[John Hughes]

Trick ‘r Treat (2007) Horror Conventions

What I learned from this assignment was that, in most cases, horror movies include the same basic conventions. I’ve been watching a horror or Halloween related movie every night for the month of October and I’ve seen all or most of the conventions in each one I’ve watched.

1) I watched Trick ‘r Treat (2007). I think I’ve seen this movie at least once every year since 2007. I have a great love for this movie and for Sam the main character and his Halloween rules.

2) Conventions
Title – Trick ‘r Treat
Terrorize the Characters – The movie covers six story lines that cross paths and revolve around Sam a being of sorts who holds strict rules for Halloween. Torture and death are the basic methods.

Isolation – Methods of isolation depend on character. A crowded fenced in yard, a quarry with no way out, an isolated place in the woods, the inside of a house.

Death – Stabbing, mauling, poisoning, death by vehicle, slashed and eaten, bitten.
Villain – There are multiple villains in this story. Sam kills Emma, Mr. Kreeg kills some children, Macy and her friends, as well as Mr. Kreeg are killed by the children Mr. Kreeg killed, Steven poisons Charlie, as well as an unnamed child, then a woman in an ally. Laurie kills Steven.

Villain – There are multiple villains in this movie, see above answer.

High Tension – The deaths in the movie are all tied to Sam’s rules, but Sam isn’t always the one doing the killing, even though he is always present around the time of each death, I believe as the ‘orchestrator’. The tension is built when you notice a character break a rule, and when you aren’t truly sure who the killer is to be.

Departure from reality – Sam is a being of some sort, perhaps a demon, Laurie is a werewolf.

Moral Statement – Sam’s rules are mostly moral related, giving to others is one, but not hurting the innocent a big one that results in a few deaths within the movie.

3) The most enjoyable thing for me in this movie is how the stories come together. At the start you don’t know how things are connected, but at the end it all comes together.

4) I’m still working on choosing an idea, but one I’m toying with:

Title/Concept – The Experiment (working title): a psych major proposes an experiment to see if a innocent person can be driven to madness/violence if forced to view and experience violent media.

Terrorize the Characters – The experiment goes horribly right, and the psych major and his friends, along with some locals, become the victims.

Isolation – A secluded cabin in a secluded town.

Death – Torture, stabbing, perhaps some unconventional methods of death.

Villain – One could suggest the psych major is the villain, but his subject does all the killing.

High Tension – The experiment is being monitored from another location via cameras. When the cameras go out, the psych major and his friends go to check on things, to find the horrible outcome of the experiment.

Departure from Reality – The changes that happen to the main character due to being subjected to the violent media, and other forces.

Moral statement – It’s wrong to take advantage or abuse people you see as “weaker” than you.

[John Hughes]

My name is John Hughes

I’ve yet to write a script, though I hope to do so with this class.

I’ve been fascinated with horror since watching Halloween as a young child back in the mid 80’s, and I’d like to bring my imagination and thoughts to others.

I have the ability to start 1000 projects and complete 1.

[John Hughes]

John Hughes

I agree to the terms of this release form.

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

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I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

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