MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > What's up with this film trope?

What's up with this film trope?

posted 4 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8305)
19 replies | jump to latest

Our hero goes to someone's house and knocks on the door. No answer. So our hero tries the door and if it's unlocked they walk inside while calling the person's name.

No one in the real world who isn't a friend or a relative would ever do any shit like that. You can't just walk into someone's house and snoop around just because you intend to see the occupant and door was unlocked.

Every time I see this it jars me out of the movie/show because it's just so ridiculous. No one does that shit!

[–] abigolcwock (517) 4 years ago

I definitely do this with my best friend's house, but his door is always open during the day (unless he aint home) so that probably helps.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Lazy writing.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I've done it in real life, with close friends who don't lock their doors, or who say "Oh for heaven's sake don't stand outside waiting for me to hear the doorbell, just let yourself in!". And they've said it several times, and sounded like they mean it.

Because it's not normally something one does in real life, but in films... isn't it usually done by investigators who are going to find a corpse in the house?

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8305) 4 years ago

Often it IS investigators, but they still have no legal right to just walk in like that because they're usually going to just interview someone, not because they have a prior belief that there's someone dead in the house.

I'm pretty sure "They didn't answer the door" would not hold up in court when charged with a violation of the fourth amendment.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I think there is an exception if you feel someone is at risk in some way.

Regardless though if you think someone is at risk then wouldn't you just call the cops?

I also like it when the door is locked so they walk around the house like a burglar and find an unlocked door or window.

Or in some cases just force enter.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8305) 4 years ago

Ha, yeah, good call on people just testing the house until they find something that will open.

In the real world people just go, "Guess they're not home. I'll come back later."

Sometimes they'll see a car in the garage and THAT'S when they start trying to get in. But that shit still doesn't fly with me. Maybe the person is asleep or in the shower or just doesn't want to deal with visitors. It still doesn't make sense to start breaking and entering.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

In this day and age of mobile phones, the internet, texting etc I think most people would call/text ahead as well to make sure the person is home and actually wants company/will let them in. I know that doesn't apply if you think some one is at risk but you get people entering houses even when they are just there for a visit and no one answers the door.

Yeah, maybe they went in someone else's car, went for a walk etc.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I was watching a show last night where that resulted in the neighbour getting accidentally shot as the owners were hiding in the bathroom thinking a hitman was coming

[–] kuku (3510) 4 years ago

When I was a kid, in country villages people used to leave the door open. If the door was open, that meant there were somebody in the house. If you knew them, you didn't ring, you just entered and called them out loud. You even could move in and go to the kitchen to see if they were there, since the kitchen used to be the heart of house.

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 4 years ago

My parents (also country town dwellers) were more cunning. They would lock the front door and leave the back door unlocked even at night when we were sleeping. So the burglars (not that there was anything worth stealing) or psychos were expected to try the front door and then just leave.

[–] kuku (3510) 4 years ago

That was a good trick! ^_^

[–] Redsfan001 (6007) 4 years ago

You sure can, it is called a welfare check of a friend/neighbor.

Better to have someone with you at the time.

It is seeming stranger now because we don't know our neighbors anymore.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8305) 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure for a welfare check you have to have some strong belief that the person is in danger. Often in movies/shows, people see themselves in even when there is no evidence of the person needing any help.

[–] samoanjoes (51037) 4 years ago

I can't stand that. I've seen cops do it in movies. Their intentions might be good but they can't just do that.