Do Horror Films Have Their Own Screenplay Structure? - Peter Dukes

[@sherlockinsomniac]

The comments section gave me more info about this subject than the actual video did

[@vivianamuntean146]

When a headline is a question, is the answer ever yes?

[@santiagorojaspiaggio]

I think you can't just 'break' the 3 act structure that makes a story a story (beggining-middle-end); you can only manipulate it, less or more. And the result will vary on how/when/how much you do that. The result can be to make something less common, or it can make it feel like if it's not a (well-telled) story. BUT the real structure you want to focus on is in 2 forces having a conflict: -On the more superficial level, it can be 2 characters' (or group of characters') OBJECTIVES fighting against each other constantly (and their motivations); this will give the story the impulse to keep it entertaining along the way. If this isn't well constructed, you will not feel atached to what you see in some or all of it, and will inflict on every pro and cons the movie has. -Or in the deeper level, it can be 2 philosophical/thematic CONCEPTS that are fighting each other constantly along the way. This can be the case in more plot-structured stories, having the protagonists and antagonists represent a concept each, like in the form of ideals; or can be the case in more abstract/surrealist/non-traditional films. What this involves, is that every part of what you see has an all-cohesive meaning; it will not only feel all less arbitrary, but also can give you a strong philosophical meaning of the story. No matter what the characters do nor the concepts you try to represent; we humans really FEEL them and understand them when we make them fight and win or lose. We have to constatly put them on the test. And of course this is when the 3 act structure enters: if it is characters objectives or motivations, or just concepts: you have to introduce them some how; you have to develope them (making them fight each other) and you have to give them an end (some of them win and some of them lose, or you can just let the public figure it out on their own). And that's a film, no matter the genre (in my humble theory). CORRECTION: Forget about beggining-middle-end. The 3 acts mainly come as a proportion of time regarding the conflict. You don't want to have a larger introduction than the conflict itself. You don't want the adventure to start when you're already tired of the movie. And at the last act, you want to increase the stakes (consequences of failure). It must feel more important than everything that happened before. I ALSO ADD: The 3 act structure is not that much of a WRITING formula, but an emotional observation of the VIEWER/SPECTATOR. And all this things can affect the storytelling, without even noticing, and no matter how well it is filmed, how much action (empty action or meaningful action?) and how many jokes. And when it comes to horror, we should ask: Are the character in search of an objective or are they just walking and waiting to be killed? Are they really in danger of what happens (stakes) or are we just watching empty-scares? What does the character lose if he fails? What does he gain if he wins (motivation)? Do his actions have consequences and make a change in the situation, leading to different antagonistic reactions, or is the movie just repeating itself until the end? Does the movie speak of something that applies to real life? Are any values or concepts being put under debate? What is this movie's story really about?

[@minenhlenolwazimdakane3148]

Wow so helpful

[@harrylouberrie]

you just did a great help for my mid sem assessment, god bless you ❤️

[@charlessmyth]

More an expected order of events that is repeated, throughout the movie. Can be significantly modified to enhance the effect of mystery and suspense, if horror is combined with elements of another genre. Thriller for example, is a good hybrid, since the thriller can very much be in the direction of a horror story. Silence of the Lambs; Basic Instinct, etc. In terms of Acts per se, it can be difficult to be absolute about it. Alien is one in which the act breaks seem to be obvious, due to changes in world, yet are dramatically vague. It takes a long time to be aware about what the threat from the Alien may be, and the alien is not limited to the Alien. Aspects of the movie that included the Company, the Android, etc., that were modifications to the original O'Bannon & Shusett script, that was "Star Beast". So. . . it depends on the effect for which, one aims to appeal :-)

[@danbee998]

Think of horror movies you know well. Do they have obvious thresholds between acts of a 3-Act structure? The People Under the Stairs has them. Halloween (1978) has them. The Shining (Nicholson version) has them. Setup (Act I) -- (threshold) -- Confrontation (Act II) -- (threshold) -- Resolution (Act III).

[@timbynum]

Most of my favorite ones do not follow this structure.

[@WakeUpPeople1]

She like, “mofo you said nothing.”

[@corporaterobotslave400]

The only diff' b/w a horror plot and other plots: SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOUR AUDIENCE. That's the payoff. Other genres have different payoffs. But yeah the plot that gets your audience there... anything goes. But horror does resemble comedy in that there is usually a long SET UP before the PAYOFF. Peace.

[@TheKeithvidz]

i wrote a feature length named DEVIL TRIAL.

[@DanielL.Phillips]

Thank You film Courage--- Very Very very good.

[@HA-oo5gs]

My philosophy.. ( if I may have one) is : Creativity means: No rules No structures are obligatory.

[@sherlockinsomniac]

Yeah, but if you want to make an interesting and coherent narrative, you need to at least stay close to the rules. I challenge you, or anyone, to find one single good story that doesn't follow the rules.

[@joeriekivits655]

@@sherlockinsomniac Alright: Most Kauffman movies.

[@firstlast-oo1he]

Limitations breed creativity. I believe the creative side of the human mind is at its absolute best when it's trying to solve a problem.

[@HughMansonMD]

The way I put it is that you don't need to understand music theory to make music - but it sure as hell helps. If you know "the rules" then you know how to effectively use them or "break them". It's also worth mentioning that "the rules" are more of an art theory. For instance color theory doesn't say "you can't put purple with red" but it helps explains why it's an unharmonious combination of colors, yet dissonant might be what you are going for, in which case understanding the theory helps. Another example is that you cant really paint a picture with a dissonant composition if you don't understand how to effectively make harmonious composition and why things like the 3rds rule create harmony. I like to make all sorts of different art, and I love to make dissonant, dark stuff; the more I learn and come to understand "the rules" the better I get at drawing strong and uncomfortable emotions from people with my art.

[@ojodealfred]

I agree though to some extent, someone said to learn music you have to know the rules but to make music forget about the rules