Horror and The Scriptshadow Challenge

Posted on May 28, 2009 | by admin

A couple of quick things. First off, horror. I know you’ve been demanding it, but my horror aficionados are busy. Which means *I’m* the only one left to brave the genre. As I’ve pointed out before, I’m not the biggest horror fan. But I’m a huge *story* fan. I like good stories, no matter what the genre. So for you – the people – I’m going to read a horror script for next week. But I want suggestions. Give me something GOOD. Not some excuse to throw fake blood on people. No, I will not review The Strangers 2. That is exactly the kind of script I *don’t* want to read. So give it to me. Horror, zombies, etc. I want something that’s going to make me say, “Hmm, this horror stuff isn’t so bad. I want to read more of it.”

Also, as some of you have noticed, it’s that time of month. No, not *that* time of month. But the time of month for The Scriptshadow Challenge! Woo-hoo! Scott Myers and I from Go Into The Story give you guys a script to download, a week to read it, and then we all get to review the thing instead of just me. So be looking for that tomorrow morning. Scott and I have chosen a script that will surely provoke some discussion. I wonder what it’s going to be. :)

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  • Geoff

    If you can find a copy, there’s a vampire Western called BLOOD AND SILVER that’s amazing. You could also take a look at PAN, a script that turns Peter Pan into a child killer and Hook into a detective that’s hunting him down.

    Most horror blends together for me too, though. However, I’ve heard GREAT things about DRAG ME TO HELL.

  • Kingston Alomar

    I got one title for you Carson…

    All The Boys Love Mandy Lane by Jacob Forman.

    Everyone that has told me about that script nearly creamed their pants. It’s supposed to be the “revival” of the teen slasher. Whatever that means. I think it was made a few years ago, but it hasn’t been distributed yet. IMDB says it came out 2006 but has no release dates 0_o

    Anyway, I just want to read it. So if you find it please do a review. Much appreciated.

    And Geoff that PAN script sounds awesome.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08439555051697115476 Carson Reeves

    Okay, so I have 4 potentials. And I think I have all of them except for Blood and Silver so that’s good.

    I’ve been recently encouraged to read World War Z. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

    Thanks Geoff and Kingston for your suggestions. Mucho appreciantay.

  • Geoff

    Kingston – PAN is awesome. At least the draft I read; don’t know what’s happened to it in development since.

    Carson – Heard good things about WWZ. You might also check out ZERO DARK THIRTY, a script about an Iraq war vet who comes home only to find out that he’s been KIA and is actually a zombie. It’s disorienting and fucking depressing, but it’s pretty good.

    And if you’re looking for something of a hybrid and haven’t read it yet, see if you can get your hands on A KILLING ON CARNIVAL ROW. One of my favorite projects in Hollywood right now. Try for the original draft by Travis Beacham – the execution leaves something to be desired, especially in the third act, but it’s so fucking cool that you won’t care.

  • Anonymous

    DO NOT review All The Boys Love Mandy Lane.
    i have seen this movie, it is HORRIBLE. unless there is a DRAMATIC difference in the script and what got shot, it would be a huge waste of time.

  • Lumi

    The horror genre for the most part sucks. Most of the movies made in the horror genre are boderline horrible. No one makes movies like the Shining, Exorsits of the Omen anymore.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08439555051697115476 Carson Reeves

    Yeah, exactly. I’d like to read something like The Exorcist or (even though this isn’t really horror) Rosemary’s Baby.

  • Anonymous

    JJ says:

    Peter Pan as a child killer and Hook as a detective….???? That sounds HORRIBLE. Good god…between that, Hook, and Lost Girls I think it’s about time to declare that revisionist versions of JM Barrie are not great ideas…

    World War Z is….it would make a for a good review subject, but my take on it was that the Strazynski draft I read was a real dissapointment. It hammered the book into a very conventional big studio horror / action template, and felt like simply a zombie movie, albeit one with a wider scope than almost any yet seen. But a truly visionary adaptation of WWZ has the potential to be something far more original and exciting, a genre epic about the inevitability of time and being haunted by our memories. “Dawn Of the Reds”, kind’ve. :)

  • Sean W.

    I’ve read the World War Z that’s going around and it’s not that great. A friend of mine who worked with me on the tv show “House” is going out for Props master on the film and he had a completely different script that he let me borrow that was incredible! It’s like a Jack Ryan political thriller with Zombies!

    I have but still haven’t read the following horror scripts:

    “25-8″ – Written by Wes Craven – It tells the story of a dead serial murderer who returns from the grave to kill the seven children who were born on the day he was killed fifteen years ago

    “Jennifer’s Body” – Written by Diablo Cody – When a gorgeous cheerleader is possessed by a demon and starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town, her ‘plain Jane’ best friend must kill her, then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshipping rock band responsible for the horrible transformation

    “A Perfect Getaway” – Written by David Twohy – Two pairs of lovers (Zahn & Jovovich, Olyphant & Sanchez) on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.

    “Tell-Tale” – Written by Dave Callaham – A man’s newly transplanted heart leads him on a dangerous journey to find out who murdered its donor.

    “Zombieland” – Written by Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese – In the horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss — but when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is an AK-totin’, zombie-slayin’ badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

    Also, does anyone have “Pandorum”? I can’t find it anywhere but I heard it’s good. It’s written by Travis Milloy and is about a pair of crew members aboard a spaceship wake up with no knowledge of their mission or their identities.

    Does anyone have this “PAN” script? Would love to check it out. Thanks!

  • Carlo

    Sean W, he already reviewed Jennifer’s Body.

    Give me your email and I’ll send Pan your way.

  • yeebarr

    If you havent already made your choice, then my votes would be for:

    World War Z (I loved this book!)
    Zombieland
    Zero Dark Thirty

    As you can probably see I’m a huge zombie fan – not so much into the slasher or “it’s a supernatural monster therefore the heroes have no chance of surviving” films.

    But if horror isn’t your thing than the “Pan” movie sounded kind of cool.

    However I’ve loved all the reviews you’ve done so far Carson so I’m sure anything you pick would be great!

    (Oh – and if anyone would be willing to send ANY of these scripts to my email address (chrisdotyee@myobdotcom) you would have the eternal thanks of a grateful movie fan!

  • Milan

    25/8 – There isn’t much horror in it, only at the beginning and the end.
    NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET – The script is written good, it’s entertaining (I read it in just 3 hours) and I think it is a read worth if you like the original film(s).
    AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS – I know I’m boring with that script, but it is the best horror script I ever read. :)
    THE BIRDS – The script is okay, but it has not much suspense like the original film. But there are a few good scenes.

  • Colin

    NIGHTMARE is not written “good,” or well. Don’t waste your time with that one, Carson.

    It would be nice to see an original horror spec reviewed, rather than a remake…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08439555051697115476 Carson Reeves

    Great suggestions. I think I know what I’m going to read.

  • Anonymous

    Evilseek by Wayne Kramer. Logline: Every 1000 years in hell, they elect a new Satan, so the reigning Satan has to come down to Earth, take over the body of a mortal and find his successor, the most evil person alive. It’s a fucked-up freaky read in the best way. Weinstein Company bought it a few years ago.

  • JasonX

    A reminder for you to review the BEST DAMN SCRIPT EVER WRITTEN – the delightfully fucked-up ‘ORPHAN’.

  • JasonX again

    My opinion on some of the scripts mentioned here:

    PAN: Awful. Do not bother with this tedious police procedural that name-drops the characters from Peter Pan.

    DRAG ME TO HELL: Excellent. Very economical horror script whose first 25 pages are a master class on how to set up a supernatural thriller.

    WORLD WAR Z: Syrianna with Zombies. Great set pieces. The pacing is a problem.

    ZERO DARK THIRTY: Remake of Bob Clark’s ‘Dead of Night’. Poignant, horrifying, devastating – ultra gory.

    A KILLING ON CARNICAL ROW: Imaginative as hell. A great read, but it needs some work as far as plot contrivances go.

    ZOMBIELAND: Funny zombie comedy. Characters you love and empathize with. Not the most original story-wise. Still works.

    AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS – If you like Heart of Darkness type stories this will be your ticket.

    THE BIRDS: The remake script is a flat-out awesome creature feature script with surprisingly deep character development – for this kind of thing.

    EVILSEEK – Excellent writing, but this thing just doesn’t work. It’s fun to read though.

    But why are you still here reading this? Read ORPHAN dammit!

  • yeebarr

    Oh ok – while I thought the concept of Pan could have been a nice twist it sounds like it’s not been done very well. So probably good if you pass on that one.

    I realise I didn’t say anything about WWZ (the book anyway); what I liked about it is that it didn’t so much focus on the zombie horror but more of the traumatic after-effects on the survivors (how they survived, how they were rebuilding society, etc). That might not translate well into a movie but the book was really enjoyable.

    Ok Jason X – I’ll also put my vote in for Orphan, if you can send me a copy of the WWZ script! :)

  • Sean W.

    Carlo, here is my email:
    SeanWathen@gmail.com

    Thanks for PAN!!!! Can’t wait to check it out, even if it’s awful, I’d still like to see what they did with the story. Thanks again!

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/15708868001093706846 LindaM

    I’d be very interested in getting your take on WWZ. I’ve read the revised first draft by JMS (April 2007)and second draft (July 2007). Don’t know what is currently being filmed. A newer version?

    The second version is much better than the first, but I think the story still has some major plot problems. Love to get a discussion going. Anyone got a newer version?

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08439555051697115476 Carson Reeves

    I gave Pan a shot a long time ago and couldn’t get into it. It was just too bizarre. As was already mentioned, I couldn’t understand how this had anything to do with Peter Pan.

    JasonX, I wanted to read Orphan but the copy I have is awful. I can usually read anything but if I tried to read that, my eyes would probably fall out.

  • yeebarr

    Ha! Ok Carson – you’re eyes falling out would make it a lot more difficult for you to continue updating this website, so I suggest you review something else! :)

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/07019706620588684967 Trailer Trashers

    DO NOT review All The Boys Love Mandy Lane! It sucks. I have the newest script by that writer, that is much better.

    PLEASE REVIEW A DECENT PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR THRILLER or something unique, that’s not another shitty remake.

    DRAG ME TO HELL isn’t bad. The script is slightly dif than the movie. I have it if you want to trade.

    WORLD WAR Z is another cliched zombie flick.

    AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS is also very good. Read it a year ago.

    THE BIRDS remake script is gory fun.

    If anyone has: ORPHAN, A KILLING ON CARNICAL ROW,
    ZERO DARK THIRTY, TELL TALE, 25-8 or Pandorum?

    If you do, email me at trailertrashers@gmail.com

    EVILSEEK I couldn’t get through it.

  • Anonymous

    JJ Says:

    Oh, hey, just an addendum: When I said “Dawn Of The Reds” by Reds I was referring to the 1981 Warren Beatty film “Reds”, with it’s chorus of elderly narrators remembering John Reed, Louise Bryant, Emma Goldman, Eugene O’Neill and the “Ten Days That Shook The World”. (“Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind” more recently used a similiar device.) “World War Z” always struck me as somewhat similar: the events of Dawn Of The Dead as remembered years later by the survivors, with a real affecting sense of loss overlaying it all.

    It may be heresy to say this and maybe I’m making too much of Max Brooks’ Jewishness, but “WWZ”‘s survivor narrative structure also reminds me somewhat of Lanzmann’s “Shoah”, especially the book version published in the 80s. Of course, I SERIOUSLY doubt Shoah or Reds has ever been mentioned once by anybody connected with the development of the WWZ adaptation…

  • Anonymous

    I understand some people not liking EVILSEEK – but how do you not get through it… unless you’re deeply offended. It’s a quick, fun, disturbing read. I think this could work great as an extreme horror/thriller flick in the vein of the new French wave of horror – and also has franchise potential.

  • Ant

    Does anybody have the script for “The Strangers 2″? I’d love to read it. I’ve looked everywhere, but I can’t find it. If anyone can send me the copy, I’d be grateful. My email is (vazduhvazduh@hotmail.com)

    Thanks in advance!

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/16924015598562083786 Rob’s rants

    Which one did they ever decide on? Anyone got a really scary horror spec?

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