Fast paced horror script examples

[superexistence]

Hi, I'm writing a suspense horror at the moment.
I need some good examples of horror movies where the film had very little buildup at the start and instead left it to the middle act.

The only example I can think of at the moment is Evil Dead II.

I'm facing this myself and need to see if it is feasible to have an immediate kick off to the film for the first 20 mins or so then it slows down and we get more into character and circumstance.

Thanks

[Silverlynx35]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

I want to say "Children of the Corn" was like that.
Most seem to have a quick teaser death, then cut to the couple driving through the countryside/town/cemetery.
I imagine in a sequel, you get away with it because everyone knows the MO of the killer.
"Saw" got right into the meat at the beginning.

SL35

[jonpiper]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

Didn't Cloverfield get into the second act action with very little intro?

[LateNightWriter]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

Scream. 1 & 2 (not 3).

Late Night Writer

[SundownInRetreat]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

Jaws.

[entlassen]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

The original The Thing, I think, is a good example. Far superior to Carpenter's version, as it doesn't rely on blood and guts.

[SundownInRetreat]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

Neither does Carpenter's - itself a tense study in character and paranoia. It maximises the potential of stunning special effects but it doesn't rely on them.

[nmstevens]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

Hi, I'm writing a suspense horror at the moment.
I need some good examples of horror movies where the film had very little buildup at the start and instead left it to the middle act.

The only example I can think of at the moment is Evil Dead II.

I'm facing this myself and need to see if it is feasible to have an immediate kick off to the film for the first 20 mins or so then it slows down and we get more into character and circumstance.

Thanks

The original Night of the Living Dead and especially the original Dawn of the Dead. There are very few horror movies that get you right into the middle of the action faster than DotD.

NMS

[Patrick Sweeney]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

More action than horror, but Predators has the fastest opening I've ever seen.

[robertcc]

Re: Fast paced horror script examples

To a certain extent, the Saw movies, Zombieland, Resident Evil and The Ring.

Most horror films I've seen don't start out that way.