anya Taylor-Joy’s heroine wonders about escaping the deadly dinner. By the end, she forces the evil chef’s hand by asking for a burger. The order wins the guest a way out and a safe journey off the island. Other customers try to run or reason with the antagonist, but this special task proves to be the golden ticket. It’s among the more unlikely and surprising strategies in horror movie history. As the others await their fiery fate, Margot can eat her food safely from a boat.

#64: Livestreaming in Bathroom

“Trap” (2024)

Attending a concert with his daughter, Cooper Abbott must escape the venue with the headliner Lady Raven. This kidnapping prompts the singer to take the villain’s phone and lock herself in the bathroom. She’s the only person that’s been able to thwart the man up to that point. Taking advantage of the situation, Raven calls on her fans to help find another hostage. Abbott is unable to steal the device away before the livestream. The performer puts her own life on the line, using social media and her audience to make a difference. M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller lets the heroic character improvise in a smart twist.

#63: Self Surgery

“Prometheus” (2012)

Due to some shifty work by android David, Holloway ends up putting his love interest Elizabeth Shaw in danger. The archaeologist finds herself impregnated with a foreign being. With only minutes to save herself, Shaw takes drastic medical action. She uses equipment to surgically remove the alien. It’s among the more graphic scenes of the franchise, but the result saves the hero’s life. Most of the other crew members are not as lucky. The entire procedure goes well enough, with a fast recovery that allows the woman to leap into action and run away. We’re not sure if we could be brave enough to pull the same thing off.

#62: Sneaky Grenade

“Maximum Overdrive” (1986)

It’s not the best movie, but “Maximum Overdrive” is a good time. The film gives you a good idea of what a machine uprising might be. Emilio Estevez’s character uses a grenade against the platform truck, with his stealthy work making for a big boom. He causes a distraction and is able to deliver a major blow to the enemy. It’s more of a blunt decision, but one that does end up helping out. Stephen King’s world gets a little more wacky here as the heroes discover a loophole. You can call it ingenuity, or you can call it a half-baked scheme that pays off. It’s also one more explosive way to gain the upper hand and eventually escape.

#61: Living Underground

“Day of the Dead” (1985)

In this entry of the “Living Dead” franchise, George Romero puts his heroes underground. Their base is a virtual fortress separated by a large elevator. As long as everybody maintains their cool, this is even better than a shopping mall. The survivors are a group of hot heads and unstable people, making this adventure more complicated. This doesn’t change the fact that it’s a pretty secure place. As long as you don’t freak out and let a bunch of zombies inside, you’ll do just fine. This crew learns the hard way that you should take these rules seriously in order to survive the undead.

#60: Poking Hole in Plastic

“Terrifier” (2016)

If you’re a fan of the “Terrifier” series, you know that the villain usually gets his way. The first one in particular involves more than a few gruesome deaths. Art the Clown chooses to wrap plastic around Victoria’s head, but the latter has other ideas. She decides to poke a hole in the plastic and gasp for some much needed air. Rather than suffocating, the character chooses the best way to spare herself. It’s incredible that many victims in similar films haven’t tried the same trick. With such quick-thinking, this distressed damsel knows how to deal with this faulty murder weapon.

#59: Planting Bombs

“The Belko Experiment” (2016)

On the worst day of his life, Mike Milch must fight off his co-workers at Belko Industries. He’s then confronted by the people that organized this disturbing test. When Milch receives a debriefing, he reveals what he’s done to outsmart everyone. Every victim has an explosive device implanted in them that can go off with a switch. The hero secretly slips these into pockets, dashing for the board to unleash his plan. This sends almost everyone packing and lets the employee pick up a gun. With some amazing foresight, this everyday man becomes the ultimate warrior.

#58: Boarding Up House

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)

Ben and the other survivors perform a basic act in this movie. They aren’t inventing the act of boarding up a home, but they arguably influenced every zombie story afterwards. The characters know that it’s in their best interest to seal everything off from intruders. “Night of the Living Dead” features a great location and gives the characters a chance to secure it. The heroes know that they’ll be much better off inside, but eventually they have to leave. People are much better off staying behind the door and nailing it shut. The only trouble is finding a group willing to let you back inside.

#57: Pretending to be Zombies

“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

The lead character and his friends head for a local pub, but they need to get by the zombies. This inspires the team to do some acting. They all muster up their best impressions, fully prepared to walk by the undead. Not everyone in the group is up to the task though. If the apocalypse happens, you’d be much better off shacking up with some method actors. The plan doesn’t last all that long as some of the survivors can’t maintain focus. “Shaun of the Dead” does a brilliant job sending up the horror genre, poking fun at the nature of a walker’s stride.

#56: Evie Bites Walter

“The Invitation” (2022)

At the climax of this horror movie, “The Invitation” gives you a wedding scene to remember. Evie figures a way out of this horrific situation. Biting her new husband’s arm, the heroine becomes a vampire. This makes her a practical superhero in this movie world. With maximum power and a renewed confidence, the lead character fights back against De Ville’s crew. This all makes for an exciting and massive turn of events. Sometimes it’s best to give in to the process, but to use it all to your advantage. That’s certainly the case with the bride in this film.

#55: Escape Plan

“Event Horizon” (1997)

This rescue mission doesn’t go exactly as planned. Investigating a distress signal, a space crew discovers a horrifying story on the titular ship. The rescuers watch a disturbing video that shows them what happened. Upon seeing the evidence, Captain S.J. Miller tells everyone it’s time to go. Other horror movie heroes would want to stick around and take their chances. Thankfully in this story, somebody has the brains to step and tell everybody to leave. “Event Horizon” doesn’t end well for everybody despite this intelligent decision. At the very least, Miller tries to give his crew a fighting chance to not suffer the same fate.

#54: Shaving His Head“Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” (1984)

The many sequels of this franchise revolve around a fight with Jason. This climax is no different in its setup, but the villain might have met his match. Trish fends off Jason long enough for Tommy to show up with a bald head. The younger character stuns the masked killer, leading to a team-up of epic proportions. There’s also a useful machete up for grabs. The Jarvis family each take turns with the sharp blade, making for an intense and satisfying comeuppance. Who would’ve thought that a new haircut could foil one of the great horror icons?

#53: Getting Freddy & Jason to Fight

“Freddy vs. Jason” (2003)

Lori and Will are in a tight spot near the end of this film. The heroes and their friends find themselves between two titans, but then they discover an escape. Freddy is about to strike until Jason shows up. This gives the protagonists a chance to flee, with the main villains fighting each other. It’s just the chance the good guys need to make a mad dash. The two horror legends can’t resist duking it out, distracted by each other and eager to prove themselves. This helps in the short term even though characters like Kia don’t make it out.

#52: Pretending to Patch Things Up

“The Invisible Man” (2020)

Throughout this tense thriller, Cecilia Kass believes she’s being tormented by her ex-partner. The ending then gives Kass a chance to get her revenge. When her former boyfriend makes a surprise return, the hero decides to meet the man for dinner. Things take a violent turn with a knife and the potential use of an invisible suit. You’re left with a few questions, but you’re also pretty sure that Elisabeth Moss’s character made it all happen. She pretends to give the antagonist what he wants before turning the tables. After so much gaslighting, the victim manages to take charge and provide a convincing alibi for herself.

#51: Stashed Guns

“Sinners” (2025)

Smoke stashes away some high-powered weapons for a rainy day, or in this case a fight with some racist villains. He survives a terrifying night, a vampire ambush, and a brawl with his brother. By the time the sun comes up, you’d think he’d be worn out or worse. A gang then shows up to throw the main character for a loop. Using a tommy gun and more, Michael B. Jordan’s hero surprises his enemies and takes them all out. He could’ve easily been killed if he didn’t have that kind of firepower waiting. While he might be mortally wounded, the man still wins the day before seeing his family again.

#50: Ripley Sets Off the Fire Alarm

“Aliens” (1986)
Poor Ripley and Newt find themselves in a waking nightmare - surrounded by live facehuggers, completely defenseless, and unable to cry for help. They’re trapped in the station’s medical bay, and none of the other marines can hear their scuffle with the facehuggers. Fortunately, Ripley can think on her feet. She takes a lighter and puts the flame next to the room’s fire suppression system, causing an alarm to go off. Seeing the alarm, the marines rush to the medical bay, just in time to save Ripley and Newt.

#49: Making a Newspaper Curtain

“Train to Busan” (2016)
Featuring uncommonly smart characters for a horror film, “Train to Busan” follows a group of people stuck on a train with bloodthirsty zombies. These zombies are of the “28 Days Later” variety - screechy, speedy, and highly aggressive. In one scene, a horde of zombies are looking through a glass door at our heroes, and Seok-woo realizes that they’re attracted to movement. Thinking fast, Seong-kyeong grabs a water bottle and a newspaper. She splashes the water onto the glass and sticks the newspaper to the water, effectively making a curtain that prevents the zombies from seeing them. And with that, the threat is neutralized - for now.

#48: Selena Kills Mark

“28 Days Later” (2002)
Speaking of “28 Days Later,” this film revolutionized the zombie genre, introducing fast runners and new rules. In most zombie movies, characters have a couple days from when they’re infected until they turn. In “28 Days Later,” it’s twenty seconds. So you have to act fast, and that’s exactly what Selena does. A no-nonsense character focused purely on survival, she quickly deduces that Mark has been infected in the house attack. She simply reads the panic on Mark’s face, grabs her machete, and gets to work. It’s horrifically brutal, but it has to be done, and Selena is the one to do it.

#47: Setting the Room on Fire

“1408” (2007)
Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, and Mike Enslin takes that literally. Mike finds himself trapped in a haunted hotel room that plays tricks on his mind and taunts him with the ghost of his deceased daughter. Having no other means of escape, and nearing the end of his sanity, Mike makes a Molotov cocktail and burns the room down. This not only kills its malevolent spirit but allows firefighters to enter the gutted room and rescue him from the inferno. He reunites with his estranged wife, and all is well. Of course, Mike doesn’t make it in the director’s cut, but he’s still content with having defeated the room and freeing its trapped souls.

#46: Getting Distance From the Entity

“It Follows” (2014)
You’re being followed by a deadly entity - it doesn’t sleep, no one else can see it, and when it touches you, you die. So, what do you do? That’s the question at the heart of “It Follows,” and while some of the plans are pretty silly, others are surprisingly smart. One of the best ideas comes from Jeff, a student who had previously been “infected” by the entity. He implores the group to drive to a remote location and simply hide out. The entity has to walk, so it would be days before it arrives, giving them time to hide and think of more permanent solutions. The answer is so simple yet so effective.

#45: Using the Environment

“The Black Phone” (2021)
A kidnapping drama with a supernatural twist, “The Black Phone” sees young Finney getting taken by The Grabber and held inside his basement. But in this basement, he accesses the titular Black Phone, some kind of supernatural device that allows him to talk to The Grabber’s past victims. They all give him various pieces of advice for escaping the room, and Finney utilizes them all in the climactic battle to fantastic success. Watching all the pieces fall into place is incredibly satisfying, as are the various ingenious ways that Finney uses his tools to defeat The Grabber.

#44: Playing the Baby

“Barbarian” (2022)
Tess thinks she has it bad when her AirBnb is double-booked with Keith, but she has no idea that it’s about to get so much worse. She and Keith find a secret room in the basement of the house, and inside this room is a feral creature who kills Keith and takes Tess prisoner. Tess quickly deduces that the creature is a deformed woman who desperately wants a child, so she decides to play along and act as her baby. It’s deeply uncomfortable, watching Tess be embraced and stroked by the creature, but hey, it’s kept her alive up to this point, so good for her.

#43: Not Looking at the Alien

“Nope” (2022)
Jordan Peele’s “Nope” has many thematic ambitions, but it’s also a terrifying invasion film in the vein of classic Spielberg. Daniel Kaluuya’s OJ is a smart man, and he alone figures out the alien. It’s he who realizes that it’s a living organism and not a UFO, and having experience with trained animals, he realizes that the alien only attacks those who look directly at it. He then helps devise a plan to capture the alien on film, which is ultimately successful thanks to the help of Em and Holst.

#42: Sacrificing Herself

“Alien 3” (1992)
The third entry in the “Alien” franchise is often criticized for being too dark, and that extends to the somewhat dour ending. Ripley learns that she’s carrying an alien embryo and that Weyland-Yutani plans on turning it into a biological weapon. So Ripley has a choice - give birth to an alien that will be used for further violence, or sacrifice herself and end the vicious battle for good. She chooses the latter, throwing herself into a vat of molten lead. It’s certainly not a happy ending, and we were sad to see Ripley go, but we suppose she made the right - and smart - choice.

#41: Hiding in the Mall

“Dawn of the Dead” (1978)
In the zombie apocalypse, it’s everyone for themselves. And if that means taking over a mall and stealing all the goods for yourself, then so be it! This is what the heroes of “Dawn of the Dead” realize when they fly upon the empty mall while escaping Philadelphia. Deciding that it would be the perfect place to hide out for a while, they land on the roof, clear the mall of zombies, and make themselves a nice little nest from the stores’ contents. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before raiders come a-calling, but this plan worked splendidly for months. Who else was living this comfortably while the world fell apart around them?

#40: Blowing Up the House

“Fright Night” (2011)
We all know the major no-nos that come with being a vampire: can’t go out in the sunlight; can’t eat garlic; can’t touch crosses; and can’t enter someone’s home without an invitation. But what if there is no home? Colin Farrell’s Jerry finds a clever workaround to that last one in this fun remake. After realizing his neighbor Charley is wise to his undead nature, Jerry pays a visit. But his ploy to get invited in is rebuffed. Undeterred, Jerry takes a shovel to their backyard and digs up the gas line. From there, a little exposure and a spark are all it takes to blow up the house from the inside. The occupants are okay, but that’s one way to flush out potential victims.

#39: Calling a Cab

“Scream 2” (1997)
Do you ever watch a horror movie and think to yourself, “There’s nothing keeping them there; why don’t they just leave?” Well, Joel has the common sense to do just that in “Scream 2.” After finding out what happened to Gale’s camera operator in the first film, Joel is none too pleased to be on campus with a killer running around. So when Randy gets killed in his news van, he decides he’s had enough and skips town. Due to a script leak, Joel’s entire character had to be reworked, leaving him without a death or a resolution. It was reportedly actor Duane Martin’s idea to add in this scene. Wes Craven obliged, but brought back Joel for the ending anyway.

#38: Shredding Michael

“Halloween Ends” (2022)
While the so-called “ending” of “Halloween” received a mixed reception at best, you can’t deny that the town’s handling of Michael Myers isn’t 100% the right call. After we’ve seen Michael get knocked down and impossibly up again for decades, it seems like Laurie has finally ended the shape. But she too has seen this horror movie before. So with the help of the authorities, she leads Michael on one last tour of Haddonfield. With the townsfolk joining the therapeutic funeral procession, it all ends at the salvage yard where they dispose of Michael’s body in an industrial shredder. Yeah, no resurrections this time, we think.

#37: Burying Mia

“Evil Dead” (2013)
This movie takes its metaphor of getting clean to the utmost extreme. After Mia is possessed by the evil and two of their friends are killed, David feels resigned to simply set the cabin on fire with his sister in it. But his brotherly nature gets the better of him as he hatches a plan to save her. With the help of his best friend Eric, David is able to sedate Mia and drag her outside. There, he enacts a live burial. Mia technically dies, but so too does her possession end. David immediately exhumes her body and resuscitates her, effectively saving Mia’s life. It’s just too bad that David ends up burning in that cabin after all.

#36: Destroying the Cameras

“Escape Room” (2019)
Upon realizing that the shadowy company Minos stays in control as long as they can see the contestants, Zoey takes to smashing all the cameras in the hospital-themed room. While Jason and Ben are able to escape the old-fashioned way, Zoey remains resolute in her plan. At first, it seems like Zoey suffocates to death after being exposed to the poisonous gas. But without any eyes on her, she’s now able to breathe through an oxygen mask undetected. The cleanup crew thus thinks she’s dead, only to get a rude awakening. It’s thanks to Zoey’s four-dimensional thinking that she and Ben are able to turn the tables on the gamemaster and escape for good.

#35: Leg Upgrade

“Planet Terror” (2007)
Losing a leg to a zombie horde would pretty much spell doom to any other survivor, but not Cherry Darling. Sure, she’s a little down on herself at first, but a quick fix from her ex-boyfriend El Wray helps her escape. While the table leg is also a smart decision and helps Cherry take names, it’s the next upgrade that earns its spot on our list. When the chips are down and the wooden leg is broken, El Wray replaces it with an assault rifle with a rocket launcher attachment. Don’t ask us how it works without Cherry’s finger on the trigger, but in a grindhouse movie, all that matters is how undeniably badass she becomes.

#34: Goading the Demon

“The Exorcist” (1973)
Upon possessing the young Regan and reducing her to a grotesque husk of her former self, the demon Pazuzu effectively saps the hope of all those close to her. Father Karras and Father Merrin do everything they can to exorcize Pazuzu, but this proves futile and results in the latter’s death. Incensed at the demon and his inability to save the little girl, Karras flies into a rage. He beats Pazuzu senselessly, challenging it to take him instead. Pazuzu obliges, and Karras, already feeling its influence, hurls himself out a window to prevent himself from harming Regan. Karras may die, but Regan is safe - until the sequels, of course.

#33: Swimming Through the Coral

“Old” (2021)
The characters in this M. Night Shyamalan thriller are faced with a peculiar predicament: they’re trapped on a beach that causes them to age the equivalent of a year every thirty minutes. Trouble is, they can’t leave the beach else they lose consciousness, which can be fatal depending on their situation. After everyone else has died of physical or natural causes, siblings Maddox and Trent find themselves middle-aged, having been children just the day before. Thankfully, a secret message makes them believe a nearby coral reef may shield them from blacking out if they swim through it. It’s a big gamble, as they risk drowning if they’re wrong. But they’re not, as they ultimately make it out and expose those responsible.

#32: Checking Into a Psychiatric Ward

“Final Destination 2” (2003)
It doesn’t matter how good you are at reading the signs - cheating Death in this franchise will only get you so far, and eventually it will get you. This is what Clear comes to realize after losing fellow Flight 180 survivor Alex between films. Rather than continue to roll the dice, Clear has since committed herself to a psych ward where she spends her days in a padded cell where nothing can actually kill her. Since this is a story with character growth, however, Clear ultimately decides to check herself out in order to help other survivors. And as you might guess, it finally catches up to her in a hospital explosion.

#31: Muddying Up

“Predator” (1987)
This sci-fi action horror film is full of smart decisions, mostly by the titular creature, but we ultimately have to award the move that decides this game of cat and mouse. After his entire rescue team is picked off one-by-one by the Predator, Dutch is chased to a riverbank to seemingly meet his end. However, the Predator fails to see him, and Dutch realizes the mud inexplicably covering his body is masking him in his adversary’s heat vision. With time to prepare, Dutch becomes a hunter himself by setting a series of traps, making sure to muddy himself up real good in the process. It’s still a struggle, but Dutch’s keen insight into his enemy helps him win the day.

#30: Backing Up

“Us” (2019)
Another instance of knowing thy enemy, this one sees a family plagued by their evil doppelgangers. The youngest, Jason, gets time to observe and understand his, Pluto, realizing that his double mirrors his actions. After Jason’s father and sister dispose of their doppelgangers, the family is ambushed on the road by a flaming car. Upon seeing Pluto, Jason realizes it’s a trap and turns the tables. Before Pluto can cause a deadly explosion, Jason starts backing up, knowing Pluto will do the same. While Jason may back up directly into the arms of his mother’s doppelganger, Pluto backs directly into the flaming vehicle, catching himself alight and ending his tiny reign of terror.

#29: Infecting Himself“World War Z” (2013)

The zombies featured in this apocalyptic action horror flick are some of the deadliest put to screen. They’re incredibly fast, and infection spreads even faster, turning a human within seconds of being bitten. However, their overzealous predatory nature also turns out to be their downfall. Throughout the film, Brad Pitt’s Gerry Lane is able to observe them out in the wild, so to speak, and comes to believe the zombies will deliberately ignore anyone who’s terminally ill, wanting only healthy hosts. To prove this theory, Gerry fights his way through a research facility and injects himself with a lethal yet curable disease. Not only does it work, but Gerry also gives humanity a fighting chance against the undead scourge.

#28: Going All Survivalist

“You’re Next” (2011)
When it comes to smarts, there are few final girls quite like Erin. Unbeknownst to her adversaries, she was raised in a survivalist compound. So when masked assailants arrive to terrorize her boyfriend’s family, she doesn’t waste a second in setting herself up for success. She sets a slew of traps all over the house, severely injuring the intruders whether they’re just trying to enter or when they think they have her cornered. Seriously, Erin does so many things right that it’d be easier to list the things she does wrong. She might even be too lethal for her own good, as even after the killers and their conspirators are dead, an arriving police officer gets a wicked surprise.

#27: Electrocuting the Shark

“Jaws 2” (1978)
Shoving a scuba tank into a shark’s mouth before blowing it up with a gunshot is ingenious. But Chief Brody might just outdo himself in the sequel. After some local kids find themselves stranded in the ocean with a vicious great white, Brody again comes to the rescue. He tracks them down to an island that’s home to a relay station, but getting them to safety proves exceedingly difficult. He inadvertently uncovers a power cable, but when other lives hang in the balance, he uses it to his advantage. He whacks the cable repeatedly with an oar, gaining the shark’s attention, before getting the beast to bite down on the wiring. The electrocution is so severe that the shark immediately catches fire, absolutely roasted.

#26: Pipe Bomb Fakeout

“Tremors” (1990)
What do you do when you’re being hounded by giant, sand-dwelling worms? Use pipe bombs, of course! When the group of survivors finds themselves pinned down toward the end of the film, they get the idea to not only distract the Graboids with pipe bombs, but to fish with them, too. They successfully blow up one Graboid, but another gets wise and spits it back at them. Scattered, they’re forced to improvise, before a Graboid pins a few of them down at the edge of a cliff. With just one pipe bomb left, Val tries not to blow it up, but to scare it. After he does so, the thing panics to the point that it shoots right out the cliffside. And Graboids cannot fly…

#25: Using Audio Feedback

“A Quiet Place” (2018)
Every villain has a weakness - even aliens in a fun and original horror movie. “A Quiet Place” concerns a species of alien with super duper hearing. The creatures are able to detect even the slightest bit of noise from miles away and will devour whoever or whatever made the sound. But this type of extraordinary hearing comes with a cost, and young Regan utilizes it to her advantage. Realizing that her cochlear implant emits a high-pitched screech when disrupted, she puts it up to the microphone and amplifies the whine, causing an alien to react in enormous pain. This allows Regan’s mother Evelyn to kill the creature, and with their major weakness exposed, she pumps the shotgun and prepares for battle.

#24: Threatening Chucky

“Child’s Play” (1988)
Of course, we as the audience know that Chucky is an evil, living doll. But any rational person in that universe would never come to that conclusion. So when all signs point to her young son Andy being behind the recent killings, Karen doesn’t know what to believe. Thanks to her mother's intuition, however, a part of Karen hears Andy when he says Chucky did it. With nothing to lose, Karen ignites the fireplace and tells Chucky that if he doesn’t come alive, she’ll toss him in. Out of options, Chucky obliges. Granted, Karen’s got a whole new problem now, but at least she knows who the real enemy is.

#23: Power Loading

“Aliens” (1986)
Ellen Ripley has to be one of the most resourceful heroines in horror. In the same movie that sees her save herself from sabotage by activating the alarm, she also has the perfect answer for the alien queen: an exosuit power loader. While the power loaders are of course designed to move heavy objects, with the lack of an appropriate mech suit, it definitely works in a pinch. While the queen definitely has the upperhand in terms of arsenal, Ripley has the wherewithal to drop it in the airlock. Sure, she takes a tumble with it, too, but from there all it takes is a pulling of a switch and holding on for dear life.

#22: Using the Mask

“Prey” (2022)
Much like Dutch from the original “Predator” film, Naru too obscures her scent by eating the orange totsiyaa flower and dropping her body temperature. But it’s what she does afterwards that’s really brilliant. After getting the drop on the Predator, she steals its mask and leads it to a trap. Sure, there’s still a physical battle to be had, but Naru’s picked up a thing or two. For one, she knows that its projectiles use a targeting system attached to its mask. When the Predator’s stuck in the mud, it fires directly at Naru. However, Naru’s positioned the mask to train its crosshairs right at the thing, and the projectile whips around and takes the Predator out instead. Looks like the predator becomes the prey.

#21: Nullifying the Reverse Bear Trap

“Saw VI” (2009)
Mark Hoffman is a pretty detestable villain. But even we can’t help but be impressed when he beats the seemingly unbeatable reverse bear trap. Ex-wife to the deceased John Kramer, Jill enacts his last will and testament by dealing with his rogue accomplice. After ambushing him, Jill straps Hoffman to a chair and outfits him with the iconic reverse bear trap. But this time around, there’s no key and no game to be played. Having to think fast, Hoffman uses the device’s weight to break his own hand and free himself from the restraint. Then, he shoves his face between two metal bars in the door’s window, preventing the trap from opening completely. It mangles his face, but he also lives to see another movie.

#20: Face Off

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
Is there a villain - let alone a horror movie villain - smarter than Hannibal Lecter? Seriously, not even we could’ve concocted such a dastardly escape plan if given an eternity to come up with it. Through his dealings with FBI trainee Clarice Starling, Lecter’s able to upgrade his prison digs. Only he’s more interested in escaping from them. After picking his handcuffs and incapacitating the guards, Lecter does the unthinkable. He feigns his own escape by surgically removing one of their faces and throwing it over his own, tricking first responders into thinking they’re saving one of the victims. By the time the authorities find the real body, Lecter’s already in an ambulance ensuring his freedom.

#19: Drawing Blood“The Invisible Man” (2020)Stabbing yourself in the wrist doesn’t seem like a great idea on the surface, but when you’ve got an invisible foe, you have to think outside the box. Knowing her tormentor wants her alive, Cecilia stabs herself with a pen, faking her own death to catch the Invisible Man’s attention. Lo and behold, he pops up right beside her, close enough for Cecilia to get in some solid jabs at the suit. The attack proves effective enough to get Cecilia out of the mental institution, and all it took was drawing a little bit of blood.

#18: Staring at the Corner
“Blair Witch” (2016)
When your big bad has its own legend, it’s best to use that to your advantage. In this return to the found-footage legend of the Blair Witch, our heroes made sure to do their homework first. As James and Lisa arrive at the original Blair Witch house, they find themselves at a considerable disadvantage against the vastly overpowering witch. According to legend, however, she can only kill them if they look right at her, so they stare at the corner to stay alive, even using their camcorder to look around without getting killed. Although they’re eventually outsmarted back, at least they managed to temporarily outsmart her.
#17: Turning on the Car Lights
“Lights Out” (2016)
When you’re dealing with the literal personification of fear of the dark, there’s not much you can do when it’s nighttime. Diana can only be seen in the dark, and that’s where her power comes from. Bret is thwarted and attacked at every turn in his attempts to escape the nightmare creature. Just before he bites the dust, however, he uses his phone as a light to ward Diana away, only to be caught again outside. This time, however, his car is parked in front of him, and he activates the headlights with his keys. Quick thinking, Bret! #16: Using a Pig
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003)
Good things come in small packages. On her own against the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface, Erin has virtually no way to fight back, so she runs into a nearby slaughterhouse to hide. Tucking herself away in a hall full of lockers, Erin covers her mouth and tries to remain silent, but she also has a four-legged friend along to help. Murderer approaching, Erin desperately holds her breath before Leatherface hears a noise and opens a locker. Distracted by the pig inside, Leatherface doesn’t even see Erin until she comes down at him with a meat cleaver, taking his arm and chainsaw off in one clever switcheroo.

#15: Burning the Book as a Distraction

“Misery” (1990)
There’s only so much you can do when you’re immobilized, and no one knows you’ve been kidnapped. Sure, Paul’s last attempt at escape isn’t as elaborate as his previous ideas, but it works. Trapped and forced to write a sequel to his captor’s favorite story, Paul ends up burning it right after he’s finished it, destroying all the answers it had to any unanswered questions. While Annie desperately tries to remedy the situation, Paul uses the distraction to finally end the nightmare he’s endured. #14: Setting a Trap
“The Final Girls” (2015)
It’d be pretty cool if we could be transported into our favorite movies, wouldn’t it? Well, unless it’s a horror movie and you could actually die. Trapped inside the silver screen, Max and her friends must find a way to defeat their masked terrorizer, Billy. They decide to set a trap for him, making weapons, luring him out, and attacking him. While it is a good plan involving flaming arrows and a bucket of gasoline, a lot of friendlies die. But at least we get the kick-ass, self-referential slow-mo escape scene.

#13: Using a Hanger as a Weapon

“Halloween” (1978)
Surviving a horror movie means being able to turn anything into a weapon. Chased down by the menacing Michael Myers, Laurie finds herself in the hardest babysitting job of her life, having to protect herself and the children from the seemingly invincible lunatic. Thinking quickly, she fashions a blade out of a coat hanger, and stabs Myers in the eye, injuring him long enough for him to get shot by Dr. Loomis.
#12: Giving Himself the Chainsaw Hand
“Evil Dead II” (1987)
When you’ve lost a limb, there’s no need to completely lose hope. Forced to chop off his own possessed hand, Ash makes the most out of the situation. After all, he still has to face off against the deadites, right? When a demonic force is physically and psychologically destroying you, you’re going to have to be a little unhinged yourself to fight back. And sometimes that means sticking the stump of your own hand into a freaking chainsaw. Let’s hope he doesn’t get an itch.

#11: Using a Pen to Stab a Hole in Your Throat

“Saw V” (2008)
It’s rare to call anyone smart for stabbing themselves in the neck, but it might just save your life in a pinch. Hunting the Jigsaw Killer, FBI Agent Strahm stops one killer only to be caught by another, finding himself in his own disturbing trap in the process. Waking up in one of the few unbeatable traps of the series, Strahm is seemingly doomed as the box encasing his head quickly fills with water. Already beating one Jigsaw Killer, Strahm uses the pen in his pocket to perform a tracheotomy on himself, allowing him to breathe until he’s saved. Talk about thinking outside the box. 

#7: Shoot the Bad Guy in the Head to Make Sure

“Scream 2” (1997)
The gang in the “Scream” series knows how to survive a horror movie, even using Internet calls as far back as the ‘90s to save themselves. However, one thing the group was particularly ignorant of the first time around was making sure the killers were even dead. But in the sequel, Sidney Prescott doesn’t mess around. After seemingly killing Mickey and Mrs. Loomis, Sidney and Cotton take a breath before Mickey comes back, getting immediately shot by Sidney and Gale. Learning her lesson, Sidney shoots Loomis in the head just to be safe.

#6: Turning Household Objects on a Killer

“Hush” (2016)
When she’s terrorized in her home by a crossbow wielding invader, Maddie uses everything she can grab to defend herself. The killer assumes that because she’s deaf and unable to speak, she’s helpless; but that’s far from the case, as he soon learns. In the final scuffle, she sprays insecticide in his face and uses a smoke alarm to rob him of his sight and hearing. She lands the final blow with a corkscrew. As a writer, Maddie is always reworking scenarios in her head. Luckily for her, she found the one where the hero lives in the end.
#5: Setting Up Booby-Traps & Waking Up
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Home field advantages can work two ways. With her friends getting murdered around her, Nancy decides she has to take the fight against Freddy Krueger into her own hands. Realizing she can bring him out of her dream, Nancy booby traps her house and asks Don to help her once she gets Freddy on her turf. Managing to pull him out, Nancy gets Freddy into the real world and even lures him into her traps long enough to set him on fire. Not so easily defeated, however, Krueger of course returns.

#4: Pushing the System Purge Button

“The Cabin in the Woods” (2012)
This movie contains almost every horror movie cliché in the book, and it’s damn entertaining for that exact reason. After Dana and Marty find themselves pinned down by a dozen armed and dangerous security forces, there’s only one thing left to do: push the system purge button. Sure, in retrospect, it doesn’t seem like a good alternative, but it appears to work out okay for them. The button releases all the captive monsters, and boy do they have a great time tearing everyone to pieces - giving Dana and Marty time to escape. It begs the question though; why does this button even exist in the first place?
#3: Scientific Method
“The Thing” (1982)
The researchers in this claustrophobic horror classic are faced with quite the conundrum: how do you find a monster that can look like your friends? Using their brains, however, the surviving members of the arctic facility go about revealing the alien in the most rudimentary way possible: a simple blood test. Knowing the creature’s blood will try to protect itself, R.J. MacReady takes a sample of everyone’s blood and heats it with a copper wire. As he dips the wire in Palmer’s blood, the sample jumps from the dish and flees, revealing the alien among them.
#2: Picking Cotton Out of the Chair
“Get Out” (2017)
“Get Out”’s critical reception was well deserved: the film delves into issues of racism as well as themes typical to the horror genre, while featuring a main character that is far from clueless in almost every regard. Right from the get-go, Chris has a strange feeling about the family he’s staying with. When your possible future mother-in-law is a hypnotist who wants to make you docile enough for a brain transplant, there’s only one thing you can do: make sure you don’t listen to her. Chris literally picks cotton to keep himself alive by using his chair’s stuffing to block his ears, and then breaks free to take his revenge. Ingenious.
#1: Danny Stopping His Snow Footprint Trail
“The Shining” (1980)
Never doubt the resourcefulness of a kid at death’s door. Running for his life from his deranged and homicidal father, Danny heads for the hedge maze at the snowed-in and very haunted Overlook Hotel. Knowing he can’t outrun his father forever, Danny realizes he has to throw his dad off the scent, and ditches running for a better plan. Backtracking through his own steps and hiding, his father reaches the end of his trail and proceeds to search aimlessly for him in the giant maze. Following his own prints out of the maze, Danny runs into his mother’s arms, leaving dad to suffer in the cold.

Did we forget another intelligent choice from your favorite horror? Let us know in the comments below.