Horror is hard to do well, especially these days. Our socieity is desenseitized so it really has to be good to really work. Dont think of a complex plot, its a short film not a feature. Think of a situation rather than a plot. Something like The Mist, which is pretty much people trapped in a market and they get attacked. Keep in small scale with as few shooting locations as possible. I am making my own short soon too so I am going through some trouble thinking of a good short too.

Film-Guy

I got lost while reading it sorry. It sounded plain at the start, but like you was trying to come up with something new to the genre apart from the flaw of setting it into a forest and getting 'lost' or straying from the path isn't anything new. Little Red Riding Hood.

I started to scan read it and then by the end I realised you had a lot more going on with it, but I was too lazy to read the whole thing again and instead thought i'll reply to the topic even though I got no idea what i'm really talking about.

Evil_Saluki

[QUOTE="Chelsea-Kiwi"]

Just a general question: Do you think in horror films it is needed to have a message or is the aim more to try and scare people then tell a message?

Dank_Dangler

With today's desensitized kids, scariness for the sake of scariness is just crap. You need a very relevant and disturbing cultural issue at stake to really get them feeling uncomfortable. Take my example above.

Just a general question: Do you think in horror films it is needed to have a message or is the aim more to try and scare people then tell a message?

I don't see how it would show it's a cycle with the monster never stopping though; if you're going to introduce a second jogger without him going into the forest. Keeping it with one jogger will make more sense, be easier to film and give a better feeling of the jogger constantly being alone.

Murj

Sorry I meant the second jogger would still be on the road.

Okthanks, what do you think of the possible change to the conclusion?

Also any ideas on what specific music I could use?

EDIT: Just had a thought; Do you think that a better conclusion would be to have the jogger die as he almost exits to the road and then for the conclusion we see a new jogger but with a similar ending. This is to show the monster is not stopping and it is a cycle. Might be more scary?

Might have to leave out the keys part unless you think of a way to include it.

I only had like 30 minutes or so to write it so it may seem jumbled. The start is how it is because my friend -who I am making the film with - wants there to be "messages" in it to society/the vieweralthough I think it is not necessary but he wanted it (To do with boredom and leaving his normal route...). Also there needs to be a motivation for why the jogger went into the forest. I like your idea Murj of him being chased into the forest so I will think on that. Also the viewer is not told in the film that it is a abondoned hospital. They will justsee a huge gothic-like building and its exterior (a bit of interior but not too much). So the viewer will wonder why is this huge building in the middle of no where (Similar to the Shining maybe although it is explained why it is there). Also the blood scene is meant to confirm this to the viewer. On the name I was thinking of The Jogger but it could be a bit basic.

How do you think I should fix the keyring bit? I have asked other people about it and they have also commented on it so I am a bit concerned about it. If you have any ideas at all on how I can fix the conclusion that would be nice.

Thanks guys alot for reading and any more help will be very appreciated. I plan on filming in 2 days time and will definatly PM you the film once I have finished it.

I decided to go without dialogue and instead just use music and sound effects. The key ring was by itself so it is presumed itwas separated by the monster/person.Maybe the keys could all be together instead of seperated? e could I suppose chuck it over a fence and it land wherethe keys are.It is mainly in to make it creep as he has been following the jogger for such a long time. Orginally it was going to be a sweatband that came off when he was running away but I thought if it was an item that could be seperated (like keys) it would be better as it suggests he was watching longer then the view erintially thought and also more scary.

It will take maybe 8 hours more of filming depending on how fast I go. I haven't filmed the intro, conclusion, most of the abondoned building scene and only some of the scene when he discovers he is being watched.

Do you think it has the potential to be scary/good? Also do you have any suggested names for it?