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It's not exactly the same thing, but you could learn a lot from Terry Pratchett and Doctor Who. Also Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- You need a great villain / monster / enemy. Terrifying and unstoppable and charismatic. That's the horror part. Also pretty useful for any drama!
- You need a mystery to be solved, or question to be answered. Where the heck did X come from? Why would the government do that? What really happened to blah all those years ago?
- If you want to have comedy while actually keeping things frightening and thrilling as well, some ways that seem to work: The characters combine being heroic with being everyday schmucks with everyday problems; the story shows up the absurdity of life or society by putting normal things in a new perspective.
Then if you can also write great one liners like say Douglas Adams you'll be a national - no international! - treasure. :)
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You will need a character with lots of luck and zero brains, if he/she is a good person, he/she will survive (or at least survive for longer).
An old city with ruined museums and broken sidewalks is a spooky background, it gives you the feeling of a cemetary but it is not. The subway tunnels may work as well.
You may need characters that would betray the hero (for no particular reason, they just don't like him/her).
Well, that is what I would like to see in a horror/thriller/comedy
If it was just horror/thriller I would go with bureaucrats (who act pretty much like zombies but they smell better).
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To terrify viewers you've got to hit on fundamental human fears, such as not being in control of a situation & the unknown.
The humor comes not necessarily from what lines are being delivered ... but by who is delivering them. An example of this is Kathleen Turner making prank calls in Serial Mom. This scene was funny by itself ... but coming from her character made it histarical.
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A great story has an original, but not overthetop setting, a character for almost every taste. Witty one-liners and memorable script, something you'll want to read over and over again. to make it easier, choose your main audience.
The killer should have its counter part, the good version which has what the other lacks but lacks what the other has.. It should be its opposite/equal and they should have a mutual admirance to eachother. There is so much potential and vast array of ideas you can portray.. Quentin tarantino is great at combining horror/comedy with a heavy tongue-in-cheek, you should check out his movies and for the thriller part, that is the easier part, the options are limitless..
Good luck man, looks like your on the write track.
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Answered Question
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| July 08, 2009 07:54 PM |
- You need a great villain / monster / enemy. Terrifying and unstoppable and charismatic. That's the horror part. Also pretty useful for any drama!
- You need a mystery to be solved, or question to be answered. Where the heck did X come from? Why would the government do that? What really happened to blah all those years ago?
- If you want to have comedy while actually keeping things frightening and thrilling as well, some ways that seem to work: The characters combine being heroic with being everyday schmucks with everyday problems; the story shows up the absurdity of life or society by putting normal things in a new perspective.
Then if you can also write great one liners like say Douglas Adams you'll be a national - no international! - treasure. :)
| Asker's Rating: |
• Very good advice. Thank you. I do enjoy Doctor Who and Terry Pratchett.
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Other Answers (5)
July 08, 2009 07:39 PM
Zombies. They could be really funny. However, they've already done "Shaun of the Dead". You will need a character with lots of luck and zero brains, if he/she is a good person, he/she will survive (or at least survive for longer).
An old city with ruined museums and broken sidewalks is a spooky background, it gives you the feeling of a cemetary but it is not. The subway tunnels may work as well.
You may need characters that would betray the hero (for no particular reason, they just don't like him/her).
Well, that is what I would like to see in a horror/thriller/comedy
If it was just horror/thriller I would go with bureaucrats (who act pretty much like zombies but they smell better).
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July 08, 2009 08:14 PM
Vertigo has a heavy impact on my script, as does Pulp Fiction and The Hannibal Lecter Series. I've got a villain, and I think she's pretty brilliant. The horror comes from her. But I need a good source of comedy that can still keep the horror (By the way, this is serial killer style, so sorry- no zombies)
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July 08, 2009 08:16 PM
PS: Think American Psycho style villain. Before she kills someone, she discusses the importance of a healthy heart with them.
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July 08, 2009 08:53 PM
One or more characters to scare the pants of off, a mysterious antagonist who could be one of about three characters to add to the puzzle, and a sarcastic prankster with a really sick, twisted sense of humor, who could possibly be an accomplice should add a uniquely horrific, thrilling and comedic value to a script. Have fun!
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July 09, 2009 06:07 AM
I prefer the "80's style" of horror movies. I consider most of these to be humorous. I believe you need lots of nudity & teenage promiscuity, a villain who walks everywhere and who pops into frame silently watching from outside a window. To terrify viewers you've got to hit on fundamental human fears, such as not being in control of a situation & the unknown.
The humor comes not necessarily from what lines are being delivered ... but by who is delivering them. An example of this is Kathleen Turner making prank calls in Serial Mom. This scene was funny by itself ... but coming from her character made it histarical.
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July 09, 2009 06:47 PM
I can see what type of movie your aiming for, a killer so charismatic and lushious you can't help but admire their brilliance and love them.. I'm a huge fan of the hannibal lecter character, you just can't not love anthony hopkins. A great story has an original, but not overthetop setting, a character for almost every taste. Witty one-liners and memorable script, something you'll want to read over and over again. to make it easier, choose your main audience.
The killer should have its counter part, the good version which has what the other lacks but lacks what the other has.. It should be its opposite/equal and they should have a mutual admirance to eachother. There is so much potential and vast array of ideas you can portray.. Quentin tarantino is great at combining horror/comedy with a heavy tongue-in-cheek, you should check out his movies and for the thriller part, that is the easier part, the options are limitless..
Good luck man, looks like your on the write track.
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also, secrets of great writers...http://www.simplyscripts.com/WR_HH_horror.html