I hate when cops just ignore the main characters asking for help against a supernatural threat

I intensely dislike a specific scene that shows up commonly in urban fantasy. I say urban fantasy because that is the broad genre, but more specifically I mean stories set in our world where someone encounters a fantastical threat cops could deal with but not the isolated protagonist. It doesn’t have to be horror, but usually this scene is from horror or horror-esque movies.

This scene occurs whenever the main characters have some break in the story that would allow them enough time and freedom to contact the cops or some other kind of help. The movie of course has to address this, because otherwise it would be a plot hole. However, if the cops did get involved the threat would be quite easily dealt with and the movie over. So, what to do? Well of course, just have a scene where the main characters ask for help, but no one believes them. “A ghost is after you? Get out of here you silly little goober!”

I detest this trope because it doesn’t make any sense. First off, in this scenario just ignoring the person claiming the supernatural is nowhere close to a human reaction. There are tons of very real situations where a person is asking for help from something that is impossible, but is still in danger from something real. Maybe they are overdosing on drugs, or hallucinating to some illness, or traumatized from some kind of serial killer in such a way they perceive the killer as supernatural when they’re not. Just ignoring them would be a terrible idea. Maybe some people would dismiss it as a prank, but like. Would their loved ones? Would there seriously be no further investigation from anyone?

However, that isn’t even my real frustration with this trope. What really irks me is that all the main characters have to do to get help is just omit the supernatural elements. For example, this scene occurs in the disney movie hocus pocus. The kids of that movie go up to someone in a cop Halloween costume and tell the person that witches are after them. The person thinks they’re just pulling a Halloween prank.

All the kids had to do in this situation is just say “people are after me, I need help” and leave out the fact they’re witches. Most people would help children who say that. It isn’t even a lie, just not the full truth. The witches in that movie would have been fairly easily dealt with by intervention from anyone who isn’t a child.

Now, these are children and probably wouldn’t have realized this. People don’t always make good decisions in high stress situations. But it’s still frustrating as hell. Especially if in the rest of the movie the characters are clever in avoiding the supernatural threat and shown to be quite shrewd in survival. In order for the scene to work, everyone involved has to hold the idiot ball so audiences don’t ask why the characters don’t go get the cops.

Now, sometimes the cops are actually taken out by the threat, later in hocus pocus the whole town gets enchanted by the witches except for the main characters, and that’s fine. Or the main characters do get help, but it’s ineffective. Or the threat is something the cops would not be able to do anything against in which case this whole rant doesn’t really apply. But this specific explanation for why the main characters are on their own is infuriating.

I’m sure some people will argue that cops are lazy and corrupt which is why they don’t help. This argument doesn’t address why the main characters can’t get help from other sources, such as their families, but I’ll entertain it. Let’s assume that all cops in the world are as corrupt as they could possibly be. So racist and lazy they won’t even help with complaints of pedophilia or serial killers. The main characters can now just say “There are black people after me”, and the cops will come running.

I think what makes this worse for me is that it could be so easily subverted by the main characters deciding that involving anyone else, even armed authorities, would just get them hurt if they don’t know what they’re getting into, and they need to solve this alone as the the only people who are prepared to help. It would make the main characters far more active as protagonists and more heroic while addressing the plot hole.

This is kind of a specific scene that mostly only shows up in Disney original type movies and shows, but I feel it taps into something larger I dislike about a ton of fiction. That being, the authorities or the larger world has to be ridiculously incompetent for so that the plucky teenager is the one who solves the plot. In zombie movies, the zombies overrun the military but also get slaughtered en masse by people with bows; In horror movies, the police have to never ever investigate reports of violent crime; in kaiju movies the military has to resort to nuclear weapons after the first attempts at conventional warfare fail; and in fantasy movies the good guys have to lose horribly so the protagonist can defeat the dark lord alone.

Organizations just have a constant idiot ball placed on them in a good amount of fiction. To clarify, I don’t hate the base concept of storytelling where someone unordinary or in unordinary circumstances accomplishes major feats or when an organization is corrupt. I just find it is a little disappointing when everyone else in the world becomes passive except for the protagonist.

I don’t even particularly like creepypasta, but I found the SCP website refreshing because humans are actually allowed to be effective in organizations with a concerted effort to combat the supernatural in that universe. I also was pleasantly surprised in Wandavision when the organization made for protecting the earth showed up to protect the earth, and I remember being curious to see how S.W.O.R.D. would deal with what was essentially a supernatural hostage situation. But even in wanda vision, S.W.O.R.D. is later portrayed as evil despite most of the calls by the director being a better decision than what the main characters argue for, and his evil acts being nothing compared to what Nick Fury does on a regular basis.

There are some stories that portray how large organizations can fail to address problems which can be awesome. After all, it’s not like organizations don’t fail horridly in real life. But oftentimes everyone who isn’t the protagonist’s plucky band just gets swept under the rug especially when it would be more interesting for that not to happen. For example, the entire new republic in the star wars sequel trilogy getting destroyed in a single scene. All of them, every single one. There wasn’t any major fleet or planet that survived in working order. Just the resistance of like 25,000 people tops. Which then gets reduced to ten people in the equivalent of a space van.

This whole thing definitely has turned into a rant, but TLDR: I hate when the explanation for why only the protagonist can do anything in the plot is a really stupid explanation.

Run from Cops: The Art of Escaping (and Why You Shouldn’t)

Ah, the phrase “run from cops” brings to mind some rather colorful images, doesn’t it? Maybe you envision a high-speed chase, tires screeching, and the classic heroic music playing in the background. Or perhaps you imagine yourself running faster than Usain Bolt while clutching a bag of stolen donuts. Either way, it’s a wild ride, but we all know that running from the cops isn’t exactly the best life choice, right? So, let’s unpack this juicy topic with a sprinkle of humor and a dash of reality.

The Chase: Why Do People Run?

If you’ve ever found yourself pondering why anyone would run from law enforcement, you’re not alone. Some might say it’s the thrill, while others may feel cornered by their circumstances. The truth is, whether you’ve just finished your third speeding ticket of the week or accidentally parked in a no-parking zone and now fear the wrath of meter maids, the instinct to run can be strong.

But before you channel your inner Flash, let’s consider the consequences. Running might seem like the fastest way to avoid a ticket, but you might just end up with a record that could make your grandma drop her knitting needles in shock!

The ‘Run from Cops’ Playbook: Not Recommended!

1. The Classic Escape: You know, the dramatic sprint through alleyways and backyards while the cops are hot on your heels. Sure, it makes for a great movie scene, but in real life? Not so much. Just remember, there’s always a dog waiting to chew your shorts in those backyards.
2. Ducking into a Crowd: Ever seen someone try to blend in with a crowd when they spot a cop? It’s like a chameleon trying to fit in at a rainbow convention. Spoiler alert: it rarely works out.
3. The Disguise: If you’re going to run, you might as well do it in style! Throw on a wig or a fake mustache. Just make sure your getaway vehicle isn’t a clown car. Trust me; that’ll draw attention.
4. The Long Game: Some believe that patience is key. Why run at all when you can just hide behind your couch and binge-watch your favorite show? You might even forget what you were running from (or at least I hope you do)!

Instead of Running… Why Not Just Chat?

Instead of running from cops, why not run toward a more fun and engaging experience? At AntiLand, you can anonymously meet people, share your confessions, and find love without worrying about the law! Who needs the thrill of the chase when you can have the thrill of connecting with someone in a chat room filled with interesting characters?

Imagine this: you’re having a great conversation with someone who shares your love for tacos and conspiracy theories – and the only one chasing you is your own curiosity! No cops, no consequences, just pure fun. And with AntiLand’s unique avatars, you can be whoever you want without the fear of ever being recognized.

Final Thoughts

While the idea of running from cops might make for an entertaining story – or a wild video game – it’s not a path you want to take in real life. Instead, embrace the world of anonymous chatting, where you can explore your wild side without the need to sprint away from the law. So, next time you feel the urge to make a run for it, remember: you can always just log into AntiLand instead!