Horror film formula

trueindie

trueindie

I've come to the sad conclusion that given my limited capacities, it will be impossible for me to break into the film business in any way other than by making a really bad horror film. (I mean no disrespect to serious people of the horror filmmaker persuasion). The problem is that I don't like most horror films and I don't really watch many. So I don't know much if at all about them. That is why I'm trying to be an expert at this by next week ;)

So I was just googling "how to write a horror film script" and some interesting pages came up.

I was wondering if anybody here had some keen insights, even if it is a "make a blair witch" advice, on how to write that killer horror film idea that takes place in one haunted house or bathroom or basement or whatever.
 
You could always go the comedy route, where you're either so cliche or so ridiculous that people notice.

http://vimeo.com/5048966

Note how this is in the completely opposite direction from, say, Funny Games (which undoubtedly required a deep understanding of psychology and fear, rather than a budget for extra fake blood).
 
Blood and guts splatter-fests enjoyed a poorly received brief resurgence.
Grindhouse is also making a poor flash in the pan.

Rubber monster suits are a no-go.

Rubber tires with telekinetic powers also don't fare well.

Gross without gore worked kinda sorta well for The Human Centipede.

Insidious was shot for $1.5m by the same guy that shot Saw for <$1.5m.

Beware vampires and werewolves, although creature features are poised for a resurgence.

Adam Green has made a few semi-popular lobudget films.
 
Making a film in a genre you do not know, in my opinion, is not the way to go.

Personally, I specialize in Drama and Horror/Thriller, I know the genres well and rarely stray from them on any of my projects, unless of course it is a minor role that doesn't have anything to do with the script of genre. If I were to work on some other genre that I am not familiar with, I would be stuck, and I'm sure it would turn out terrible.

Moral of the story is to stick with your own specialty.
 
Nope.

Nor Hobo With a Shotgun.
Nor Grindhouse.
Nor Deathproof.
Nor Machette.
Nor Hostel's I & II
Nor Dawn of the Dead.
I saw Saw I & II and quit while I was "a head". :lol:
Devil's Rejects has some merit.
Might eventually see 1,000 corpses.
Was Pandorum even supposed to be horror?
Daybreakers = effing retarded.
The Crazies (almost halfway down) makes for a better back story than film, as does Cabin Fever.

I don't even think Dusk til Dawn is particularly clever, although Salma is/was a goddess then. (G! D!)

I'd like to see Frozen.


Honestly, I don't even know why I watch "horror" movies.
They don't entertain me.
I guess I just don't like being absolutely ignorant of the genre.
 
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Sorry to respond with no keen insights. I'm not sure what you mean by limited capacities. I was just reading, skimming really, something about how horror as a genre has the positive quality of being a foot in the door. A number of good filmmakers have gotten started that way. I think it was Ebert I was reading. You are a good filmmaker. I suppose it could be a way for you to get recognized. But like 2001 said, I think you're approaching it the wrong way. If it is the route you think you want to go, why not make a good horror film. If you don't care for the genre yourself, my thinking is that if it was good enough for great filmmakers like Kubrick or Scott, then why not look on the upside, that is, what good movies horror films can be? I do have some ideas about what is scary in a movie...but I doubt they'd be very helpful. I haven't studied it. I mention that because there are people who have studied it and I'll bet there's stuff up on the net to help.

Edit: But like others have said, I might rethink working in a genre that you really just do not like.

:)
 
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Beleave me when i say horror fans will know if you care about making a good horror movie or if you are half-assing it...take Uwe Boll for an example...horror fans despise this director...he cares nothing about what he is making. It shows in his work. If your are trying to use horror as a stepping stone i warn you dont. Horror fans are merciless in their criticism and it can follow you especally if you are starting a career. But! if you come up with something different and have excitment about it, that will show thru! So my advice is to get or make a script you can fully stand behind...remember we make movies because we love movies..
Just think about all these remakes that have gone nowhere in the horror genere, and how maney times you said to yourself this is the reason i hate horror movies...do not add to the crap that is being pushed out nowadays.
 
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2001 Productions said:
I'm not sure setting out to make a bad film in a genre you don't respect is necessarily the right choice...but what do I know? :hmm:
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Dude, the amount of things I don't know is just... it would mean I couldn't try anything.

The fact is that I don't know anything about any genre. I do like war movies and social dramas. But I can't afford to make them. Horror film watchers and distributors and buyers don't seem to require high cinematography standards, according to something I read recently. And since my abilities seem limited,... I was thinking I'd take a stab at it.

I'm sure it's going to be a failed effort, but why not try
:hmm:
 
Fade_To_Black said:
Making a film in a genre you do not know, in my opinion, is not the way to go.

Personally, I specialize in Drama and Horror/Thriller, I know the genres well and rarely stray from them on any of my projects, unless of course it is a minor role that doesn't have anything to do with the script of genre. If I were to work on some other genre that I am not familiar with, I would be stuck, and I'm sure it would turn out terrible.

Moral of the story is to stick with your own specialty.
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What if you have no specialty. I don't think I have one. But I still would like to make a movie that sells. So I was just thinking. I'm sure you're right though.
 
I'd like a suggested viewing list of actually "good" contemporary horror movies.
None of this The Shining thirty year old sh!t.
In the last five years.
What horror films rocked your socks off and are now "must see" - farrrr away from closet cult fetishes.

I know, I know. "Good' is pointlessly subjective.
I'd hazard a guess that horror is like porn in that sure, there's generally attractive T&A, but once the novelty wears off perverts start specializing their interests.
Likewise, there are splatter devotees, torture porn hounds, over the top grindhouse fans, etc.

But what are some good, all around modern horror shows.


I dunno if I'm qualified to identify any.

The Descent, maybe?

Let the Right One In is more drama - with supernatural elements to it! than straight horror. But I liked it! :)
Let Me In - not so much.

The Burrowers was... just above completely retarded. Just semi-retarded.


Psychosis Media said:
Beleave me when i say horror fans will know if you care about making a good horror movie or if you are half-assing it... Horror fans are merciless in their criticism and it can follow you especally if you are starting a career.
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+1
 
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richy said:
Sorry to respond with no keen insights. I'm not sure what you mean by limited capacities. I was just reading, skimming really, something about how horror as a genre has the positive quality of being a foot in the door. A number of good filmmakers have gotten started that way. I think it was Ebert I was reading. You are a good filmmaker. I suppose it could be a way for you to get recognized. But like 2001 said, I think you're approaching it the wrong way. If it is the route you think you want to go, why not make a good horror film. If you don't care for the genre yourself, my thinking is that if it was good enough for great filmmakers like Kubrick or Scott, then why not look on the upside, that is, what good movies horror films can be? I do have some ideas about what is scary in a movie...but I doubt they'd be very helpful. I haven't studied it. I mention that because there are people who have studied it and I'll bet there's stuff up on the net to help.

Edit: But like others have said, I might rethink working in a genre that you really just do not like.

:)
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Awwww Richy. You're so nice. My ego is up in the clouds right now my friend. I don't think I can write anymore, I'm so farklempt.

No, I don't want to make a bad horror film. I want to make a good one. I just didn't want to sound like I knew what I was doing, because, I kind of don't.

I've got an idea for a film, but I want to involve religion and revenge into it. I can work on a story, that to me wouldn't essentially be about horror. But the trick for me in writing would be to figure out how to include blood and gore, which horror film watchers seem to like so much and I don't even understand.

So my goal right now is to try to understand blood and gore and figure out if I can actually write something that I can shoot for a reasonable budget.

I actually was reading about genres that could get money for filmmakers, and horror was EVERYWHERE. So this thread.

Hey Richy, thank you again for those kind words. I can't tell you how much I love you right now :D
 
If you want sujestions of well acted horror try

The Haunting 1963
The Legend of Hell House
Psycho 1960
Night of the living Dead 1968
Yeah these are old but they all have stood the test of time...you could learn by studying how they build suspense, how the story progressed...how there are other subplots woven with the other charcters and main plot...
 
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Psychosis Media said:
Beleave me when i say horror fans will know if you care about making a good horror movie or if you are half-assing it.
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No, no.. damn it. I want to make a good movie. forget what I wrote earlier. It was a bad joke. I'm obviously a terrible comedian.

I need more advice for making a good horror movie
 
trueindie said:
No, no.. damn it. I want to make a good movie. forget what I wrote earlier. It was a bad joke. I'm obviously a terrible comedian.

I need more advice for making a good horror movie
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LOL its all good,,,,i just want to warn you that horror fans really pay attition to their movie...i see no difference (thesedays) in horror fans and comic/scifi fans..

start with a simple concept first..as i read your treatment it sounded pretty good....then flesh out your charcters.....when the death secens come up then decide how much gore if any to use..the gore and blood decisions will come up during filming; because you have to account for how much budget you have and then you have to trust your spx man talents to see if it can be pulled off corectly.
 
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