Working on a potentially awesome idea...

[Runawayrunaway!]

Basically it's a movie about a house that has an interdimensional portal in its basement. A young couple move into the house, and discover it. When they enter this portal--which starts as a space in the brick wall behind the washing machine and gradually grows pulsating flesh, turning into a living, breathing vaginal orifice--they find themselves witness to a multitude of horrific, indescribably grotesque scenes. Like what would happen if the flash cut imagery in Event Horizon wasn't flash cut, or something like the hospital scene from Jacob's Ladder mixed with deeply fucked up Clive Barker imagery--only worse. Then they awaken on the floor, vomiting all over themselves. Naturally, their first reaction is to get the fuck out of the house. So they do. The end.

Just kidding. For some deep, psychological reason they find themselves returning to live in the house, and experimenting with the portal. Their TV starts picking up blurry, freaky porn/torture, as a result of the portal radiating some kind of energy that all devices in the house pick up on. They try contacting a few different people to see what they make of it, the last is a priest, who has a trip into the portal, and when he returns he gives up being a priest because that is some fucked up shit right in there.

They become addicted to going into the portal, until even their sex loses its passion because it's been replaced by journeys to this other, fucked up world. Eventually, they can't get out of the house, and it's clear that there's some kind of alien intelligence fucking with their heads.

Basically Being John Malkovich, but instead of John Malkovich, it's an alternate dimension that's all wrong-like with people skullfucking puppies and giving demons rimjobs and other stuff they do on Fear Factor. I'm not sure if that or John Malkovich is more horrifying, but I'm inclined to think it's this. But despite the similarities, I'm really coming from a more Cronenbergian perspective.

Anyway, that's the idea.

So there.

Bitches.

[X-Nightcrawler]

That's basically the plot of Silent Hill 4. Imagery and all. Same for Videodrome.

Except you're not giving us a plot as much as an excuse to put as many grotesque imagess you wish to. I don't really see why anyone would want to watch such a movie.

[Runawayrunaway!]

Um, no. Silent Hill 4's plot concerns someone who is trapped in the mind of a serial killer. That's the plot. And isn't that just the plot of The Cell, give or take J Lo? (preferably take, I don't want her around) There is hole in the wall, true, and you could call it a portal, but it just leads to other places within the same person's memories, not entirely new dimensions, and the way the other areas are experienced and what is there to experience is almost completely different, and the only reason I say "almost" is because both are bizarre.

And while the subplot involving the TV does sound like a straight ripoff of Videodrome, the only thing in common between the two ideas are freaky stuff appearing on a TV screen--which is also what happens in The Ring, and tons of other movies. Videodrome is a TV signal, while this is a way through which messages can be sent from one dimension to the other, and a central element in the second half would be deciphering the images sent through the TV. (come to think of it, that description sounds like what happens in the second half of The Ring, but this is different.)

Basically it's some kind of alien consciousness from this other world that has decided to experiment on these two people. A central focus of the movie would be their relationship, a lot of dialogue between them on the meaning of what's happening to them. It'd be a very philosophical sort of horror film, with a few deeply disturbing images that would hopefully stay in people's heads, but not so many to completely override the point. And the point, or at least one of the main themes, is exploring the attraction people have to staring down the proverbial abyss. (by "abyss", I mean the dark side, not the movie with the water creatures and Ed Harris, who is also a water creature) It's about why someone would watch a snuff film, or Cannibal Holocaust. So, really, the movie would make you see why someone would want to watch horrible things, or at least be a thesis on the subject. Perhaps this idea is just a way of working out my own attraction to gruesomeness--something that's not uncommon in the human species. I've recently seen Cannibal Holocaust, for instance, which I find to be a masterpiece of sorts (that's right, Arrow, I dug it) but it definitely disturbed me. What disturbed me was not necessarily the content, but that I was staring down the aforementioned proverbial abyss, and I was as fascinated as I was repulsed. I had to see it again. So I did. It's a bad experience, but one that's potentially addictive. In the future, some people will be shooting up with Cannibal Holocaust in liquid form. I'm intrigued by this idea, so I'm exploring it right now.

EDIT: And from staring at your favorite movies, dude, there are people out there who would watch a series of meaningless grotesque images. They're called hardcore horror fans. These people will not have The Lion King 1 and 2 as one of their favorite movies. Also surrealist films like early Luis Bunuel are essentially meaningless images designed to shock people, that also happen to be beautiful and sometimes funny to us today. And isn't the only level Silent Hill (the movie) is effective on is a series of meaningless grotesque images? I rather like the movie, but the only level it works on beyond the actual adaptation is the visual and frankly, those visuals are pretty fucked up sometimes. The story and characters barely register due to the bad dialogue and poor pacing. You seem to be shocked that people in a horror forum are talking about horrific stuff.

[Jix]

Sounds good. Do it!

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by Runawayrunaway!

EDIT: And from staring at your favorite movies, dude, there are people out there who would watch a series of meaningless grotesque images. They're called hardcore horror fans. These people will not have The Lion King 1 and 2 as one of their favorite movies. Ahahaha . . .
Sorry, sorr-
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Whoo! All right then. That's fine. I see your sense of perspective is as impaired as Helen Keller's eyesight (because you know I am not a hardcore horror fan because The Lion King is my favorite movie; flawless logic), so I don't see why I should bother to give you a point of view you asked for.

But that's fine, write your screenplay that's, as you seem to agree, "a series of meaningless grotesque images", which is something I honestly would never bother to even read. Good luck with it.

[zombievictim]

I've got to say, this just sounds like another mindless movie that will try to be smart. Ripped off of several movies (some of which are mentioned above). It just seems like its sole purpose will be to show grotesque images while appearing to be a smart movie when, at heart, its not.

Well that's what I've got from it. My opinion is that you drop this idea and start with something fresh and original. And try not to do over the top stuff like you are obviously aiming for with this idea.

Oh and regarding X's favorite movie...come on! Just because he has a wide variety of tastes doesn't mean he doesn't know anything about the genre. He's one of only few peoples opinions I would trust when it comes to horror movies, or movies in general.

[Runawayrunaway!]

Lighten up, Christ. Sorry if I came off like an asshole, because I posted my last message at 2 in the morning and was just barely able to string together a lengthy series of coherent sentences, much less make sure I wasn't being a condescending douchebag.

It just seems like its sole purpose will be to show grotesque images while appearing to be a smart movie when, at heart, its not.

I object to your passing judgement on the intelligence of my movie's heart. (?) The last thing I would do is make a stupid movie. I have no interest in shocking people for no reason. If I can shock people, and it's for a reason, and it can be done well, then I will go for it. I wouldn't just concoct a series of ripoffs patched together in order to put something horrible up on the screen. That's basically what Uwe Boll does. If it were to be made, there would be no skullfucking of puppies or any of the crazy shit I made up in my first post in an attempt to provide dark humor that must have not come across. Just some freaky images that would reflect on the rest of the story--which itself is not a ripoff. The story is different, even if a few ideas are similar. Isn't The Descent just The Cave, only good? Execution is almost everything. I have my own perspective on the material. The plot mechanics, which are practically all I've talked about and I apologize for talking so much about them to give you the impression that I'm just concocting a hollow, unoriginal movie to shock people, do sound derivative on paper, but in execution it would hopefully cohere into its own beast, not somebody else's.

So, just to sum up, I have no interest in making derivative shock-horror.
CHORUS:But that's what you're describing!
So sue me, I barely have a story figured out yet.
CHORUS:But your story is a ripoff!
Bite me, Mufasa. It won't be once I'm through figuring it out.
CHORUS:You're Helen Keller if you poke fun at my taste in movies!
So what if I am?
CHORUS:Um...that's bad. With your perspective...and the things...with the logic.
Huh?
CHORUS:Very, very bad.

But I kid. I promise it's not the remake of Videodrome that it sounds like.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by Runawayrunaway!
Lighten up, Christ. Sorry if I came off like an asshole, because I posted my last message at 2 in the morning and was just barely able to string together a lengthy series of coherent sentences, much less make sure I wasn't being a condescending douchebag. Don't worry, what you wrote didn't allow you to be condescending. I never got that impression.

Originally posted by Runawayrunaway!
The last thing I would do is make a stupid movie.
You're not the one to make that call, obviously.

Originally posted by Runawayrunaway!

So, just to sum up, I have no interest in making derivative shock-horror.
CHORUS:But that's what you're describing!
So sue me, I barely have a story figured out yet.
CHORUS:But your story is a ripoff!
Bite me, Mufasa. It won't be once I'm through figuring it out.
CHORUS:You're Helen Keller if you poke fun at my taste in movies!
So what if I am?
CHORUS:Um...that's bad. With your perspective...and the things...with the logic.
Huh?
CHORUS:Very, very bad. Not completely sure what this is besides some self-depricating attempt to make fun of how you didn't understand what I was saying.
. . . but you seem to be okay with your story being essentially a ripoff. I don't see why people would want to see disturbing imagery in your script if that's been done before by great screenwriters and directors in movies (and games) that are likely better than what you'd write. So if you're fine with that, I repeat, go right ahead and do it. Someone else already supported your idea no problems there. Just saying that I personally won't be reading it (which you probably don't care, in which case we'll have no problems).

So . . . good luck.

[Runawayrunaway!]

Not completely sure what this is besides some self-depricating attempt to make fun of how you didn't understand what I was saying.
. . . but you seem to be okay with your story being essentially a ripoff.

Two points:

1) It's not necessarily that I didn't understand what you were saying, it was quite clear what you were saying, it's just that I felt that the Helen Keller reference was uninspired, so may a pox be upon your house. The actual purpose of that portion was to address how this discourse will go nowhere unless I produce some information that will prove that my idea is not a ripoff and just an excuse for "grotesque images", but obviously only ended up being confusing to you. Perhaps my point would have been better made if it had been sung to you by a lemur.

2) I'm not okay with my story being a ripoff. That's practically the whole point of my last two rambles. (My regular word-spewing sessions on various message boards have been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals due to their prolonged and ridiculously verbose nature.) If you're such a professional on what is and is not a ripoff, what, aside from scrapping the whole thing, would you suggest?

Oh, and I have a third, minor point, which is that I prefer to use the word "condescending" as much as possible while apologizing, context be damned.

[X-Nightcrawler]

I call something a ripoff when I read its description and big portions of it could very well be describing an existing title. Like so:

Basically it's a movie about a house that has an interdimensional portal in its basement. A young couple move into the house, and discover it. When they enter this portal--which starts as a space in the brick wall behind the washing machine and gradually grows pulsating flesh, turning into a living, breathing vaginal orifice--they find themselves witness to a multitude of horrific, indescribably grotesque scenes.
Okay. Look at this:

"Basically it's a game about an apartment that has an interdimensional portal in its bathroom. A young man discovers it. When he enters this portal--which starts as a space in the brick wall above the bathtub and gradually grows pulsating flesh, turning into a living, breathing vaginal orifice--he finds himself witness to a multitude of horrific, indescribably grotesque scenes. "Silent Hill 4: The Room" will shatter your senses and leave you breathless."

Their TV starts picking up blurry, freaky porn/torture, as a result of the portal radiating some kind of energy that all devices in the house pick up on.

"His TV starts picking up blurry, freaky porn/torture and static as a result of the portal radiating some kind of energy that all devices in the house pick up on (including the phone and the radio). This is just one of the many 'hauntings' that wait for you in "Silent Hill 4: The Room"."

They become addicted to going into the portal, until even their sex loses its passion because it's been replaced by journeys to this other, fucked up world. Eventually, they can't get out of the house, and it's clear that there's some kind of alien intelligence fucking with their heads.

"People become addicted to going into the portal, until even their sex loses its passion because it's been replaced by journeys to this other, fucked up world. Eventually, they can't get out of the house, and it's clear that there's some kind of alien intelligence fucking with their heads. Get ready for Cronenberg's latest thriller: "Videodrome"!"

So that to me reeks of ripoff (or at least a huuuge lack of originality). If you're fine with what I just brought up, then stop listening to me.

. . . do you still have the singing lemur though?

[darchangel]

Originally posted by Runawayrunaway!
Two points:

1) It's not necessarily that I didn't understand what you were saying, it was quite clear what you were saying, it's just that I felt that the Helen Keller reference was uninspired, so may a pox be upon your house. The actual purpose of that portion was to address how this discourse will go nowhere unless I produce some information that will prove that my idea is not a ripoff and just an excuse for "grotesque images", but obviously only ended up being confusing to you. Perhaps my point would have been better made if it had been sung to you by a lemur.

2) I'm not okay with my story being a ripoff. That's practically the whole point of my last two rambles. (My regular word-spewing sessions on various message boards have been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals due to their prolonged and ridiculously verbose nature.) If you're such a professional on what is and is not a ripoff, what, aside from scrapping the whole thing, would you suggest?

Oh, and I have a third, minor point, which is that I prefer to use the word "condescending" as much as possible while apologizing, context be damned.


Runaway, how old are you? You posted an idea here, expecting feedback, then when X gives you his honest opinion, you reply with 'Oh yeah...well, you like The Lion King!" Not only is that the best way to get people to reply on your ideas, it's immature.

As far as your idea goes, it does sound like a conglomeration of several movies I've already seen (Videodrome, Event Horizon, Poltergeist, House etc.). If you're going to continue with this idea, it's going to have to be a nearly flawless character study of the couple that moves into the house, not solely based on the things they see while in the other world (skullfucking puppies and the like).

Also, there's going to have to be a REALLY good reason why they come back to the house in the first place, or the whole thing will be in the toilet before it starts. Obsession with violent sex and grotesqueness is not going to cut it for an audience who sees a seemingly normal couple become sadomasochist freaks for no apparent reason.


That's basically all I can tell you on how to improve upon the idea, but I will have to agree with X in that I think you should probably scrap this and come up with something that is more your own invention.

<waits to read numerous smart-ass Molly Ringwald comments>



~darchangel~

[zombievictim]

Originally posted by darchangel
<waits to read numerous smart-ass Molly Ringwald comments>



~darchangel~

**waits as well, knowing he'll get a kick out of the childlike answer**

[Runawayrunaway!]

**doesn't deliver on expectations**

Well this is going nowhere. I know some of the things I said were stupid and immature. I'm actually in college, but I do have an inner 13 year old smartass poopy pants, and he reared his head here, and I am rather sorry about that. Now please get over it. I don't want everyone thinking I'm a 13 year old smartass poopy pants. I'm just a man with an idea. You've judged my idea, and I can't convince most of you that it's original. (and I have no actual evidence to produce to refute what you're telling me)

I tend, in my screenwriting, to take cues from other works and experiment within already defined parameters, like Tarantino does at times, only on acid. I'm generally not a very original screenwriter, though my other writing is a lot more original (and better). This, I know, has a lot of common ground with other material, but I'm hoping I can deviate enough from the other works that it becomes its own thing. I'm hoping to take these ideas and spin them off in new directions.

So, I'm just going to write it. Maybe I'll post bits of it, because I know at least one person will care. If I write to a certain point and realize that I can't make it my own, then I'll scrap it.

Until I have some actual material to post, I'm ditching this here popsicle stand. You can stay and debate whether or not I'm 10 years old or how "ditching this here popsicle stand" is a lame way for me to end my post if you like.

And yes, X, I still have the singing lemur. It's in my pants.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Yes, yes, whatever. Just bring out the damned lemur! It's the most interesting thing I've seen mentioned in this thread.

[Jix]

You should have written the script and then come tell us about it. Not tell us about it and then write it. You didn't even ask for advice, you just trumpeted what you "might" do. You seem like an articulate and smart guy. Write it!

[TheJadedGamer]

Originally posted by X-Nightcrawler
That's basically the plot of Silent Hill 4. Imagery and all. Same for Videodrome.

I got the same vibe. But if he writes it intellegently, he could make a good script.

[adamjohnson]

You sound like me and my writing. Plus I just wrote a script with alot of the same imagery.

http://joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91627

[Runawayrunaway!]

Okay, just to update y'all, I've written 20 (not really formatted) pages of the script, though I haven't written anything in the last few days. It's very dialogue driven, like what would happen if Kevin Smith decided to make a serious, freaky movie about portals to fucked up dimensions (only probably better directed if I ever get around to it), and I don't think there's anything cheesy or hokey or retarded being said, just a lot of two intelligent people talking about the stuff that people normally talk about. It's got a lot, perhaps even a surprising amount, of sexual content, which I think would be borderline exploitative in a less character-driven and cerebral movie. The descriptions of the hell-freaky-dimension-place in the script are definitely strong stuff, and I helpfully point out what they mean on a metaphorical level so it doesn't read like I'm just coming up with ridiculously gory and grotesque images to just gross people out, and so I sound like a snooty French artist talking vaguely about what his disturbing painting means to a crowd of people going "ooooh" "aaaah".

Right now, I'm kind of feeling uneasy about the way in which I get them to return to the house. There's a long dialogue scene in a motel room where they talk about what they should do that, while pretty decent as a scene, isn't entirely believable.

I'll post some of it soon.