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wallebe10
08-19-2006, 05:01 PM
I'm writing a horror movie entitled "School". It's a basic plot about a serial killer who only kills people at a certain high school. I wrote the opening scene last night. I want to you guys to tell me what you think about it and if you notice any horror cliches. I don't think I have any in there. Alright. Here you go.


FADE IN

INT. BIOLOGY CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

The teacher is teaching about the certain arteries in the body.

TEACHER
Now if you the neck gets cut open then pressure can be applied to keep blood from flowing

Sarah, a beautiful blonde girl, is sitting in her desk looking at the teacher. Her phone vibrates inside her pocket. She takes the phone out and sees she has a text message. She opens it and she sees its from her boyfriend Matthew. The text message reads: movies after school right?

Sarah replies back saying: yeah but i have to stay after school for a couple hours. im failing math right now. She puts her phone back into her pocket and looks back up front. Seconds later her phone vibrates again. She takes it out of her pocket and reads the text message. It reads: that works. i have to stay for a few hours too. ill come get you when Im done ok? Sarah replies: can do. She closes her phone and puts it back in her pocket and looks back up front.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM - DUSK

Sarah gets up from a desk with a bunch of papers and takes them over to the table by the window. She picks up the stapler and starts to staple the papers.

EXT. OUTSIDE SCIENCE HALLWAYS

Matthew exits the door and looks up at the window and sees Sarah.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM

Sarah looks out the window and sees Matthew standing there looking at her and accidentally dropping his books. Sarah holds a finger up saying one second. She looks back down at the papers and starts stapling again.

EXT. OUTSIDE SCIENCE HALLWAYS

A person comes through the door behind Matthew. He is wearing all black and has a skull mask, resembling Death, the Grim Reaper. Death takes a pair of scissors out of his pocket.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM

Sarah looks back up through the window. She sees Death behind Matthew.

EXT. OUTSIDE SCIENCE HALLWAYS

Matthew picks up his books and sees Sarah in the classroom banging on the window pointing at him. She is screaming something. Matthew shakes his head in confusion.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM

SARAH
Shit.

Sarah takes out her phone and starts dialing.

EXT. OUTSIDE SCIENCE HALLWAYS

Matthews cell phone rings. He takes it out of his pocket and answers it.

MATTHEW
Hello?

Death taps Matthew on the shoulder. Matthew turns around and Death uppercuts him. Matthew flies down the halfway point of the stairs. Death starts to walk down the stairs.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM

SARAH
No!

EXT. STAIRS

Death gets on top of Matthew and takes a pair of headphones out of his pockets. He reaches inside his pocket and presses play on his iPod. The chorus to Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd starts to play. He takes the scissors and stabs Matthew in the chest. He takes the scissors out and stabs him in the chest again three more times.

INT. MATH CLASSROOM

Sarah is frozen in shock and she drops her cell phone. She sees Death take the scissors out of Matthews chest and put the headphones back in his pocket. He looks up at her through the window. He stands up and starts to run towards the math building. She runs out of the classroom.

INT. MATH HALLWAY

Sarah runs over to the stairs. She stops at the foot of the stairs because she sees Death coming up the stairs. She runs in the other direction while Death chases her. Sarah sees a cart full of books. She picks up a book and throws it at Death. It hits Death in the face and he falls backwards. Sarah runs out of Deaths sight. He slowly gets back up and starts running in her direction.

Sarah continues to run away and she turns left into another hallway. She comes to a dead end and looks around. She sees an elevator. She keeps pressing the button on it.

SARAH
Open. Open.

She keeps pressing it and the door opens. She runs inside and presses the first floor button. Death runs to the dead end. He looks around and then looks behind him. He sees the elevator doors almost closing. He runs up to the doors but they close too soon.

Death runs out of the dead end and all the way back down the hallway and takes the stairs down.

INT. DOWNSTAIRS

Death runs over to the elevator and waits for it to open. When the elevator opens he runs inside and no one is in there. He looks behind him and gets hits in the face with a fire extinguisher and falls to the ground. Sarah drops the hydrant and runs out of the elevator and out the door of the hallway.

EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD

Sarah runs across the courtyard and over to the gate and tries to open it but its padlocked.

SARAH
Help! Help me somebody please!

She runs back in the other direction and over to the cafeteria. She tries to open the door but it is locked. She frantically looks around and picks up a large rock. She takes the rock and keeps hitting it against the window and it breaks. She reaches her hand inside the door and opens it through the other side.

INT. CAFETERIA

Sarah runs inside. She runs through the tables and out the back door of the cafeteria.

EXT. BACKSIDE OF THE COURTYARD

She runs across to the back of the courtyard. She sees the gate but it turns out to be padlocked too. Drums are heard and she can see the marching band practicing on the field. She looks to her right and she sees a rock. Sarah climbs on top of the rock and over the gate. On the other side she lands on her hands and knees.

Sarah starts to breathe heavily. She stays on the ground and Death lands right next to her. She quickly gets up and starts running towards the field with Death right behind her. Then Death grabs her and slits her throat open. Sarah gasps and Death puts his headphones in her ears. He presses play on his iPod and the chorus to Another Brick in the Wall starts to play again.

Sarah elbows Death in the stomach and she escapes. She grabs her throat really tight. She runs over to the field. As the band kids are practicing, Sarah runs in the middle of them and falls to her knees. A trumpeter takes his shirt off and wraps it around her throat.

TRUMPETER
We need an ambulance!

Sarah points over to where she came from and the trumpeter looks over there. He sees nothing.

FADE OUT

X-Nightcrawler
08-19-2006, 06:18 PM
Well the slasher subgenre is a big cliché so don't expect to be hugely original (killer chase - dead end - grabs girl - gets hit with *something* - girl runs - asks for help, it's all a big cliché).

One thing, why is the teacher telling them about what to do in case they get their throat cut open?? I've never heard of a teacher that . . . crazy. Anyway, since it's not completely original or much to really talk about, it's hard to give you any real insight (will skip on telling you about some writing mishaps here) but as far as I can tell you . . . it's a derivative slasher opening . . . that's as much as I can tell you right now, I'm afraid.

TheDeadWalk
08-20-2006, 05:44 AM
I like what you're doing here.

I think the Biology discussion should start with a chalkboard, and diagram of the veins in the neck. Have the teacher call on a student with his hand up who asks about what if you get your neck cut, to which the teacher responds.

The text messaging is going to draw things out ridiculously. The messages are way too long also and you could imply the same thing with three words. The fact that Sarah is going apeshit and no one seems to see or understand why, plus nobody follows her out of the classroom when she leaves is confusing.

I'm also taking it that Death can only be seen if you're on his list?

The whole iPod thing is semi-silly. I think it would be interesting if you had the song get played an original way each time, not hold someone down and put headphones on them. Example -- Matthew could be playing the song on his own iPod, and when Death holds Sarah down, the band could be practicing the song in the distance. (After all she runs into a trumpeteer)

Also, ditch the fire hyrdrant, and I'm really against dudes and broads getting ahead of the killer, and then coming up with some elaborate plan like a fire extinguisher. They're in a panicked state and I always prefer to see them use objects only if they get tossed or backed into them by circumstance. Don't want to turn it into Home Alone.

Like I said, I like what you're doing here, it's a good start.

Jix
08-20-2006, 11:18 AM
I agree. The cell phone conversation is too long. Could be summed up in 3 short exchanges like:

"Movies 8pm right?"
"Got math :( wait 4 me"
"k"

That's one pretty confident slasher you got there running around a school in a Death mask. Borders on the unbelievable. Would be more believable if she'd decide to go to the bathroom and the slasher corners her there.

At this point the story can be good or crap. Not enough info to pass judgment. Like X-Nightcrawler said, all depends on how original it is.

wallebe10
08-20-2006, 01:33 PM
Thanks for the advice guys.

I used the idea for the fire extinguisher and her throwing the book at him to show people she isn't the stupid girl type. She uses those things so she could escape from Death. And for Jix's idea: get her cornered in the bathroom before she gets chased or during her chase? Like I said, I don't her to be the dumb blonde type.

Also the reason why nobody else noticed Death is because it's dusk like it says and almost everyone is out of school save for Matthew, Sarah, and some teachers.

X-Nightcrawler
08-20-2006, 02:32 PM
Originally posted by wallebe10
Also the reason why nobody else noticed Death is because it's dusk like it says and almost everyone is out of school save for Matthew, Sarah, and some teachers. . . . and a marching band and I would think anyone engaged in after-school activities.

Either way, daylight (even if dimming daylight) horror scenes are hardly ever scary, I'd look into that. I also forgot to mention the iPod thing which although is something I haven't seen before (specifically, don't take that as a big compliment; many movies have killers doing cold things to their victims before they kill them) is very, very cheesy. Have him hum Another Brick in the Wall or something like that.

And by the way, why is this so familiar? Have you posted this before? I remember reading someone else's slasher opening that took place in school and had a killer called "Death".

wallebe10
08-20-2006, 02:54 PM
I posted it a year ago but I changed it a lot and decided to put it on the Arrow's board for horror instead of the regular JoBlo board. And I also wrote another scene recentley if you want to read it.

X-Nightcrawler
08-20-2006, 03:17 PM
Ah-HA! I'm great. I shall open a Private Eye office. It will be painted in black/gray/white and I will often receive cases from women who turn out to be as deadly as they're beautiful. And good in bed.

. . . but before I do that . . . sure, bring on the other script.

wallebe10
08-20-2006, 03:41 PM
Alright here's another scene to it. This involves a minor character who shows off his cocky attitude in other parts. Here it is:




INT. MENS LOCKER ROOM EVENING

Leon walks into the locker room and to his locker. He opens his locker and changes his shirt. He closes the locker, takes his stuff, and leaves.

EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD

Leon comes out to the courtyard and begins to walk towards the exit but then stops. Death rises up behind him and takes scissors out of his pocket. Leon knows Death is behind him because of the almost invisible shadow on the wall. Death runs in the other direction while Leon quickly turns around and sees no one there. Death quickly runs at Leon from behind. Leon quickly turns around and right before Death strikes, Leon does a back handspring away from him.

Leon looks at Death and puts his fists up. Death runs at Leon and swings his scissors at him but Leon dodges it by turning to the side.

LEON
Come on you stupid son of a bitch.

Death runs at Leon again and strikes. Leon dodges and round house kicks Death to the side of the head and Death falls over. Death hops back to his feet.

LEON
Come on.

Death strikes again and again but Leon dodges each one of them. Death swings his scissors at Leon but Leon grabs his hand and punches Death in the face with his other hand. Leon groans loudly and holds his hand.

LEON
God damn it!

Death kicks Leon to the ground.

LEON
Oh shit.

Death looks at Leon for a few seconds and jumps on top of him and whips out his headphones. Death puts the headphones inside of Leons ears and presses play on his iPod. The chorus to Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd starts to play. Death raises his scissors and plunges them down to Leons chest but Leon holds Deaths hand to keep him from stabbing him. Death keeps plunging them down and almost stabs Leon but a gunshot is heard and Deaths scissors fly out of his hand. They both look over and see a security guard.

SECURITY GUARD
Stop!

Death grabs his scissors, yanks the headphones out of Leons ears, hops off of Leon, and runs into a building while the guard runs after him. Leon quickly gets up and calls 911 on his cell phone.

INT. SCHOOL BUILDING

Death runs up the stairs in the building with the security guard far behind. The guard gets up the stairs and runs down the hallway. He turns a corner and sees Death running away.

SECURITY GUARD
Stop!

The guard shoots Death in the back and he flies forwards and lands on his front. The guard runs up to him. He kicks the body but it doesnt move. The security guard bends down to check his pulse. Then Death stabs the guard in the stomach. Death gets up and puts the headphones into the guards ears and presses play on the iPod. The chorus to Another Brick in the Wall starts to play again. Death pushes the security guard outside to the balcony. He takes the scissors out and pushes the guard off and the guard falls to his death. Death hears sirens and runs away.





And the killer has a bulletproof vest on just so you know (it should be obvious anyway).

wallebe10
09-15-2006, 12:09 AM
bump

TheJadedGamer
09-15-2006, 03:00 AM
Right now I'm not really digging it. Maybe it's just because you're giving us rather random pieces from your script, or maybe I'm just dumb. It could possibly be because I'm just dumb.

The whole iPod thing just doesn't click for me. Right now I don't know why 'Death' (I don't know if I'd call him that if he was wearing a bulletproof vest, you mind's well call him 'the mysterious figure' or 'killer'), puts the headphones on the kids, and it seems like something that would stop the action. Make it like TheDeadWalk said, with the marching band in the background playing it while the killer is acting the Sarah character. I doubt an actually person who is trying to kill these people would force his/her victims to listen to Pink Floyd.

The opening scene feels very short as well, and the whole text message thing will be too long and tedious. Maybe have the teacher talk about some various human artieries, and have that as a foreshadowing in where some of the characters are killed, while Sarah is trying to do all the text message thing. We're not really learning much about the characters besides Sarah kind of knows what is going on and is trying to stop it. But outside of that there is really no character development.

Leon already seems like an annoying character to me, also. But, again, since we haven't seen the full script and the introduction of all the characters, I wouldn't know. And the security guard dying just seems to be in there for bodycount more than anything, but since you're going for a slasher that doesn't really bother me. He (the guard), just seems like a useless character.

Once you get the full script up, I'd love to read it, but now it just seems to be random bits with no development and only kills scenes. And if you're wondering what are some horror cliches, the characters are mostly it (though, again, I have yet to read a full script of this). Leon seems like the brawny jock, Sarah seems like the heroine trying to save the day, and Matthew is barely introduced before you knock him off. Plus (again), the security guard just seems rather random. Kind of like a...POW, this guy just showed up and saved the day!

But then again, I have yet to write a (final version) of a script myself, so I'm not one to judge. There still isn't enough information on it to make a full judgement on it, though.

If you have it, post the first 40 or so pages on here, and you'll get better feed back on what you need to improve.

BigSugar
09-19-2006, 01:29 AM
Perhaps one excersize you can try that might help is to pare down the language. MAke the script more succinct. It might help to think in terms of the shots and them describe them as briefly as possible. "Alien" opens this way (the script I mean). This is a board filled with slasher film fans and fanatics, so you're definitely pitching it to the right batters. A lot of the stuff here is good, but you're painting yourself into too many corners right off the bat. Killing two people at the beginning of the film only establishes a villain. If the next shot is of a nubile girl in the shower who will be out "hero," you've lost me. How do you confound that expectation? What's your game plan for delivering the goods and making me wonder what the hell is coming next? That's not ego, by the way. It my $7.50, you have to earn it, brother.

the dead one
09-24-2006, 01:52 PM
I have to agree with Big Sugar here in regards to storytelling, there are many things to keep in mind when it comes to writing a screenplay. The most basic rules apply; your story is broken down to three acts---that is gospel. Also, write a brief outline of your story, this is crucial. Know what the story is about; make sure that you have a clear vision. Once you have the basic elements down, then you’re ready to write that screenplay.

Another thing to keep in mind, don’t sweat the little things and keep it simple. Rome wasn’t built in a day, just keep things fast and loose the 1st time out. Don’t stop in the middle of writing then do a ‘go-back’ and start fretting over the dialogue. Trust me, this was a bad habit that I had to break. Just get that 1st draft completed! Keep messaging the material, make the necessary changes to enhance you’re script. It may take several passes before you have the final draft in your hands, just remember it’s “All about story”.

Also, be careful not to be so obvious as to reveal the killer in your story in the early goings. Mystery is a tough nut, but if you can create a story that keeps the audience guessing to till the end, then you’ll have accomplished something worthwhile, even if it is a ‘Slasher’ film. Remember, there were so many films from this sub-genre that made it to easy to figure out who the killer was by the 1st scene. Avoid this pit-fall at all costs!

There is a lot more to writing screenplays then what I have described, but these are the basic rules to keep in mind before committing to writing a single word to paper. Just my two-cents…

Additional:
Check out a few screenplays on the net, read as many as you can. It will help you understand the mechanics of writing and script formatting. One more thing, make absolutely sure you know what it is you want to create in terms of a story. In other words, is it this going to be a "Hollywood" minded slasher flick Or an "Indie" minded slasher flick? Know what kind of mindset it is you're going for, it makes things easier for you in the long run.

X-Nightcrawler
09-25-2006, 01:14 AM
And for the love of god give us feedback to our feedback. People will stop bothering to reply here if you don't show us that you give half a damn to what we have to say.

BigSugar
10-03-2006, 12:55 AM
Second offering. I missed the second scene you put in the replys, sorry. Here again, you need to think in visual terms, and right now I don't see what it is you're trying to show me. Is this fight with "Death" supposed to be kung-fu or something? Using an obvious Floyd song as well seems a little like reaching backwards. Maybe that's me.

wallebe10
11-07-2006, 10:51 PM
Sorry for not replying in a long time guys, I'm still working on the script and I think (and hope) I'm making it better. I'll post it when I'm done.

wallebe10
01-02-2007, 02:39 AM
Here's another scene.



Here's another scene from my slasher which I dubbed "School".




EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD - DUSK

Jim and Evan are walking across the courtyard from football practice. As they’re walking across Evan kneels down to tie his shoe.

EVAN
Hold up.

As Evan is tying his shoe Jim looks up at the second story and sees Death standing there staring at them.

JIM
It’s him.

EVAN
Who?

Evan looks up and sees Death.

EVAN
Oh shit.

Evan stands back up.

JIM
I’m gonna go get him!

Jim runs towards the stairs.

EVAN
Jim no!

Evan quickly takes out his cell phone and dials 911.

EXT. SECOND STORY

Jim gets all the way upstairs and looks around.

JIM
Where’d you go you son of a bitch?!

He continues to look around more and can’t find Death.

JIM
Get out here!

Death is still nowhere to be seen. Jim runs over to the railing of the second story.

EXT. COURTYARD

Evan is talking to a police officer on his cell phone.

EVAN
We’re at Donaldson High School!

JIM (O.S.)
Evan!

Evan looks up and sees Jim on the second story.

JIM
He’s not up here!

Evan looks back down.

EXT. SECOND STORY

Death emerges from the shadows of the corner and walks slowly and quietly towards of Jim. A pair of scissors quickly emerge from his sleeve. He continues to walk over to Jim and gets closer and closer.

EXT. COURTYARD

EVAN
We need someone over here now!

Evan looks back up at Jim and sees Death behind him.

EVAN
Jim behind you!

Death raises his scissors and plunges them into Jim’s back.

EVAN
No!

Evan drops his phone and runs towards the stairs.



EXT. SECOND STORY

Evan gets to the second story and runs over to Jim, dead on the ground. He turns around and Death slashes at Evan’s throat but Evan dodges it. He hits Death across the hand and knocks his scissors off of the second story. Death punches Evan across the face and Evan turns around in pain. Death grabs Evan by the throat from behind and begins to strangle him. Evan is trying to breathe but can’t and finally with all his strength he flips Death over the railing. Evan leans on the railing and watches Death fall.

EXT. COURTYARD

Death lands on top of his head and snaps his neck and lands on his back.

EXT. SECOND STORY

Evan looks down at Death, who is now dead.

TheJadedGamer
01-24-2007, 11:58 PM
Alright, I have some criticisms when it came to the section of your script that you just posted:

- Death gets killed off way too easily and without much of a fight. Plus, the way he gets killed (by what is possibly a dumb jock) is just...silly. Now, I've stated before, I haven't read your whole script, but if you're going to take down Death in a manner like that, it's not going to do much. I think you need to explain more on the insight.

- Them spotting Death is too simple. Better yet, how do they know it's Death? So far (in all the sample sections you've gave us), everyone who has encoutered him as been killed. I think it's a little...simple (?)... to just have a character scream out, "Death!" and point to where he is.

- The fight scene is kind of a joke.

That's all I have. Just keep writing and improving.