How To Write a Horror Screenplay

Novices hone their writing skills by learning how to write a horror screenplay first because it is easier to be creative in this genre. Horror has been defined as emotional upheavals such as fear or extreme revulsion. Such screenplays strive to shock the viewers by their grisly or supernatural element involving deep seated fear, disgust, nightmares, disease, serial killer or a sinister antagonist. What is considered a horror movie varies from one decade to another and the age of the viewer. Keeping these basics in mind, we can better understand how to write a horror screenplay:

• Be original - Audience is not likely to take favorably to ideas that have already been used. Repetition of methods to create terror takes away the excitement, or rather the horror. Be creative, use some imagination and come up with novel ideas to frighten the daylight out of your viewers.

• Feel the terror you want to portray - Recall incidents that scared you out of your skin and put that sensation down on paper. By doing this you will automatically learn how to write a horror screenplay.

• Include a few memorably terrifying scenes - Such scenes become indelible in the minds of the viewers. The movie, TV show or the stage play will conjure up memory of those evil scenes whenever dread is mentioned, sending shivers down the spine.

• Proceed step-by-step - Build up the climax gradually, following a surprising beginning, some suspense a little later, culminating in the most dreadful scene towards the end. This way the scriptwriter can ensure the viewers' attention at all times. How to write a horror screenplay will not seem a daunting task if the writer knows how to create escalating levels of fear in the spectators.

• Make it seem real - Bring to life the gruesome experience. Unnatural occurrences put off the viewers who may watch the show but are not be impressed by it. Excessive falsehood turns what was meant to be a creepy show into a horror parody.

• Minimize special effects - Low budget movies appear unreal due to the use of poor quality computer graphics or animation. Try to keep them to a bare minimum.

For mastering the art of how to write a horror screenplay, watch horror movies by the dozens. Read as many scripts of this variety. It will help you to polish up your expertise and put in your best.The horror script that you create should either leave the audience in dread silence or screaming in fear of the worst. Such shows are to do with fright as much as thrill. Throw in a plot with which the panic can be intertwined and you will soon have the most bloodcurdling screenplay ready.

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The First Horror Film

Horror movies are famous all over the world for their essence of thrill, shock and suspense. It is violent, and enjoyment of them depends on an enjoyment of violence and is. All of the Characters from horror movies are important, but the BEST HEROES have a special place in our hearts.

In horror film plots, evil forces, events, or characters, sometimes of supernatural origin, intrude into the everyday world. Early horror films often drew inspiration from characters and stories from classic literature, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Later horror films, in contrast, often drew inspiration from the insecurities of life since World War Two, giving rise to the three distinct, but related subgenres of the horror-of-personality film, the horror-of-Armageddon film, and the horror-of-the-demonic film. The last subgenre may be seen as a modernized transition from the earlier horror films, expanding on the earlier emphasis on supernatural agents that bring horror to the world. Nonetheless, some major studios and respected directors have made forays into the genre, and more serious critics have analyzed horror films through the prisms of genre theory and the auteur theory. Some horror films incorporate elements of other genres such as science fiction, fantasy, black comedy, and thrillers. The horror genre is nearly as old as film itself. The first depictions of supernatural events appear in several of the silent shorts created by film pioneers such as Georges Méliès in the late 1890s, the most notable being his 1896 Le Manoir du diable (aka "The House of the Devil") which is sometimes credited as being the first horror film. Another of his horror projects was the 1898 La Caverne maudite (aka "The Cave of the Demons"). The early 20th century brought more milestones for the horror genre including the first monster to appear in a full-length horror film, Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre-Dame who had appeared in Victor Hugo's book, "Notre-Dame de Paris" (published in 1831). Many of the earliest feature length 'horror films' were created by German film makers in 1910s and 1920s, many of which were a significant influence on later Hollywood films.

Caligari was both controversial with American audiences, due to postwar sentiments, and influential in its Expressionistic style; the most enduring horror film of that era was probably the first vampire-themed feature, F. His most famous role, however, was in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), perhaps the true predecessor of Universal's famous horror series. , popularized the horror film, bringing to the screen a series of successful Gothic features including Dracula (1931), and The Mummy (1932), some of which blended science fiction films with Gothic horror, such as James Whale's Frankenstein (1931) and The Invisible Man (1933). Universal's horror films continued into the 1940s with The Wolf Man 1941, not the first werewolf film, but certainly the most influential. With the dramatic changes in technology that occurred in the 1950s, the tone of horror films shifted away from the gothic towards science fiction. The classier horror films of this period, including The Thing from Another World (1951; attributed on screen to Christian Nyby but widely considered to be the work of Howard Hawks) and Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) managed to channel the paranoia of the Cold War into atmospheric creepiness without resorting to direct exploitation of the events of the day.

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Horror Movies - Not For the Faint Hearted

Horror movies are one of the top entertainment genres that have taken the world by storm. These movies are designed to be scary to an extreme nature that allows the viewer to experience an adrenaline rush of a different kind. This article will give you some different information as to why horror movies are so popular and scary in this modern day and age. Here are a few things you may not have known.

A horror movie is classed as just that, horror. These movies are made with the intent of suspense, blood and gore, and with bone chilling special effects. There are many different themes that are used when making one of these movies. The usual themes are of a supernatural type effect, which may be off killer ghosts, never dying zombies, aliens and monsters, plus strange and dangerous creatures or mutants. They can also come as axe wielding maniacs, as well as chainsaw murderers, vampires, killer dolls, voodoo rituals and many other things that can be classed or used as a scary theme.

The best time to watch these types of movies for full impact is of a night. When watched of a night it adds more fuel to the fire, causing the suspense to heighten and the tension to build with anticipation. They are usual dark in nature, with little light so you cannot see the person who is dangerous to the victims. You also do not usually see the bad person until halfway through the show.

To add more suspense, special type of suspenseful music is added to build the moment. The music is one of the more important things because it keeps the viewers locked on what is about to happen. Without the music you would loose concentration in certain parts where it is suppose to build up until something frightening happens.

Horror films are something that is not for the faint heart. To watch a horror movie you need to be able to fully immerse yourself into what is happening. A great horror film will have you scared all the way through, as well as leave you with an eerie presence or sense when finished.

Horror films are popular in this day and age, so if you have not tried this genre yet, then why not give it a go and see what you have been missing out on all these years. But just remember you will be scared.

Read our list of the best Horror movies of the last 10 years at Horror Movies [http://www.themoviecity.com/category/horror/]. Read full-length movie reviews and other film industry news at The Movie City [http://www.themoviecity.com/].

A Home Horror Film Fest for Free

While the vicarious fear and spine tingling suspense delivered by a good horror film is enjoyed by fans, both avid and casual all year, it's during Halloween season when the appetite for a good, DVD delivered scare is at its highest. People gather around the screen and devour horror DVD after horror DVD. The problem is, the cost of all those great horror flicks can be downright scary. It is great to actually own classic horror films and continue to grow your collection, but the price of new DVDs can strike fear into the heart of budget conscious horror lovers.

Fortunately, there is an answer. Used DVDs and Blu-ray discs are available online for a fraction of the cost of new. You can pick up "The Haunting" without being haunted by the price. You can buy "The Shining" used and save a lot. It just makes sense. You can usually find the most popular titles used online, but the most fun can be searching for that horror sleeper. The movie that may not be as well known but still delivers more than its share of thrills and have-to-have-the-lights-on horror. Every good horror collection has a few movies that never made it big commercially but pack a powerful horror punch. These can be the most fun to watch as Halloween approaches. A good used product website will have many of these to choose from and, if it turns out to be a stinker rather than a sleeper you are not out much money.

There is absolutely no risk in buying used DVDs and Blu-Rays online. A good used product website will always guarantee their discs so you can build your horror library on a shoestring budget. You can get every "Friday the 13th" movie without killing your budget. You can watch all the great horror you want and never scream about the cost.

But wait, there's more. You can actually grow your horror collection for free. Most good used product web sites let you sell your old DVDs, CDs or games for cash or credit. Almost anyone who goes through their shelves will come across old music, movies or games that they just don't want anymore. Consumers can convert these products to cash that can use to buy low priced used horror DVDs and Blu-ray discs. You can have the best horror film fest in town, right in your own home and it can cost you virtually nothing.

Horror film fans need to be aware of the advantages of building their collection by visiting a popular used product web site. They can buy, sell and realize big savings while building a truly terrifying collection.

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5 Things I Hate About Recent Horror Movies

To go along with Zombie Cat contributor Gary Hamrick's recent angry rant about how much he hates "horror movies," I'd like to present my own feelings on the subject. Gary's column, while incendiary, isn't completely off base. Most horror fans have felt for a while that not enough strides have been made to further the genre. While the occasional diamond in the rough emerges from the dregs, it's still frustrating when a constant barrage of crap makes us look bad in the eyes of the common folk.

To this, I present five things (not necessarily in order, and by no means the only five) that drive me crazy about recent horror flicks.

1. OMG Moments

You know the scene - the teenie bopper lead character slowly makes her way down the hallway into her room where she heard a suspicious noise emit within. She creeps into the room softly calling, "Hello?" until she reaches the closet when SUDDENLY THE DOORS FLY OPEN OMG THE VIOLINS STRIKE SHE SCREAMS AND...it's her cat, Mittens. Mittens bounds away as the teenie bopper lead laughs and skips to the kitchen for ice cream (probably where she's attacked for real).

These "stings" or "scare chords" are usually just a cheap way to frighten the audience, give their heart a race to make up for how boring the rest of the film is. They've been going on for years and need to be toned down considerably, if not removed entirely. Think of other ways to shock the teens out of their seats, please.

2. "Torture Porn"

Let's get this out of the way: I'm calling for an end to the term, not necessarily the sub-genre, though I do have something to say about that too. At no point should a horror fan use the term "torture porn." Cole Abaius over at Film School Rejects published a piece on the subject in November, and I agreed with the vast majority of what he writes. Simply, "torture porn" doesn't exist. To claim a film has no artistic merit is one thing, but to deride an entire sub-genre is another.

Worse, it makes people who enjoy the films into degenerates, which is nothing new for horror fans. It's been happening since Frankenstein. Those using the term simply don't know their history; else, they would use the correct term, splatter film. "Torture porn" was coined by an otherwise quite serviceable critic (and self alleged horror fan) named David Edelstein, who claimed none of these films have any merit and are just pornography. Just because you don't think it does, princess, doesn't mean it doesn't. And vice versa, obviously.

That said, while I'm not one to complain about a splatterfest (hey, I love FX, sue me), the sub-genre does lend itself to simple copycats and lazy releases. In the future, we horror fans require some thought and effort on the part of the filmmakers. Now that the trend is on a major decline, future films should weed out the bad and the overused and come up with something wholly original and mind-blowing.

3. Zombies

Yeah, I said it. But hear me out.

Perhaps this goes beyond films into "real life" territory, but zombies have become so played out it's ridiculous. It was a strange time for me around the turn of the century when I saw otherwise totally normal folks wearing zombie shirts and talking about the gory special effects they loved.

Then came zombie walks. And endless stupid movies that just threw in zombies cause make-up is cheap. And then even more crappy movies that had big budgets because they were so popular. Today, you can't get away from them.

I studied zombie movies (among others) for my senior thesis in college. Zombies films are among some of my earliest horror memories, so I have a special fondness for them. When done right, zombies can mean the most out of the average movie monster because they're US, man.

But among all the films that came out, how many were any good? Beyond that, how many will be remembered down the road? Two? Three? Yeah, we got Shaun of the Dead and The Walking Dead looks to be a huge win for AMC that gets a lot right. But most of the meaning has been sucked out, and my beloved zombies are in danger of getting the Twilight treatment. Hopefully the "overload" will come soon and we'll have "werewolf walks" around Halloween instead.

4. Pretending Your Crappy Movie was Intended to Be That Way Thus Making it Retro

Yeah, long title, but it gets the idea across. I'm tired of seeing these kinds of films. It's generally some goofy slasher with a weak ass villain and some big boobed doofuses running around blah blah blah. No original ideas, no point - but when asked, the director says, "Oh we were just paying homage to the 80s LMAO!"

Listen: if you made a shitty film but you still managed to sell it to a distributor, that's fine. Own up to it. But don't lie. Horror fans know. Furthermore, how about you actually spend time on it and make a good film in the first place? Though slashers are done to death (I studied them for my paper as well), there's still territory to be explored if you try hard enough. But most don't, as they're in it for the money and not to made real films or at least learn the craft.

Trust me: you're no Lloyd Kaufman or Roger Corman. You're Uwe Boll.

5. Remakes

'nuff said.

Wait, no it's not. If anything encapsulates the "no originality and totally brainless" issue with horror flicks, it's the remake trend that's been going on for too long. Remakes of old films, remakes of other country's films, remakes of remakes for god's sake, it just won't end.

Of course, the real problem is people still go to see them. After they get back from the theater from seeing "Prom Night," these people complain about no original ideas. Then, when something original and good comes out, these same people suddenly find excuses to stay home (see: Slither). Horror fans will be the engineers of their own destruction. And then they'll complain about it online.

To end on a positive note: "True Grit" aside, the remake trend seems to be on a decline, especially since we're entering a new decade with new trends to be discovered. Hopefully whatever lies ahead in the next ten years does everyone's favorite genre a solid and puts horror on the top where it belongs.

Crossing the Boundaries - Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror

Horror has long gone hand in hand with fantasy and science fiction. Many classic horror stories are also fantasy or science fiction stories, and fantasy and science fiction stories often have elements of horror in them. Where would Lord of the Rings have been without the Nazghul, undead kings dominated by the power of the rings? Where would Alien have been without the alien? Dracula and Frankenstein are both considered horror fiction, but Dracula is also fantasy and Frankenstein clearly has early science fiction elements. So, what are the differences between horror and general science fiction/fantasy? Here are a few general guidelines to help distinguish the genres.

In general fantasy and science fiction, the main characters have abilities that are a match for the antagonists. In horror, that is often not the case. Frodo had Sting and his elven mail to protect him. In Star Trek the crew members of the Enterprise have their wits, their training and their equipment to deal with their enemies. In a Zombie apocalypse, the main characters typically have little or nothing to protect them except what they find lying around.

In general fantasy and science fiction, the heroes typically have someone that knows what is going on and can explain what they will face. In horror this is seldom the case. Obi Wan Kenobi, Gandalf, Dumbledore or some higher up in Star Fleet command or some member of the ship's crew can usually give the lead characters at least some idea who they are up against and how to beat them. In horror, if there is someone that actually knows what is going on, they are probably in an asylum or some other inconvenient location, and their warnings may not make sense until after someone has been eaten. In addition, wise old mentors in horror have a disturbing habit of being wrong on very important issues. In a horror story, the protagonists are often responsible for their own survival and victory.

In general fantasy and science fiction most if not all the main characters come through all right in the end. In horror, the winners may well come away scarred for life. That's assuming any of them actually survive. How many lead characters were dead at the end of Lord of the Rings? How many of the crew that don't wear red shirts are killed in the average Star Trek episode? Sure there are exceptions to this, but in many cases even if a lead dies, they get brought back through some miracle of science or magic. Don't count on this in horror. In a good horror story everyone is expendable. Even if there are survivors, they may still not be in good shape at the end. Many of Lovecraft's protagonists found themselves long term residents of mental institutions by the end of his stories. They were often considered the luckier ones.

In general fantasy and science fiction, the heroes have a chance to stop the villains. In horror this may well not be the case. Fantasy and science fiction give a wide variety of means to combat a hopeless situation or otherwise impossible odds. In horror, if the ultimate evil actually makes an appearance it's questionable whether it can be stopped at all. Frequently the key is dealing with the frail humans that are its allies before they can bring it all the way into our world. If the heroes mess that up, it's all over. At the very least, putting an end to the ultimate evil may require the sacrifice of everyone's lives or sanity or something equally valuable. The world wins, but the heroes lose.

So, if you are interested in adding a bit of horror to your fantasy or science fiction story, look at these guidelines and apply some of the horror end of them to the plot. Adding fantasy or science fiction to a horror story is generally as simple as making the thing that is stalking the protagonists some unearthly horror be it an alien from beyond or a demon from beyond. Give some genre blending a try and you'll add variety and some suspense to your stories and perhaps make them a bit more exciting.

Copyright Colin Neilson 2009

Colin Neilson is a teacher, author and publisher. He has written newsletters on speculative fiction subjects, helped edit speculative fiction stories, and written many speculative fiction product reviews. If you are a reader who is interested in speculative fiction, please visit Spectacular Speculations a new electronic speculative fiction magazine. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter which contains a new story every issue. Speculative fiction authors will be interested in the author's page with submission and publication information.

Latest Horror Films

Every so often we live in an era when certain upcoming horror movies elicit uncommon levels of anticipation. This happens to be one of those times. In this brief article I will explore the latest horror films responsible for such high levels of interest among horror fans. These new horror movies are Zombie Strippers, Lost Boys 2: The Tribe, Paranormal Activity, American Zombie and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

Zombie Strippers

Zombie Strippers harks back to the video nasty era of the 1980s when horror movie gore was all the rage. Everything about this scary movie - from the high concept title, to the cast that includes Robert Englund and Jenna Jameson, even the humor where we see a stripper birthing billiard balls on a take of Full Metal Jacket - is over the top and out to at once shock and, let's face it, delight. If Zombie Strippers where a food for horror fans, it would be a hugely scrumptious gastronomic joy.

Sometime in the future, President Bush is at war with half the world. In a government laboratory a secret vaccine is under development to turn soldiers into zombies; the theory being that legions of the undead would be a formidable force in their world-conquering endeavors. When a crack team of special forces fails in their attempt to quash a zombie uprising within the lab, an operative becomes infected after a bite to the hand and flees the lab, in fear of becoming cannon fodder for his comrades, to a local strip joint. It is at this strip bar, owned by Robert Englund, that he infects the talent: a line-up of stunning female strippers.

The first stripper to become a Zombie is Jenna Jameson. The onlookers are momentarily struck with shock, fear, disgust which is soon replaced, in a brilliant moment of comic-timing, with uproarious approval. It then becomes imperative among the strippers to become a zombie or fall in the popularity stakes and possibly lose employment. The real problems begin, however, when the beautiful strippers discover a hunger for human flesh!

Paranormal Activity Trailer

Do you remember the impact of The Blair Witch Project? Much of the reason behind the success for Blair was the combination of verisimilitudinous filmmaking and - at the time - uncommonly clever use of internet marketing. Paranormal Activity is one of our latest horror films anticipated to assume similar cult status to Blair. Yet this horror movie is no staged sham; no, this, my friends, is the real deal.

A happily married couple move into a new house. They quickly come to believe that it is haunted. Is it a coincidence that the woman, Katie, has been haunted by spirits since infancy? In a bid to prove the existence of paranormal activity within their home the couple make a home movie over several months. Paranormal Activity is the result of their endeavors, a combination of shocking home movie and surveillance footage.

Test screenings have reputedly seen audiences running screaming from the theater. An urban legend? A clever marketing ploy? Or is this true horror story so blatantly terrifying that we cannot help be run away screaming . . . or at least consider the notion?

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Horror comics have for years been fodder for a glut of Hollywood horror movies. Hell Boy comics had a huge following and it was important to get it right or, from the very start, kill any possibility of a franchise. The huge anticipation over Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is proof - not that we need any - that the original Hell Boy movie, a stylish, Gothic horror thriller, was bang on the money. The sequel is reported to be even better!

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is said to be about a battle between the underworld and Hell Boy and his gang. Demons wish to conquer humanity and only Hell Boy dares stand in their way!

American Zombie

American Zombie is a rarity in the horror genre: a biting (excuse the pun) social satire.

We explore the lives four characters who live among zombies in a Los Angeles community: A socially-witty convenience store clerk; Judy, a zombie in denial who is searching for love; Joel , founder of ZAG, Zombie Advocacy Group; and Lisa, a florist for a funeral parlor.

American Zombie has been compared to Kevin Smith's Clerks and is one of the latest horror films that veers away from shock and gore entertainment tactics to intellectual elicitation of emotion.

Lost Boys 2: The Tribe

I have purposefully saved the most anticipated of our latest horror films for last. Horror fans of Lost Boys, a classic horror movie in the vampire sub-genre, have waited 21 years for this, the massively anticipated sequel.

The story reportedly takes place in Luna Bay, California, a small surfer community which is - like the original Lost Boys Santa Carla - riddled with blood-thirsty vampires. Corey Haim, the lead of the original horror movie, and Corey Feldman, the two Coreys, reprise their original roles.

Chris Emerson and his sister, Nicole, are compelled to battle a crazed group of vampire surfers. Just like last time, the Frog Brothers are on hand to help in the fight against the undead!

These are the latest horror films to have horror fans on tenterhooks. I hope you enjoy them!

Horror Fans! Visit horror movie trailers [http://www.horror-movie-trailers.com/] for clips of all your favorite horror movies (upcoming, new and classic) then head over to upcoming horror movies to get trailers and news on your most eagerly-awaited upcoming horror movies.