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Lesson 5
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TIM'S HORROR SITUATION TRACK
What I learned from doing this assignment is that this make it so much easier to outline (something I STILL hate doing to this day…)
ACT 1 – Atmosphere of Evil Established:
The original Vivian is replaced by her doppelgänger 10 years ago after staring into her reflection too long. Her doppelgänger now lives her life, becoming a legendary influencer.-Horror Situation: The reflection smiles at Vivian as she looks away, and in a slow, eerie sequence, she is pulled into the mirror.
Reaction – Escape: Vivian tries to escape but is trapped as her doppelgänger steps out, replacing her.
Connect with the Characters:
The group of influencers arrives at the luxurious beach house for the retreat, each obsessed with their own persona and status. Tyler starts cracking jokes about the strange things that happen in places like this.
The Characters are Warned Not to Do It:
Conrad, the groundskeeper, warns them about the house, mentioning strange disappearances and odd behavior related to mirrors.
Horror Situation: Conrad cryptically talks about the reflections and their strange behavior.
Reaction – Denial: The group laughs off the warnings, thinking Conrad is just playing into Tyler’s conspiracy theorist antics.
Denial of Horror:
Early strange behavior in the mirrors—faces moving when the real person isn’t—goes unnoticed as the influencers chalk it up to exhaustion or stress from maintaining their online personas.Horror Situation: A reflection subtly waves to someone before they do, but they dismiss it as their mind playing tricks.
Reaction – Denial: The group brushes it off and continues posting about the retreat.
Safety Taken Away:
The Wi-Fi and phones cut out as a sudden storm isolates the group completely from the outside world.
Horror Situation: The house loses all signal, and the storm traps them inside.
Reaction – Denial: They laugh at first about being “off-grid,” but then realize they have no means of communication or escape.
Monster: The Nature of the Beast:
Brooke is the first to notice something is wrong, spending time in front of a mirror. Later, she is found missing, and her doppelgänger seamlessly takes her place.
Horror Situation: Brooke’s reflection grins maliciously at her and pulls her into the mirror. The next morning, her doppelgänger has replaced her.
Reaction – Denial: The group assumes Brooke is playing a prank or is simply somewhere else.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted:
The house becomes increasingly hostile as reflective surfaces seem to be everywhere. The windows, mirrors, and even the ocean reflect twisted versions of the group.Horror Situation: The group notices their reflections behaving strangely in every surface, but they can’t figure out why.
Reaction – Try to Solve It: Tyler starts investigating the mirrors and tells the group to avoid looking into them.
One of Us Killed:
Jonah is killed by his doppelgänger at the pool. His body is left floating for a moment before disappearing, only for his doppelgänger to reappear moments later, seamlessly fitting back into the group.Horror Situation: Jonah’s body floats lifelessly in the pool, but when the group returns, it’s gone and “Jonah” is alive again.
Reaction – Denial: The group is rattled but convinces themselves they must have imagined seeing his body.
MIDPOINT — THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT!
Full Pursuit by the Killer:
The doppelgängers are now fully pursuing the group, gaining strength every time a character interacts with their reflection. The doppelgängers start stalking the group, appearing in mirrors and glass.Horror Situation: The group begins seeing their doppelgängers walking through mirrors, following them from room to room.
Reaction – Escape: The group frantically tries to flee, but each exit is blocked by another reflection.
Terrorized:
The group is now completely terrorized, smashing mirrors and glass in a desperate attempt to stop the doppelgängers. Their paranoia grows as they begin to suspect each other of being replaced.Horror Situation: Mirrors and windows are smashed, but the doppelgängers still appear in reflections from unexpected places, like water or shiny surfaces.
Reaction – Hysteria: The group begins to fracture, with some hiding and others lashing out at anything that moves, convinced they’re being hunted by their own reflections.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the Death:
Tyler and the remaining survivors make a final stand, trying to destroy the mirrors and trap the doppelgängers in the reflection world for good.Horror Situation: Tyler faces his own doppelgänger in a reverse, mirror-like sequence as they battle inside the reflection.
Reaction – Fight: Tyler manages to defeat his doppelgänger by destroying the reflection, but it’s a brutal and disorienting fight.
Hysteria:
By now, the few remaining characters have lost all trust in one another, convinced that everyone around them might be a doppelgänger. Panic and violence break out.Horror Situation: The group turns on each other, with one character attacking another in a fit of paranoia, only to realize too late they were attacking a human.
Reaction – Hysteria: The characters scream and panic, unsure of who’s real and who isn’t, making the situation worse.
The Thrilling Escape from Death:
Tyler and another survivor narrowly escape being replaced, smashing the last of the reflective surfaces in a desperate attempt to stop the doppelgängers from coming through.Horror Situation: They believe they’ve stopped the doppelgängers by destroying the final mirrors.
Reaction – Escape: The survivors flee, thinking they have outrun their pursuers.
Death Returns to Take One or More:
Just as they think they’ve survived, one of the remaining characters—perhaps Zara or Mason—is revealed to have already been replaced. The doppelgänger launches a final deadly attack.Horror Situation: The doppelgänger reveals itself and attacks, leaving the survivors helpless.
Reaction – Fight: Tyler fights back one last time, but it’s a brutal, deadly struggle.
Resolution:
Tyler is left standing, traumatized but alive. As he looks out at the ocean, his reflection in the water gives a final chilling hint that his doppelgänger may still be out there.Horror Situation: Tyler’s reflection in the ocean stares back at him with a knowing, sinister grin.
Reaction – Denial: Tyler tries to shake off the feeling, but the audience is left wondering if his doppelgänger will return.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Timothy Barley.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by
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Dave Wetzel’s Horror Situation
What I learned doing this assignment is that just as in stories with 3 Act Story Beats, the horror genre also follows an established list of story beats as well.
ACT 1 – SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established: A terrified student runs through a dark passage under the school.Horror Situation: A student is being pursued by a monstrous demon from hell.
Reaction – Hide: The student tries to evade the monster but is lost in the dark passage.
Horror Situation: The student is cornered and torn to pieces by the vicious monster.
Connect with the characters: The school is buzzing with the news; the dean of the school and Jennifer Weatherly try to calm the uneasy students. It seems to happen in multiple instances at the school every twenty years. The gang discreetly discusses the grisly murder during study hall, the janitor, “Nearest,” overhears them.
Denial of Horror: The dean of the school and Deacon Malum informs the students that the unfortunate death of the student was simply a terrible accident and not a murder.
Safety taken away: The bridge that connects the school to the main road is washed away in a violent storm.
Horror Situation: A student is attacked in a locker room.
Reaction – Escape: The student tries to evade the monster but is cornered in the locker room.
Horror Situation: A student is attacked in their dorm room.
Reaction – Denial: The dean of the school says the student has a history of attempted run aways.
Monster: The nature of the beast: Jennifer and Nearest begin to explore the legend of the school and uncover accounts to the monster from previous attacks years ago.
Horror Situation: A student is attacked inside the school chapel.
Reaction – Escape: The student tries to escape the attack but is killed by the monster.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Trapped – The students are trapped at the school.
Horror Situation: Jennifer and the students explore the underground passage under the school. The monster sees them and chases after them.
Reaction – Escape: They try to run away from the monster but one of the students is killed.
Horror Situation: Deacon Malum lures a student to the passage.
Reaction – Escape: The monster hunts down the student and kills them.
Horror Situation: The gang try to confront the monster together.
Character Death: Tom is badly wounded in the attack by the monster.
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killer – Jennifer, and the gang follow Deacon Malum into the bowels of the school and observe him summoning the demon “Yog-Sothoth,” from a portal to hell.
Jennifer manifests her synesthesia abilities to observe a red “aura” around Deacon Malum.
Horror Situation: Terrorized – Deacon Malum orders the demon to hunt down and kill the gang.
Reaction – Escape: They try to run away from the monster but one of the students is killed.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Horror Situation: Terrorized – The demon kills another student while searching for Jennifer and the gang.
Reaction – Escape: The gang barely escape being killed by the monster.
Hysteria – Jennifer, Nearest and the gang try to kill the demon but fail and barely escape annihilation by seeking refuge in the school chapel.
Horror Situation: When Jennifer is alone in her room the monster tries to attack.
Reaction – Escape: Nearest get her text and rescues her from death.
Nearest regains his faith in God and a statue in the image Saint Michael the Archangel warrior angel gifts Nearest with the sword that he’s holding in the stature. Theres also a painting behind the statue of Saint Michael with his army of Archangels battling demons from hell.
Horror Situation: The thrilling escape from death – Jennifer, Nearest and the gang fight the demon in the chapel!
Reaction – Fight: Jennifer, Nearest and the gang fight the demon in the chapel, and he’s badly wounded by the newly gifted sword of Saint Michael. Deacon Malum is killed by Nearest in a battle in the bowels of the school.
Death returns to take one or more. – Nearest dies saving the gang.
Horror Situation: Nearest fights the demon as Nearest sacrifices himself to allow the gang and Jennifer to escape death.
Reaction – Fight: Nearest is killed by the demon as Nearest sacrifices himself to allow the gang and Jennifer to escape death.
Resolution – The weather clears and police are able to cross the bridge to the school. Jennifer and the gang recover from the battle as a unifed team, stronger together than alone.
Jennifer is alone in the chapel and observes to her astonishment that Nearest now appears to be in the painting of Saint Michael battling demons from hell.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by David Wetzel.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by David Wetzel.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by David Wetzel.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by David Wetzel.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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Dean's Horror Situation Track
What I learned from doing this assignment is how to give my characters the worst, and more than likely the last, day of their lives.
MYST
ACT 1: The Arrival of the Myst
Atmosphere of Evil established: A previous town's population plummets to zero!
Horror Situation: That town gets enveloped by the Myst.
Reaction: Everyone screams and then disappears. (Horrific screams, not just-won-the-lottery screams.)
When informed, the governor orders that that tragedy be kept out of the news.
Welcome to the seaside town of Eldergrove, which seems like an ideal town, until that same mysterious Myst visits.
Horror Situation: Some citizens disappear.
Reaction: The others assume they left town for personal reasons. A.k.a. denial!
Horror Situation: A citizen runs from the Myst, but gets cornered and can't run anymore.
Reaction: Attempt to escape.
ACT 2: Fear and Paranoia
Horror Situation: A citizen uses an electric leaf-blower to stave off the Myst. But then the power goes out; and he gets engulfed.
Reaction: Try to solve it.
Horror Situation: Another citizen uses a gas-powered leaf-blower, but it bursts into flames.
Reaction: Hide. The others stay locked inside.
As night falls, the Myst takes on shadowy forms and appears to be alive, stalking the villagers, creating fear and paranoia.
Survivors, including Anna, Marcus, Claire, Daniel, and Dr. Evelyn Hart, stay in the village hall, trying to find safety in numbers.
Horror Situation: The Myst uses the villagers' fears against them, making them suspicious of one another. Marcus hears the voice of his late wife and steps into the mist.
Reaction: Claire becomes more withdrawn.
ACT 3: Resolution?
Dr. Evelyn Hart deduces that the Myst feeds on despair and isolation. She tries to keep the group together emotionally, but her warnings are ignored as paranoia grows stronger.
Survivors start blaming each other for attracting the Myst.
Horror Situation: This division causes Marcus to step into the mist, leading to his disappearance, and
Reaction: Claire isolates herself further.
Anna tries to connect with Daniel, urging him to stay strong to fight the Myst. Daniel, burdened by guilt and despair, begins to break down.
They manage to find a glimmer of hope by holding hands and sharing their fears, seemingly weakening the Myst temporarily.
Daniel ultimately lets go of Anna, believing the Myst wants her instead of him.
Horror Situation: He opens the door, allowing the Myst to engulf him.
Reaction: Anna runs home.
Horror Situation: With her son gone, Anna, realizing there's no escape, hears his voice. She steps into the mist, disappearing like the others.
Reaction: The Myst recedes, leaving behind an abandoned village. A government team arrives to investigate the disappearance, along with Mr. Hargrove, who quickly buys the village under the guise of helping, hinting at further sinister plans.
The Myst rolls into a new, isolated town. Two scientists oversee the operation from a distance, hinting that Mr. Hargrove has a bigger plan, and the cycle is far from over. As long as there is greed and despair, the Myst will be there.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by Dean Burkey.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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Alison's Horror Situation Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that I am happy I am outlining this or I would be lost.
ACT 1 – SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil established:
We open in a different museum, where a person from a previous group is shown being drawn into a painting. We don’t see the painting clearly, only a side view as the victim vanishes. The group's reaction is paralyzing shock and fear. As the scene ends, the painting is packed into a shipping box, preparing to be moved to the new museum.
Connect with the characters: The students and their professor arrive at the museum.
Horror Situation: Trapped in the museum as all exits close after 8 PM.
Reaction: Denial, thinking they can find another way out.The characters are warned not to do it: The night guard warns them not to turn around, joking about it.
Horror Situation: The guard stalking them.
Reaction: Denial/Confusion, some students think he’s just messing with them.Denial of Horror: The group jokes about the warning and decides to explore the museum.
Safety taken away: The group realizes that the museum is locked, and no one can escape until morning.
ACT 2 – THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated/Trapped: The power flickers, leaving them lost in dark hallways.
Horror Situation: Footsteps approaching behind them.
Reaction: They hide in an exhibit room, holding their breath as the footsteps get closer.One of us killed: A student is drawn to the painting and disappears into it.
Horror Situation: A friend is consumed by the painting.
Reaction: The group is horrified, unsure of what to do.MIDPOINT – THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
Full pursuit by the killer: The old guard actively stalks them, leading them toward the painting.
Horror Situation: The group is chased into a dead-end exhibit.
Reaction: They frantically search for a way out, but there is none.Terrorized: One student becomes hysterical, blaming the others for what’s happening.
Horror Situation: A character loses it.
Reaction: The group tries to calm them, leading to a confrontation.ACT 3 – FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the death: The students try to destroy the painting, but it fights back.
Horror Situation: Mentally tortured by their reflection.
Reaction: A student tries smashing the glass, but it only worsens things.Hysteria: The group starts turning on each other, suspecting that one of them is possessed.
Horror Situation: Paranoia rises.
Reaction: They argue, unsure who to trust.The thrilling escape from death: Emily, the blind student, tries to guide the group out of danger.
Horror Situation: Emily is ignored.
Reaction: She grows frustrated as they refuse to listen, creating further tension.Death returns to take one or more: The guard tricks one of the students into thinking there’s a way out, only for them to disappear into the painting.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by Allie Theiss.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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Subject line: Karyn Laitis–Horror Situation Track
Lesson 5 ASSIGNMENT 5
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” The Horror Situation and Reaction prompts help to get into the emotions. I know there is more horror to reveal to really hook the audience into the journey.
CONCEPT-A team of four explorers/researchers enter a cave looking for an ancient civilization and to recover the body of the twin sister of the lead explorer only to discover perfectly preserved remains of an ancient human and alien civilization and the wrath of the alien guardians.ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• Atmosphere of Evil established: Team leader (Jean) watches the last video sent by her twin sister terrorized by something in the cave causing Jean to run from her tent gasping to breathe having a panic attack.
• Horror Situation: (Mentally tormented) Terrible screams from inside team leader’s tent.
• Reaction: She bursts out of her tent gasping to breathe, in a panic attack.
• Connect with the characters: Other team members (Cam, Maggie, Brett) are casually drinking coffee and talking around the campfire focused on cave maps.
• Horror Situation: (Unknown motive) Leader runs out of tent gasping to breathe in a panic attack.
• Reaction: Compassionate to leader, tentative, uneasy feelings and concern for mission.
• Horror Situation: (Forces of Nature) An oddly fast-moving thunderstorm descends upon them.
• Reaction: Torrential storm pushes the team to quickly enter the cave.
• The characters are warned not to do it: A thunderstorm is upon them as they quickly secure the gear they can’t take into the cave. The rain motivates them to run to the cave entrance. They are met with “DO NOT ENTER” signs posted and a feeble wooden gate to deter them. Maggie remarks “And why are we doing this?” as the leader opens the gate to proceed.
• Horror Situation: (Walking into a trap) “DO NOT ENTER” and barriers foretelling danger are at the cave entrance as a warning to the team.
• Reaction: The odd storm sets up urgency to enter and get out of the rain.
• Denial of Horror: All are thankful to enter the cave just to get out of the torrents of rain, lightning and thunder. They checked their instruments and were relieved that all is working.
• Safety taken away: Deeper into the cave, their compass and GPS instruments go berserk and their flashlights go dark. They feel an eerie presence. Their trail splits into three tunnels. The cave seems to be breathing-the walls are moving with sections illuminated and shadows of beings running; then a seismic event knocks them down, the area they are in begins to collapse, forcing them to run into a different tunnel. Their escape route is sealed. As the air clears, they discover well preserved human and alien remains within the walls of the cave. They excavate some of the remains to identify what the species is.
• Horror Situation: (Environmental changes) Instruments stop working, seismic events.
• Reaction: They run deeper into the dark cave.
• Horror Situation: (Trapped, dangerous) As they run the cave walls collapse behind them, blocking their exit.
• Reaction: Frozen in fear in an alcove as debris falls around them.
• Monster: The nature of the beast; There is an ominous presence stalking the team, casting shadows on the dimly lit walls. The team finds a safe alcove to rest. Each takes a “watch shift” to make sure there are no intruders. They are awakened by the growl of three wolves, baring their teeth. Cam takes out a pistol and is about to shoot when the wolves attack, pinning him and ripping his flesh. Maggie fires a crossbow hitting one of the wolves and poof-they disappear into the walls of the cave. These were shapeshifters.
• Horror Situation: (Trapped, Impending doom) The team can feel the danger.
• Reaction: Take “watch shifts” to protect the group.
• Horror Situation: (Monster Approaching-Shapeshifting wolves attack)
• Reaction: One (Cam)pulls a pistol which is knocked out of his hand by (Brett) another in fear of setting off another seismic event.
• Horror Situation: (Torture) Lead wolf leaps to attack Cam, ripping at his flesh on his arm & shoulder. Maggie shoots a crossbow arrow and hits the wolf—wolves disappear into the cave wall.
• Reaction: Maggie shoots a crossbow arrow and hits the wolf—all wolves disappear into the cave wall. They scatter in different directions.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: Maggie and Cam are trapped in one of the tunnels; Maggie is tending to Cam’s wounds. Jean and Brett are separated and trapped in two different tunnels. Alone in the darkness of a monster cave.
• Horror Situation: (Impending doom) Team is separated, exhausted and injured at the mercy of the attackers.
• Reaction: Reassess the situation and investigate the tunnel each is in. Maggie tends to Cams injuries. He is in bad shape. She uses herbal medicines used by her family to treat his wounds.
• One of us killed: Brett continues to explore his tunnel to find a treasure trove of gold artifacts. He empties his pack of his gear to fill it with the artifacts. One item in particular pique his interest-it is an orb. Pleased with his findings, he casually tosses it up to catch it, but it flies up and attaches to the ceiling of the tunnel. The cave starts to pulsate and the grotesque, reptilian alien monster appears, capturing Brett, sucking out his brain matter. Brett’s tormented screams resound through the cave. It reminds Jean of her sister’s tortured screams.
• Horror Situation: (Attacked, physical torture, death) Brett is targeted by the alien guardian-Brett is restrained, tortured and killed).
• Reaction: The other team (Jean, Maggie, Cam) members hear the blood curdling and are trembling with fear. Especially Jean, remembering her sister’s video.
• MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
• Full pursuit by the killer: Jean, Maggie and Cam reunite. They cautiously proceed in the direction of Brett’s screams and find his mutilated body with his skull imploded. He was still clutching one of the artifacts that he was going to steal. There are continuous sounds, ticking, shrieks, bellows, growls, with shadowy figures, and seismic events that push the group deeper into the tunnel. They collapse from exhaustion and hunger.
• Horror Situation: (Impending doom) The continuous shrieks and shadowy figures with continual tremors is unnerving.
• Reaction: The team covers themselves with mud, camouflage. They discover human and alien remains. Questions is this a battle ground or communal burial grounds?
• Horror Situation: (The death of a team member) Finding remains of Brett, tortured, skull imploded-brain matter oozing out of his ears.
• Reaction: Jean vomits at seeing Brett, Maggie and Cam fall to their knees. They hide in a small lava tube. Sleep.
• Terrorized: Jean, semi-conscious, hears footsteps and sees an apparition of her twin sister shouting a warning to “GET OUT!” Maggie and Cam felt the breath of an alien creature. In full view, they watch as the alien guardian stalks Jean.
• Horror Situation: There is a mist within the cave and Jean, semi-conscious, has a vision of her sister (Carly) warning her to get out of the cave. The vision vaporizes into a shapeshifter, reptilian humanoid—then gone.
• Reaction: Jean retreats further into the alcove in a fetal position.• ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Horror Situation: The alien guardian is fixated on Jean, drooling, with the long anteater tongue wagging in anticipation of consuming her brain.
• Reaction: Jean, terrified, leaps to her feet in anticipation of the alien’s movements. Maggie and Cam (injured) are watching the alien and Jean.
• Fight to the death: Maggie and Cam use some of the artifacts to distract the alien and warn Jean. The team is using the found technology to elude the guardians. When they throw the orbs they open and become a sharp projectile, but the guardians control the orbs, directing them at the team. They are using shields to deflect the orbs.
• Hysteria: The team is trembling in fear. They are trapped, moments away from being devoured by the guardians.
• The thrilling escape from death: Just as the guardians are about to kill the explorers, the twin sister (Carly) appears to direct them to another tunnel. Jean contains her elation and confusion at her sister’s presence. They are running through the tunnel, dodging falling rocks, the aliens give chase. Jean is the last to follow—too late.
• Death returns to take one or more. The others turn to try to save her but she directs them to go without her. Jean fights with every ounce of her being to escape the clutches of the alien. She goes limp as the long tongue enters her ear to suck the brain matter from her skull.
• Horror Situation: Jean loses her footing and stumbles.
• Reaction: Maggie and Cam pause to go back but Jean motions them to get out.
• Horror Situation: The aliens restrain Jean and with agonizing screams, they devour her brain, just like Brett.
• Reaction: Maggie, Cam and Carly run like hell through the cave toward the light source. There are some dead ends because there are vents in the cave for air and light.
• Resolution: Maggie, Cam and Carly evade the aliens by going for the light and the exit of the cave. They collapse from exhaustion and are silent. They are different. They return to their camp seeing a couple talking around the campfire. As they get closer, the couple turns to acknowledge the group. It’s Jean and Brett, eerily smiling.-
This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by karyn laitis.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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What I learned: Since I had no script, just an idea, this lesson made the idea become a story as I developed it. Setting up these situations and reactions has given me a better road map.
ACT 1 Set up for horror
A ghost-hunting team tells the audience they are on the trail of a supernatural entity in an abandoned school. It’s dark, and the audience believes it’s real until it’s revealed they were perpetrating a hoax, and it comes crashing down on the team.
Reaction: Harry and Charlie are furious with the crew.
• Connect with the characters
At an apartment, Harry and Charlie recruit a new ghost-hunting team along with Nerd Jerry, the video editor whiz, to investigate a haunted house with a streaming deal on the line. This time, they will use an old book of spells and rituals they discovered to help the process along.
Denial of Horror: The new team laughs about the book and the idea that they could conjure a ghost. Harry and Charlie have a private conversation to decide how to create a ghost. The topic of murder comes up again. They choose the nerd video editor because he has no family, and they don't like him. "If we do this right, nothing will go wrong."
• Safety Taken Away:
Ghost hunter teams enter the haunted school when their cell phones don't receive reception and the equipment gets wonky. They want to leave, but Harry has the only key to the entrance.
Kidnapped:
In essence, the ghost-hunting team has been lied to. Harry and Charlie have kidnapped them.
Horror Situation: Harry and Charlie take out the spell book and begin chanting.
Reaction: The team is angry that they are being forced to stay but agrees to give it a go since they are there.
Horror Situation: After Harry and Charlie finish a spell, they hear a noise, and the second cameraman steps through a floorboard, slightly hurting his leg.
Reaction: The group begins to feel apprehensive, but Harry and Charlie assure them it was just an accident.
Horror situation: the team enters the huge principal’s office, and their lights go out. We hear moaning coming from above them. A light flashes by them, and Sheila screams.
Reaction: The team is getting very scared now.
Horror Situation: Harry and Charlie knew the Book of Spells was a ruse to entice the group to join, and they murdered Nerd Jerry. They stab him repeatedly; "this is the only surefire way to create a ghost of boys and girls." Charlie takes a gun out and points it at the team. Harry’s lips are covered in blood when he smiles.
Reaction: The team is freaked out. Crying, yelling, and shock overtake them. Jackson loses it and refuses to accept what just happened.
Monster: The Nature of the Beast:
Harry and Charlie are psychopathic killers.
Reaction – Jessica smiles, Sheila feints, and the rest cower in terror.
ACT 2 – The Point of No Return.
• Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
The team is locked in the principal’s office by Harry and Charlie and the dead Nerd Jerry.
Horror Situation: Harry and Charlie light candles around Nerd Jerry’s body and perform an actual ritual. They threaten the team that one of them will be next if this doesn’t work.
Reaction: Kevin, the second cameraman, tries to leave and starts banging at the door. Charlie clubs him on the head with the butt of his gun. “None of that,” Harry says.
Horror Situation: The candles around Nerd Jerry’s body blow out. The temperature drops in the office.
Reaction: Harry and Charlie get excited.
Horror situation:. Harry takes his knife and threatens Jackson, the cameraman, to keep filming. “This is it.”
Reaction: Harry is in awe. The team is scared.
Horror Situation: An apparition appears above Nerd Jerry’s body. The floor holding it collapses, and it falls to the next floor.
Reaction: Harry and Charlie are in awe. The team is in disbelief.
One of us is killed:
The ghost looks like a confused Nerd Jerry. His face slowly deteriorates into a monstrous visage. It yells and rips into Charlie’s body. Charlie is stunned, not sure what happened when he dies. “What the fuck, Harry? Ghost Nerd Jerry rips out from his body, spraying blood and guts everywhere.
Reaction: The team is paralyzed with fear. Harry’s face has intestines, and he says, “Far out.”
Midpoint:
Full Pursuit by Killer:
Harry unlocks the doors, and they all run out of the office. We hear a horrible gurgling sound, and screams echo and trail behind them.
Terrorized:
The ghost can travel through solid forms, walls, chairs, closets, and audio and video equipment. It also has a foul mouth and taunts the rest of the team.
Reaction: Panic and disbelief fill the group. Harry is frightened but also elated that he created a ghost and has it on film.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• Fight to the death
Horror Situation: The ghost rips through the floor and enters Belch‘s feet as he’s running, eviscerating his legs as it moves up his body.
Reaction: Belch watches his legs crumble underneath him. His top half hits the floor, and his eyes are wide open, and he screams, unable to get a word out. Ghost Nerd Jerry flees.
• Hysteria: The ghost hunter group sees Belch’s body torn. WTF panic sets in. Harry grabs Jessica around the waist and pulls her towards the staircase. The others follow.
Horror Situation:
Ghost Nerd Jerry comes through the door separating the staircase, grabs Jackson’s arm, and rips it off. Blood shoots out everywhere, covering Sheila, who freezes and then retches.
Reaction: Jessica faints for a minute, but Harry slaps her face. Ghost Nerd Jerry is laughing manically,
Horror Situation: The Ghost Nerd Jerry slowly floats/creeps towards the half-crazed Sheila, who is on the floor covered in blood in shock. She sees it coming but can’t move or scream. Ghost Nerd Jerry, says, "Poor Sheila, cat got your tongue? And rips her tongue out of her mouth.
Reaction: Jessica screams. Harry pushes her into a classroom where Nerd Jerry’s body has fallen.
• The thrilling escape from death
Harry and Charlie discovered that if they salt the dead body and burn it, it should destroy the evil apparition if they had succeeded. Harry pulls Jessica near the dead body. He pulls off his backpack and produces salt, lighter fluid, and a torch.
Horror Situation: As Harry covers the dead body with salt, Ghost Nerd Jerry appears in the doorway, watching and mocking him.
Reaction: Panic. Jessica is yelling at Harry to hurry up. Harry can't light the torch.
Horror Situation: Harry puts all the lighter fluid on the body and lights it up with the torch. Nerd Ghost Jerry cackles at their failure, but as the flames engulf the dead body, Ghost Nerd Jerry looks confused, screams then disappears.
Reaction: Jessica and Harry are relieved.
Death returns to Take on more.
Jessica is hugging Harry tightly. “You did it.” “Damn, right.” As they kiss, Harry’s body starts shaking. Jessica is thrown away, and Ghost Nerd Jerry lifts Harry in the air by his neck. He kills him and gently places his body on the ground.
Reaction: Jessica is petrified and motionless.
Horror situation: Ghost Nerd Jerry enters Harry’s body, reanimates it, and takes possession. It rises. Ghost Nerd Jerry Harry slowly gets up, pale. It walks to the end of the room, picks up the camera that had filmed much of the carnage, and sees that the hard drive is intact. He smiles at Sheila. "I was always jealous of Harry’s good looks, so now I have them. Feels great, too, don’t you agree? She nods her head. Ghost Nerd Jerry Harry throws her a key to the door. “Let’s get out here; we’re gonna be famous.”
(Sorry, I'm way behind because of work, but I'll do my best to keep up.)
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by John Amato.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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Diane’s Horror Situation Track
What I learned doing this assignment is that it’s so easy to come up with other ideas for the deaths and mayhem so doing an outline to track the plot will make writing the script so much easier. So much more efficient! And it’ll be fairly easy to revise the plot track when the next track introduces more horrific ideas to add in. I also found it was easy to move ideas around and try them in different locations in the track. So much easier that rewriting a script.
Create your plot.
1. Knowing your concept, fill in one or two sentences for each of the plot points.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
• ATMOSPHERE OF EVIL ESTABLISHED — PROLOGUE (1963): In an underground cavern, Alcatraz prison escapees Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, Frank Morris, and Allen West are heard, running, yelling, and screaming. They enter a large cavern with a rocky shore and deep, dark, pool of water. They turn to see a blast water come from the passage they ran from. The water hits them with a force of a hurricane and throws the across the cavern into the dark water. The cavern quiets down leaving only a tattered raft and the bodies of the men.
TODAY: A group of tourists listen to stories told by the tour guide of spooky tales of people going missing on the island feared murdered by the ghosts of a long-ago pirate shipwreck.• THE CHARACTERS ARE WARNED NOT TO DO IT —The tour guide catches one of them wander off-trail and warns everyone to keep to the marked trail because it’s easy to get lost in the “catacombs.”
• CONNECT WITH THE CHARACTERS — The members of the group are excited to be on the island and exploring a notorious site of their hobby. As they introduce themselves. They have their phones and they even brought flashlights knowing they would be going below the prison on advice of the brochure. They agree to go off-trail One of the group resists, “maybe we shouldn’t,” but then gives in. The group sneaks off-trail to a crumbling door and it opens.
HORROR SITUATION — MENACING LOCATION – The group pulls open the door and hear, from deep in the discovered hallway, what sounds like screams. A few are unnerved by the sounds.
REACTION: — DENIAL – The eager ones laugh it off, “Haha! Spooky wind,” and one by one enter the secret hallway. Of course, they believe nothing bad will happen in the prison that has been closed since 1963 and is now a State Park for goodness’ sake.HORROR SITUATION — TRAPPED – No one knows they are here. They hid their entry. They explore the hallway of rusted prison cells but find the hallway is a dead end. They turn around, disappointed that this is all there is, but they can’t find the way out even though the hallway is straight.
REACTION — DENIAL – This can’t be. It makes no sense.
REACTION — SOLVE IT – They calm down and methodically look for the way out.• SAFETY TAKEN AWAY — They are stuck here.
HORROR SITUATION — They are lost and no one knows they are here.
REACTION — SOLVE IT – They can’t find the way they came in so they must find any way out. They find passages of stairs leading down. Going deeper is risky, but so is staying here.HORROR SITUATION — FORCE OF NATURE – Water starts filling the hallway. They’re confused and panicky. The water is waist high and starts to swirl. One of them loses their footing and goes under. They pop up, scream for help, and disappear. The water subsides out of the hallway. But he’s gone.
RESPONSE — DENIAL/CONFUSION – Did that just happen. They check if everyone is there, but no one really knows for sure how many they started with. They buddy up.ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
• ISOLATED / TRAPPED / ABDUCTED — Without an alternative, they must continue looking for a way out. After all, the “Great Escape” guys found a way out. We can too.HORROR SITUATION — WATER THAT KIDNAPS/KILLS – Water starts to run rapidly into the narrow passage from cracks in the rock walls.
REACTION — ESCAPE – They panic and desperately seek to go back up the stone steps. When out of the gushing water, one of them is missing.
REACTION — ANGER – The planner of the trip is missing. He must be a psychopath and is responsible for this. He told a super-scary story, he found the crumbling doorway, he talked us into coming in here. He must have closed the door and is playing tricks on us to scare us.MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
• MONSTER: THE NATURE OF THE BEAST — The continue down a passage and must walk through deep puddles.
HORROR SITUATION — The water begins to swirl and the swirling water grabs and pulls one of them down into the dark water. He comes up for air, screams, and the water shapes into a hand and covers his mouth. With eyes wide, scream muffled, the rest of the group watches as he’s pulled into the water and disappears.
REACTION — REALIZATION/ESCAPE – This is more than just a psychopath. There’s something else going on here! We have to get out!• ONE OF US KILLED — They continue down a narrow hallway searching for a way out.
HORROR SITUATION — They find someone peering into a crevasse. How did they get ahead? They find it’s the dead body of the first one dragged away by the water.
REACTION — REALIZATION – They don’t know how, or why, but they are in grave danger.
REACTION — TRY TO SOLVE IT – Go back or keep going forward? Forward.• FULL PURSUIT BY THE KILLER — Remaining group members select a hallway and move quickly as they look for a way out.
HORROR SITUATION — Splashing sounds approach them. They prepare to fight the psycho planner. But, it’s not him, it’s water, a wall of water with water arms reaching from the wall of water and legs stepping out of the water toward the group.
REACTION – ESCAPE – Surprised it’s not a person, they flee deeper into the catacombs. Chased into a dead end, they dig at the walls to find a loose area that might be able to break away.• TERRORIZED — The water reaches them and they are being dragged down another passage screaming and trying to stay together (reminiscent of the prologue) they tug-of-war against the pull of the water. The group is dragged over a waterfall and they all land in the large cavern.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
• FIGHT TO THE DEATH — Here they find the bodies of all of their missing group members. Their dead friends are lined up with skeletal remains. Four wear the prison uniforms of the Great Escape escapees. The others are older with rotting pirate-looking boots and scraps of clothing and hats. And, corroded swords.HORROR SITUATION — There’s no other place to go. They can’t go deeper. They’re at the bottom. They can’t make it back up the slippery waterfall. All remaining members of the group survived the attack that brought them here. They’re doomed!
REACTION — TRY TO SOLVE IT – They put their heads together to see what they might be able to use to fight this thing. One of them foolishly tosses a small rock into the water. It swirls oddly, then stops. They flash light into the water to see if there’s a way out through the water. They get excited about maybe they can get out.HORROR SITUATION — The water begins to swirl.
REACTION — HIDE – All of the survivors climb onto rocks and away from the water. Everyone stays still and quiet. The water quiets down.• HYSTERIA — Everyone is stunned. There’s no way out! It’s just a matter of time until all are taken by the water.
HORROR SITUATION — Should someone at least try to swim for it and send help?
REACTION — PREPARE TO FIGHT – “We can’t just sit here forever!” Everyone arms themselves with rocks and old swords. Tag-Along selects two femur bones and a skull.• THE THRILLING ESCAPE FROM DEATH — They toss rocks in to the pool of water. It begins to swirl. Tag-Along is talking, chanting really, quietly.
HORROR SITUATION — The water swirls up and screams!
REACTION — HIDE – Everyone holds their high ground. The water searches. Tentacles of water reach up.
REACTION — FIGHT – All at once they throw stones at the water, slice it with swords, smash it with backpacks, anything they have.
REACTION — FLEE – “Keep it up, I’ll swim for it!” and one of them dives into the water and disappears below.• DEATH RETURNS TO TAKE ONE OR MORE — They wonder if the diver made it out.
HORROR SITUATION —The water roils and splashes but stops pursuing the survivors. It blasts down through the pool. They know the water is chasing the diver.
REACTION — DESPAIR – The diver is thrown up out of the water, against the rocks, and falls dead.HORROR SITUATION — The water swirls up again and begins a hurricane-like spin in the chamber. Faster and faster. It’s screams drown out any possible voices but a few human screams.
REACTION — PREPARE TO DIE – There’s nothing anyone can do. They can’t fight. All they can do is hold on to whatever perch they can.
REACTION — FIGHT – Tag-Along has positioned the skull and femur bones in a Jolly Roger arrangement on a flat rock. Tag-Alone appears to be chanting. The water is not touching the bones. Tag-Along kneels before the skull and crossed bones and lays hand on the bones leaning in as if chanting/yelling to the skull.• RESOLUTION — Suddenly the water stops and all is quiet except for the voice of Tag-Along who is loudly chanting a remedy of a pirate curse. The remaining members turn, cuts on their faces and clothing torn by the raging hurricane water. Tag-along keeps chanting, but not as loudly. Then stops at the end of the chant. All is now quiet. “We can go now,” says Tag-Along.
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BRIAN BULL – Horror Situation Track
My Vision: I’m a writer that producers want to work with and can’t wait for my next script!!!
“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?” The more horror situations you can create the better the horror story. I can hardly wait for the next lessons I can add to it.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Build horror situations into your plot by taking the following steps:
STEP 1: Brainstorm 20 to 50 potential horror situations for your story.
STEP 2: Determine which of those work best for your plot.
STEP 3: Add a Reaction (denial, solve it, hide, escape, or fight) to the selected Horror situations.
STEP 4: Put Horror Situations/Reactions in the plot and label them.WEREWOLF STORY
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR
Atmosphere of Evil establishedMoonlight shines into a hospital room in England. A nurse peeks in to see an empty bed. She becomes panic-stricken calling for the doctors and security.
HORROR SITUATION: Shrieks and screams can be heard in the hallway. The shadow of a wolf-monster kills someone and lets the body drop.
Reaction: The nurse scream in horror!
Connect with the characters
LEADER: James – responsible, drives the car, successful at everything he does. Adventurous – brings a metal detector treasure hunting at Ghost town.
LOVE INTEREST: Mary – James’ girlfriend; generic girlfriend figure who will go anywhere for James.
OUT OF CONTROL OBNOXIOUS: Charlie – party’s all the time, James’ best friend and his alter-ego. Brings a Colt 45 six-shooter to fire during their visit to a ghost town.
COMPLAINER: Zoey – friend of Mary’s who kind of likes Charlie, if he wasn’t such a jerk all the time.
THE CARRIER: The one that brings the horror to the group – Henry – After graduation from college, went to Europe for a month. While in England, he was attacked by a large “dog” and stayed in the hospital for observations. He left the hospital in the middle of the night – that was a month ago. The moon is full tomorrow night and Henry is feeling a bit “hungry.”
These 4 Characters are road-tripping to Los Angeles and they are entering Northern California looking for a ghost town so James can metal detect and Charlie can shoot off a few rounds with his Colt 45.
The characters are warned not to do it.A roadside attraction has a BIG FOOT statue. Told about a ghost town a few miles away but it’s a ghost town for a reason.
Denial of HorrorThey joke about BIG FOOT and other scary monsters and how fake they are.
Safety taken awayAfter spending the afternoon metal detecting and firing Charlie’s pistol, they decide to head out, however, they start to have engine troubles. Luckily, an RV is coming down the road to visit the ghost town. They agree to fix it in the morning because the sun is going down.
HORROR SITUATION: The graduates are stranded until morning.
Reaction: There’s nothing to worry about – it’s all good.
Monster: The nature of the beast.
As the sunsets, the full moon begins to rise. Henry has ventured off, so has Sammy the Rver.
HORROR SITUATION: When the moon is on the horizon an eerie howl is heard in the hills.
Reaction: Worried, the others begin looking for the two.
ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Isolated / Trapped / AbductedHORROR SITUATION: Sammy’s body is found and he is shredded.
Reaction: Mary, with shotgun in hand, is going to kill whatever it is that killed her husband!
One of us killed
HORROR SITUATION: Nearby, screaming!!! The shotgun goes off.
Reaction: The 3 college grads are panicked and go to investigate – Mary is shredded!
MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
Full pursuit by the killerHORROR SITUATION: The college grads go back to the RV – this will make for a good fortress – if only they had the keys.
Reaction: The keys are with Sammy!
HORROR SITUATION: The werewolf HOWLLLLLLLLLLS!
Reaction: They must hurry if they want to escape with their lives.
Terrorized
HORROR SITUATION: Someone needs to go out there and get the keys off of Sammy’s body.
Reaction: They devise a plan.
ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
Fight to the deathHORROR SITUATION: Charlie is going to be the decoy so James can get the keys from Sammy.
Reaction: Charlie has his gun and he is hiding.
HORROR SITUATION: The werewolf is sniffing around and getting very close to Charlie.
Reaction: panics and fires 5 of his 6 shots but misses on all counts, he runs back to the RV, …
HORROR SITUATION: …but trips, he points the gun, his arm is sliced off!
Reaction: Charlie is shredded right in front of Mary as she looks out the windshield!
HORROR SITUATION: James is out there searching for Sammy’s body.
Reaction: James is desperately looking for Sammy.
Hysteria
HORROR SITUATION: Mary is armed with the shotgun but she is trapped inside the RV. The werwolf is circling the RV.
Reaction: Mary takes her best shot hoping to hit the werwolf but misses …
HORROR SITUATION: …and now the werewolf is ripping at the door.
The thrilling escape from death
Reaction: Mary opens the window and slips out, just as the werewolf enters.
James has the keys…
HORROR SITUATION: …but now the werewolf is inside the RV and they are on the outside.
Reaction: They must lure the werewolf out.
Death returns to take one or more.
James shoots the werewolf with the pistol/silver bullet. James and Mary go back to the RV – Mary enters the doorless RV first.
HORROR SITUATION: She hears a noise and turns around – James is gone!!!
Reaction: She looks around and then –
HORROR SITUATION: A SNARL AND FANGS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!!!
Reaction: Mary pulls the trigger on the shot gun and blows a big hole in him – thus killing the werewolf!
Resolution
Mary goes to James body, gets the keys and drives away.
THE END
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by Brian Bull.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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Tim Allen Horror Situation Track
What I learned doing this assignment was that it will definitely help you keep your plot in order as well as show you what may need adjusting.
Act 1. Atmosphere of evil established: The group of six adrenaline junkies are sitting around a night campfire near their cabins reading a riddle of how each one will die by their worst fear.
Horror Situation: Creepy howling animal noises are coming from the trees behind them.
Reaction-Denial: The group begins haggling over the notes, whether it’s just the campground owners making an attempt to heighten the experience with dramatics.
Horror Situation: In all the excitement the group didn’t even notice one of the members who went by the trees to take a whiz, was hit over the head, gagged, and taken away by the killer undetected.
Connect with the characters: The next morning they discover they’re missing a member from their group, and the leader who put this trip together devises a plan to create a map and go into the forest grounds to find him. Two men from the group who always seem to be in competition with one another begin searching the living quarters for weapons of survival. Another member, who usually makes the wiser decisions now second guesses the notes passed around at the campfire.
The characters are warned not to do it: The group gets halted by the managers of the campground warning them not to go into areas that are not on the sights brochure they received the first day. That doing so poses a danger from nearby animals that need guides or experience to handle.
Denial of Horror: The group warns the camp managers that the scare tactics are not a part of the experience, and that their buddy had better turn up by daybreak or they will demand a full refund.
Safety taken away: The group head down the first path of their makeshift map and at the end of the trail they find the three vehicles used for safety and transportation on the camp tires were all flattened.
Reaction-Try to solve: The group begin walking around the vehicles looking at the visible damage to see if they could find tools of any sort.
Horror Situation: Fresh blood and a particle from the missing group member’s clothing is spotted on one of the vehicles. Then high pitch moaning is heard.
Reaction: The group panics and begin running into each other heading back to the living quarters.
Monster – The nature of the beast: During the panic one member pushes another right into the path of the killer, as he stands there just staring at her with a bear trap in his hands.
Horror Situation: She turns to run away from the mauled-faced killer, but he hurls the bear trap at her feet catching her by the ankle and nearly cutting her foot off.
Reaction: The group is now terrified and bundling together inside the cabin too scared to aid their screaming friend.
Act 2 – The point of no return
The rest of the group trapped inside the cabin decide to build up courage to see if they can find their friends while hesitant that this is really happening. They break open the locker filled with safety items grabbing an axe, a flare gun, and a bow & arrow set.Horror Situation: The last four of the group walk down the path where their friend was last seen and are met by the high pitch moaning right beneath their feet, and they begin digging. The killer reappears.
Reaction: One of them shoots the flare gun and misses, and they all run for cover.
Horror: The last four run into a trap, falling in a dark pit underground while the screams from the first missing friend just got louder.
Reaction: They try to find their way through the dark and wind up separated from one another.
Horror Situation: One of them feels the killer on his heels and turns around shooting blindly causing him to stumble in another hole sliding down a muddy trail right into an alligator pit.
Character Death: The killer returns to the victim dangling from the bear trap clinging to her ankle, and he pokes her in the face with a blade while rabid stricken raccoons eat of her flesh, and she dies a slow agonizing death.
Midpoint: The monster is worse than we thought!
Act 3 – Full Out Horror
Fight to the death:
One of the group members finds himself underground with the killer in the dark in a maze. He’s so hysterical he forgets he has a bow & arrow in hand. He’s being chased by a mangy wolf and turns around shooting the wolf in the neck killing it instantly. He turns around in pre-celebration and is met by an axe slung by the killer, splitting his head right down the middle.Hysteria:
The member who slid down the mud hole into the alligator pit is in the swim of his life as the predators are closing in. He reaches the bank and met by a strange hand fishing him out only to chop off his hand. In his hysteria, he jumps up running into bear traps clamping on to both his feet so hard they chop them off at the ankles.-
This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by Timothy Allen.
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This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by
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What I learned doing this assignment is how this process makes a lot of sense and it already tightening up my idea.
ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR |
* The atmosphere of Evil established – April’s Psychology residency at a psychiatric institution. She accidentally frees a serial killer and barely escapes murder at the killer’s hands.
* **HORROR SITUATION** – Serial Killer Advances on Potential Victim.
* **REACTION** – April hides and hopes someone stops the killer.
* Connect with the characters – Friends from college on a winter break trip to a ski resort. It’s dry and almost deserted, but they’re trying to have fun.
* The characters are warned not to do it. – When they get to town, they split up. Some encounter an older handyman who warns them that this place is dangerous.
* **HORROR SITUATION** – Crazy old man warns them to behave.
* **REACTION** – They laugh at him.
* Denial of Horror – One of them sees a strange-looking priest praying. The person is scary looking. The friends choose to stay, and they party at their Airbnb.
* **HORROR SITUATION** – The one friend sees the monster but assumes it’s just some religious zealot.
* **REACTION** – Laughs it off, maybe even makes some religious joke.
* Safety taken away -The van they came up in is having an engine problem. One of the friends is a mechanic who tries to fix it.
* Monster: The nature of the beast. – Local business owners, clearly intimate encounter the priest. When they engage it, he tears them apart.
* **HORROR SITUATION** – The monster stalks several locals and kills them.
* **REACTION** -friends are unaware that the town doctor and pharmacist are dead, and they could use their help. It is brutal as their house is brought down with a small explosion.⠀ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
* Isolated / Trapped / Abducted – That evening, a blizzard hits before the van can be repaired, stranding them there.
* One of us killed – The mechanic friend comes in, and he says he thinks he’s fixed it. And he found tire chains. If they leave, now, he thinks they can make it. At that moment, the van isn’t even running but the monster throws it through the wall, and it kills the mechanic.
**HORROR SITUATION** – The monster throws a van at the mechanic.
**REACTION** – Friends scream and dive for cover.
⠀MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!
* Full pursuit by the killer -The monster enters, and some of them engage it. They barely affect it.
**HORROR SITUATION** – The monster arrives with a crowbar and chains. **REACTION** – The friends run into the snowstorm and can’t see more than a few feet.
* Terrorized – they run into the snowstorm, most are barely dressed, and they have no idea where they’re going.
**HORROR SITUATION** – The Friends realize that the roads are unpassable. **REACTION** – Decide to split up and look for resources
**HORROR SITUATION** – The friends realize they don’t have enough vehicles to escape anyway.
**REACTION** – Break into other houses looking for vehicles. Reconnect when this fails, though they have warmer clothing (old grandparent clothing) and tools to make traps.⠀ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR
* Fight to the death -the group is getting smaller, as they try to stop it, but nothing seems to work.
**HORROR SITUATION** – The monster chases them as a group.
**REACTION** – They run, and one gets lost from the group.
* Hysteria – April and her friends are freaking out and are at the edge of their sanity.
* **HORROR SITUATION** – The monster chases them individually.
**REACTION** – He turns to fight. He does some damage but is killed in the process, being thrown into a burning car, shards of the frame impale him.
* The thrilling escape from death – the group leader devises a plan to make a trap for the monster.
**HORROR SITUATION** – The friends build a trap and lead the monster into it. **REACTION** – It works. The creature is dying and there is relief
* Death returns to take one or more. -More die before the trap goes off, but it works. As the creature is dying, the friends realize what it wants.
**HORROR SITUATION** – He shows them the future. There are enough details to help them figure out that the mother is April. The survivors think that she needs to die.
**REACTION** – April causes the leader to die seemingly.
* Resolution -They turn on each other, and April’s true colors are revealed.
**HORROR SITUATION** – She seems to embrace the idea of being powerful and influential.
**REACTION** – Other Survivors are terrified of her.
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