Developing a horror script. (1 Viewer)

[warrenm]

My friend and i are currently attempting to develop a horror film. We are brainstorming ideas, but i was wondering if anyone here has ever written or attempted to write one. Does anyone know any good websites that will help, maybe how to start, what to stay away from, stuff like that. Any help, or suggesions would be greatly welcomed and thanked.

 

[Lpspider]

First off, it'll be hard. The worst part is that the horror film industry, though popular, isn't really unique. Strive for something new that hasn't been done before, and I'll strike it rich.

 

[mammamaia]

what do you mean by 'develop...a film'?... are you planning to write/direct/shoot it yourselves?... to what end?... as a competition entry?... for a school project?...

or, do you just mean 'write a screenplay' for one and hope to sell it to a prodco?...

 

[warrenm]

I will be writing, directing, acting in, producing, soecial effects, basically i am the one man army here. I have friends back home and at school who are going to help out, but i developed an idea, and now i am attempting to write a script for it. I know it has to be original, and the idea is pretty common, but i think if i can write convincing dialouge, and shoot it correctly it will be pretty good. I am just looking at maybe how to write scenes of suspense, and how to write a scary moment, i would think it is different then in a story or novel.

And sorry about not replying for so long, work has been a killer.

 

[Stewart]

what to stay away from

On this question there's little more that can be said but watch as many horror movies as you can. Not just Hollywood schlock but international horror coming from Japan, Korea, China, UK, Germany, etc.

Also, look back over the classics, your Universal Pictures movies, the early German movies (Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Doctor Cagliari).

Try to avoid teen horror and slasher flicks, and, if you must use an archetype such as vampires or werewolves, subvert it. The best horror is less visual and more psychological, playing on fears rather than grossing out. I know that, if there was a monster, I'd prefer never to see it; the ambiguity about its existence would be worth chewing over.

 

[MurielDLongo]

Recently I decided to write up a horror novel, and I was struggling with the same question. I found some great tutorials (like this one: [Link Removed]), took all my sacred fears together and started to write. But immediately I realized how hard to manage the thrilling story. Maybe someone can recommend me some tutorials for gaining horrifying inspiration?

 

[Eric Romano]

Writing a horror script is mostly inspired by novels if you see the most popular ones like The Ring, Exorcist, Bram Stoker's Dracula, etc. I'd say you should watch many of these movies and how they make the audience anticipate something to happen, give an adrenaline rush and bam! right on. I've been wanting to write an article on how suspense writing has changed over the period and so I'm reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde online for a while now and I'm targeting the suspense scenes in Ring trilogy and The girl Next Door later and want to compare how the writing had changed with time.

 

[moderan]

My friend and i are currently attempting to develop a horror film. We are brainstorming ideas, but i was wondering if anyone here has ever written or attempted to write one. Does anyone know any good websites that will help, maybe how to start, what to stay away from, stuff like that. Any help, or suggesions would be greatly welcomed and thanked.

Stay away from recommendations on amateur web sites. Ask a screenwriter. They are widely dispersed on social media.