Tales of horror have always been with us, from Biblical times to the Gothic novel to successful modern day authors and screenwriters. Though the genre is often maligned, it is huge in popularity and its resilience is undeniable. Marc Blake and Sara Bailey offer a detailed analysis of the horror genre, including its subgenres, tropes and the specific requirements of the horror screenplay.
Tracing the development of the horror film from its beginnings in German Expressionism, the authors engage in a readable style that will appeal to anyone with a genuine interest in the form and the mechanics of the genre. This book examines the success of Universal Studio's franchises of the '30s to the Serial Killer, the Slasher film, Asian Horror, the Supernatural, Horror Vérité and current developments in the field, including 3D and remakes. It also includes step-by-step writing exercises, annotated extracts from horror screenplays and interviews with seasoned writers/directors/ producers discussing budget restrictions, screenplay form and formulas and how screenplays work during shooting.

- 270 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
Writing the Horror Movie
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Table of contents
- FC
- Half title
- Title
- Copyright
- Quote
- Contents
- Introduction: Welcome to the Nightmare
- 1 Why Do We Like To Be Scared?
- 2 Horror Movie History
- 3 Subgenres
- 4 Staging the Horror: Five Tropes
- 5 Creating the Nemesis
- 6 The First Act: Unease and Dread, Character and Milieu
- 7 The Second Act: Modulating Fear, Terror and Horror
- 8 The Third Act: Tragic and Redemptive Endings
- 9 Prequels, Sequels and Franchises
- 10 Adaptation: From Page to Screen
- 11 Cross-Genre
- 12 World Markets
- 13 Low Budget Horror
- 14 Forming the Idea: Writing Exercises
- Appendix 1: Horror Film Festivals Around the World
- Appendix 2: Interviews with Writers, Directors and a Producer
- Appendix 3: Our Top 20
- Filmography
- Bibliography
- Index
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Yes, you can access Writing the Horror Movie by Marc Blake,Sara Bailey in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Media & Performing Arts & Film Screenwriting. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.