How To Write A Contained Film
Contained films are restrained stories that have traditionally been limited to the horror/ thriller genre. They are characterized by having few characters (often three to five, sometimes as few as one), no more than one or two main locations such as a haunted house, and a skeleton crew. Most importantly, they are filmed on shoestring budgets. […]
Writing The Perfect Horror Screenplay
Horror movies were traditionally saved for bulk release during the month of October. Every stripe of horror was fired from the studio cannons and executives crossed their fingers and hoped for the best. Then studio executives discovered there were eleven more months in the year that were being consistently neglected. Although many marquee horror films […]
“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a Hearty if Tardy Sequel
What’s with all of the decades-late sequels these days? Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049, Mary Poppins Returns… the list goes on and on. But as long as they’re critical and financial successes, more will be made. One of the latest is Zombieland: Double Tap, a sequel to the hit horror-comedy Zombieland from 2009. And while […]
The Influence of “Get Out” and Its Limitations for Horror
Jordan Peele’s Get Out was a seminal horror film. Unsettling, witty, and hugely political. It was made with a great deal of respect for the genre, yet Peele also elevated frighteners too, making a film that became a genuine “water cooler” pop culture entry. For months, people couldn’t stop talking about its twists, shocks, and […]
“Haunt” Conjures Up Fresh Scares in Its Familiar Setting
The new horror movie Haunt starts with a simple, yet potent premise. Its setting is one of those makeshift haunted house attractions that pop up in vacant storefronts or suburban lots around Halloween to challenge customers to “survive” its maze of scares. The college kids who enter the one in this film have no idea […]
