How to Write a Horror Movie Script
You've watched every lame horror movie ever written. Now you're sure you can write the next horror story that will have Wes Craven knocking at your door. Horror movies may share many of the same elements, but writing the right script around them can be a difficult challenge. Here are a few tips on how to get started.
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Instructions
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Choose a theme for the movie. It could be a classic good versus evil thriller, or you could be just wanting to kill as many characters as possible.
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Pick a setting for the movie. Get creative: Don't go with the cliched abandoned house or campground. Try something never used before like a kindergarten class or an animal hospital--the more offbeat the better.
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Choose the villain or monster. A supernatural creature like a vampire or wolfman is an option, but if you want your script to shine, go with something never used before. Think Stephen King--he's the master of creating villians out of thin air.
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Decide how the monster will be destroyed. Make sure the heroes don't discover it until the end of the script. Or maybe the monster won't be destroyed at all. What's most important is getting the major plot points picked out so you can build off them.
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Write an outline of the story. Starting from the end and going backward may work best, since the climax makes or breaks the story. Be sure to include plot twists, usually around a third and two-thirds of the way along. But remember, when you're in the process of writing the script, don't be afraid to veer off your outline. A good writer will know where to edit themselves as well as break away from their original idea.
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Write the full script without stopping, don't worry if you think it's good or not. Getting your first draft on paper is what you want to do at this point. At that point, read it and tinker with it, adding whatever else you think is needed and removing what isn't.
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Have a couple friends read the script and return it to you with their notes. Make sure you tell them you want them to be brutally honest. If their notes are good, work them into another rewrite. Remember, any great script will go through many revisions, it's all part of the process.
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Tips & Warnings
Less is more. The less you reveal of your monster/killer/villan, the better.
Study as many horror movies as possible. This will help you in knowing what you want and don't want to include in your script.
One page of script usually equals about one minute of your movie so figure your script will need to be about 90 to 120 pages long.
Once your got your script honed, begin looking for an agent. No reputible studio will look at your work unless it's submitted by an agent.
