[Josh Pack]

You’re Next Horror conventions

What I learned doing this assignment is a new way to break down horror films, the elements of a horror film, and that you can use the same scare twice if you’re smart about it.

Title: You’re Next

Concept: Killers in animal masks attack a family reunion. <div>
</div><div>Terrorize The Characters: Shoot crossbow at them during dinner. Kill their loved ones. Introduce a second killer just when it looks like Kelly escaped. Create false hope for characters/audience. Shock them with surprises (killer under the bed TWICE!, killer busting through window unexpectedly, Erin brutally killing one of the killers).</div><div>
</div><div> Isolation: A house in the woods with no nearby neighbors. </div><div>
</div><div> Death: Tariq being shot in the head by an arrow/bolt. Amy’s throat slit by wire. Aubrey stabbed by killer hiding under bed. Kelly stabbed in head after she thinks she’s found help. Paul’s throat slit after he starts to piece things together. Drake stabbed by his own brother after finding out Kelly is dead. Felix killed with a blender. Crispin stabbed. Cop killed by booby trap meant for the killers. </div><div>
</div><div>Monster/Villain: Mysterious killers in creepy animal masks. Felix who plots his family’s deaths. Crispin who is secretly in on it. </div><div>
</div><div>High Tension: being shot at from an unseen assailant, being trapped in your own house with no communication with the outside world, being killed by your own family members, Erin being hunted by killers.</div><div>
</div><div>Departure from Reality: Being trapped/hunted by killers. </div><div>
</div><div> Moral Statement: The brothers are punished for plotting to kill their family for their inheritance.

What made this a great horror film: Mostly set in one location. It’s emotionally shocking as well as scary. It’s also cathartic. (The fantasy of trading your family for money.) Erin is a great character/role.

My story:

Concept: Every 30 years, each family has to sacrifice a member. Some children are born specifically to be the sacrifice.</div><div>
</div><div> Terrorize The Characters: The teenagers are hunted/trapped by their own families. </div><div>
</div><div> Isolation: They live in a creepy small town. Death: The teenagers that are caught are sacrificed in disturbing rituals. </div><div>
</div><div>Monster/Villain: Parents and town folk wearing creepy ceremonial masks. </div><div>
</div><div>High Tension: Scary rituals. Human sacrifice. </div><div>
</div><div>Departure from Reality: Families normally don’t attack each other this way. </div><div>
</div><div> Moral Statement: Traditions should change over time. Adults don’t know everything.
</div>

[Josh Pack]

Horror concept: Every 30 years, each family has to sacrifice a member. Some children are born specifically to be the sacrifice.

A. Monster: Family members

B. Terror: Being killed by your own family/loved ones

C. Environment: A creepy small town

D. Victims: Teenagers who decide to rebel against the tradition.

Primal fears:

Fear of death

Fear of pain or torture

Fear that something terrible will happen

[Josh Pack]

I, Josh Pack, agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP 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.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

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.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Josh Pack]

1. Hi. My name is Josh Pack.

2. I’ve written about 6 scripts. Nothing to final draft.

3. I hope to learn the skills to develop some of the ideas I’ve had for horror films over the years.

4. The movie Saw messed with me so much I didn’t watch another horror movie for several years.