TV Jots

The main plot of “The Sacrifice” is simple enough. Four men clearly of questionable character are stranded in a remote, snowy area after their car is disabled by something that’s not supposed to be in the middle of the road. And, yes, it’s a trap.

As a result of the unexpected setback, the travelers are forced to seek shelter in a fort way over yonder, where three very blonde sisters live what initially seems like an Amish lifestyle, complete with long dresses that would be all the rage on Little House on the Prairie. Then right on cue, weird stuff quickly begins to happen involving lips, huge holes in the floor, and deranged-looking people chained to beds.

Fine. Unfortunately, one of the things that I hate most about most horror flicks — and which fans of the genre run into all too often — is the sheer stupidity of the characters. For instance, say you stumble upon a deserted house or fort or whatever in the middle of nowhere. Are you going to eat the food the weird strangers offer? Stranded or not, the answer is a deafening, “Heck no!”

Although such an event could be a red herring, as it is on “The Sacrifice,” the same still goes for leaving anybody in your group alone with the strangers and wandering off on your own alone with the strangers and so on. There’s just certain things normal, rational human beings don’t do that the dumb characters in horror movies do all the time for no good reason other than to make the plot evolve in a certain, therefore obvious, way.

That’s my beef with “The Sacrifice.” I had hoped Fear Itself would start with a strong episode devoid of the common horror clichés viewers have come to know and loathe over the years. Instead, I was knocked in the face by one of the most prolific and derided faults of the genre.

Stupid people — they’ll turn you off every time. Better luck next week, NBC.

The Verdict: C

Tags: Fear Itself, NBC, The Sacrifice, television, tv