Robert McKee: Horror Writing Seminar

GOTHICA frightening environment that is scary just in its appearance. HERO: Someone who sacrifices themselves for others. THERE ARE NO HEROS IN HORRORONLY SURVIVALISTS. They always have a weakness and a strange affinity to the villain. COURAGEOUS: Someone who confronts insurmountable odds to achieve an end. THE GOOD LAUGH: A comedic moment written into a script so that the audience has some release. If you dont put it in they will begin to laugh at the horror. THEATRE OF THE MIND: What they imagine is more dangerous than what they see. ANTAGONIST: Enjoys causing suffering and pain. He wants to reverse nature. He doesnt want you to beg for your life, he wants you to beg for death. He has strength in EPIC proportions and the power to manipulate life. (Supernatural) HE IS THE SPIRIT OF EVIL. PROTAGONIST: Is the survivor. He has a mix SADIST: The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty. MASOCHIST: The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself. SEX: The best device to disarm the audience and get them keyed-in. All horror that impinges has the connotation of sex or being eaten. Perversions include: Voyeurism, sadomasochism, transvestitism, castration, vagina with teeth, bestiality, necrophilia. Tips: The audience must believe in the reality of the story and setting.

No romance in a horror, it sucks the tension from the story. You can show the creature early BUT dont show its power. You can the creatures power BUT dont show the creature. DISORIENTATE: this is done by having the camera misdirect, sound, strange location, odd behavior, something out of place in a familiar environment. An audience goes to a horror film with the idea: You cant scare me. Stimulate their imagination, make them want to see the horror and then conceal it. When you conceal the horror they pay more attention to the story. Mystery creates anxiety. Slowly reveal the monster OR the monsters power. Voyeurism is pleasurable- it can be fun to be the monster. POV demonstrates the joy and power of the creature. HORROR TECHNIQUES: -Metamorphosis -Pandeterminism: Something else controls everything, spirits inhabit everything. -Multiple personality -Transcausality: Mind and MEST can join and animate telekinesis. You are always balancing between the sublime and the ludicrous. Keep the space enclosed and tight---lots of barriers. Darkness and shadows. Bright lights into the camera or back lighting that obscures what you can see. Fog, Steam, Smoke, Mist., Attack religion and Mother. These are the two safe havens that people flee to when all seems hopeless. The degree that the hero has to rise to the occasion will be tantamount to the strength and severity of the horror/creature. THREE CLASSIC STORY STRUCTRES:

Heroes and sub characters have a dichotomy of traits: Hero/coward, Smart/Stupid, Arrogant/Polite etc Confrontational: Monster is established early by an attack and the heros have to prove to the authorities that the danger is real. Mad Scientist: antihero prepares an experiment that is partially successful and leads to megalomania. THE THREE SUB GENRES: Uncanny: Monster is rationally explainable SUPERNATURAL: No explanation of its existence except through magic. Super Uncanny: Keep the audience confused by what it might be demon/madman or monster/freak of nature. DEVICES: There must be a speech and praise of the monster by the hero or supporting character. Cheap surprise; to relieve tension and get a laugh. Victim must come under the direct mercy of the creature, rise to the occasion and flee. 12 POSSIBLE ENDINGS: 1. Exploit the creatures weakness OR master the villains power and use it against him. (this could be his attitude, habits, M.O) 2. Outsmarts or overpowers the villain: THE THING 3. Same as above except that a great price is paid: Death, terrible sacrifice etc. (This gives it a negative spin--) 4. Monster Overpowers 5. Monster Outsmarts the hero 6. Villain OUT SMARTS AND OVERPOWERS but the hero lives on horribly.