If you’re wondering what it takes to write a well-crafted horror screenplay, there are many resources and examples that can teach you just about everything you need to know about the horror genre, but reading the scripts from critically acclaimed and cherished horror films is invaluable.
There are many different aspects to the horror genre, making it one of the more difficult ones to write well. If you want to grab the reader with your horror script, you need a great opening, characters we care about, killers we love to see in action, and/or monsters we’re afraid to look at.
The following are 16 of the most well-written horror films to date, which can teach you everything you need to know, all of which are available to read and study for free on the Screenwriters Network Script Hub.
1. Psycho (1960)
Joseph Stefano
(Adapted from the novel by Robert Bloch)
Logline:
A Phoenix secretary embezzles forty thousand dollars from her employer’s client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Why it’s a must-read:
A classic that still holds up to this day, 60 years later. Joseph Stefano writes groundbreaking scenes and unconventional moments that have become praised and loved by many today. The shocking midpoint of the screenplay changes the entire direction of the story and the climax is still one of the greatest twists of all-time. Psycho changed the horror genre by depicting what seems to be a normal man, who turns out to be a serial killer, something that was fresh and exciting for its time.
2. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero & John Russo
Logline:
A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a bloodthirsty, flesh-eating breed of monsters who are ravaging the East Coast of the United States.
Why it’s a must-read:
Many of the classic zombie genre conventions trace back to Night of the Living Dead, the first film to depict the flesh-eating monsters in the gritty and dark story that has become a classic. It’s one of the most important films in horror history, as it changed the course of the genre once again and inspired many loved zombie films years later.
3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski
(Adapted from the novel by Ira Levin)
Logline:
A young couple trying for a baby move into a fancy apartment surrounded by peculiar neighbors.
Why it’s a must-read:
Rosemary’s Baby isn’t your typical horror film with blood, guts, and jump scares, it’s mainly a psychological thriller that slowly unravels and makes you uneasy. Polanski builds the unease and paranoia in the main character until those same feelings start to seep into the reader. What makes the screenplay so well written is how normal everything seems, until it finally doesn’t. The climax is disturbing and shocking, but the slow build up and the planting that Polanski does early on is what makes this a great read.
4. The Exorcist (1973)
William Peter Blatty
(Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty)
Logline:
When a 12 year-old girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her.
Why it’s a must-read:
The Exorcist is the most iconic possession horror movie still to this day and has inspired and changed the horror genre. It has terrifying visuals and is often referred to as the scariest movie ever made. The screenplay is a nerve-wracking ride with underlying eeriness and places emphasis on the good vs. the evil. It’s a good guide on adaptation and is definitely worth studying and breaking down.
5. Carrie (1976)
Lawrence D. Cohen
(Adapted from the novel by Stephen King)
Logline:
Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.
Why it’s a must-read:
Carrie was the first Stephen King adaptation to make it on the big screen. It’s less of a monster or ghost movie and more of a supernatural, disturbing horror. The adaptation captures the unsettling mood of the novel very well as it focuses more on the tragic story of Carrie rather than the horror aspects. The screenplay follows Carrie and her experiences rather than her victims. The adaptation is a good example of a character study and what mental and physical turmoil can lead to.
6. Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter & Deborah Hill
Logline:
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Why it’s a must-read:
Halloween is one of the more obvious choices when picking out horror screenplays to study and break down. It’s a classic horror film that includes anything a slasher film should have and it even became the number one template for modern slashers because of its success. A small town, absent parents, a mysterious killer, reckless teens who are murdered one at a time, etc. Sound familiar? Halloween is also a prime example of how much you can do with minimal characters and minimal locations and still make it chilling and exciting.
7. Alien (1979)
Dan O’Bannon
Logline:
After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.
Why it’s a must-read:
Dan O’Bannon creates one of the all-time greatest horror movie monsters in cinema history with this screenplay. The Alien is truly terrifying and captivating and the way the monster is first introduced is one of the greatest movie scenes of all-time. The film starts out mundane as the crew is focused on everyday tasks, but O’Bannon quickly changes the tide for the cast of characters as they are all suddenly vulnerable and in massive danger. Many of the classic monster movie tropes also trace back to Alien, another reason why it’s a great screenplay to study.
8. The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick
(Adapted from the novel by Stephen King)
Logline:
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.
Why it’s a must-read:
The Shining is another slow-burn, eerie screenplay that follows a man who slips into insanity and puts his family at great risk. The film follows some of the conventions of ghost horror films, as it takes place in a cursed, claustrophobic location, and the mending of reality vs. insanity. The screenplay does a great job in making the reader feel isolated and stranded in this horrific location with a shady past, and has great visuals and truly horrifying moments that make you want to look over your shoulder.
9. The Evil Dead (1981)
Sam Raimi
Logline:
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Why it’s a must-read:
The Evil Dead popularized “cabin in the woods” type movies and does a great job of capturing the claustrophobic feeling and the fear of isolation. It’s another prime example of what you can do with a tiny budget, minimal locations, and a minimal cast. All you need is the creativity and a solid script that hooks in the audience, makes them feel uneasy, and doesn’t let go.
10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven
Logline:
The monstrous spirit of a slain child murderer seeks revenge by invading the dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his untimely death.
Why it’s a must-read:
Wes Craven creates one of the best horror villains of all time with this script and will reel you in with the logline and concept alone. The idea puts every character at risk and creates a conflict that is impossible to avoid. To avoid a gruesome, inevitable death, you need to stay awake. But everyone needs sleep to survive. It’s a concept that will keep you up at night, one of the main goals of a well-written horror film.
11. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Ted Tally
(Adapted from the novel by Thomas Harris)
Logline:
A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
Why it’s a must-read:
The Silence of the Lambs isn’t your typical horror movie, as it doesn’t deal with the usual ghost or monster in the conventional way. But the way Hannibal Lecter is depicted in the film is brilliant and definitely worth noting. Hannibal gets in people’s heads and it can be argued that he is the monster, or one of the monsters, of the film, but not in the usual sense. He’s strangely helpful in this case and he has an eerily, almost teacher-student relationship with Clarice that will captivate you and teach you a lot about character, dialogue, and relationships.
12. Scream (1995)
Kevin Williamson
Logline:
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.
Why it’s a must-read:
Scream is one of the greatest modern horror films and it paved the road for a new wave of slashers. The opening pages of the screenplay immediately grab your attention and are great for studying opening scenes. It starts with a situation that almost anyone can relate to and it feels normal until the tables begin to turn and the situation becomes horrifying. The reader is fully committed to the story and characters by the time the first scene ends.
13. Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele
Logline:
A young African-American visits his white girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.
Why it’s a must-read:
Jordan Peele’s voice and style should be studied by every aspiring writer, not just horror writers. He pulls you in within the first few lines of the screenplay and doesn’t let go until the very last word. The slow burn mystery of Get Out will keep you reading and asking questions with every page turn. The payoff is well worth the wait and sends a powerful message that will still keep you thinking days after you finish. Jordan Peele’s unique, refreshing take on the horror genre alone is reason enough to read, study, and break down every line.
14. A Quiet Place (2018)
Scott Beck & Brian Woods
Logline:
In a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.
Why it’s a must-read:
Another fresh, unique, chilling story that keeps the tension high throughout and unfolds strictly in visuals. There’s minimal dialogue in the screenplay and the action lines are incredibly effective. The use of silence in the film is brilliant and will teach you a lot about telling a story in visuals, not dialogue. The dramatic builds and anticipation are what carry the story and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read.
15. Us (2019)
Jordan Peele
Logline:
A family’s serene beach vacation turns to chaos when their doppelgängers appear and begin to terrorize them.
Why it’s a must-read:
Jordan Peele’s sophomore film proves once again that he will be one of the most talented, respected, and talked about horror writers for years to come. The story is fresh and original and offers an important lesson. The characters, along with the audience, are put through mind games that leave you questioning everything until the very end. It’s a fun ride with some humor thrown in but the climax and ending are chilling and truly unforgettable.
16. Midsommar (2019)
Ari Aster
Logline:
A couple travels to Sweden to visit a rural hometown’s fabled mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.
Why it’s a must-read:
Midsommar is one of the most well-crafted, psychological horror films of today. The opening scenes give you a look into the characters and their lives and tells you a lot about their relationship. The first few sequences are some of the most daunting and hair-raising, but have nothing on the later scenes of the screenplay. The climax has some of the most terrifying, gut-wrenching, and morbid scenes of any horror film and will teach you a lot about psychological horror and how to disgust the audience while also keeping them engaged.
Of course, there are many more horror screenplays not listed that are worth reading and breaking down, but these 16 are a great start, especially if you’re planning to enter this year’s Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition! To read these screenplays and more, join the Screenwriters Network server on Discord and request access to the Script Hub, with over 16,000 screenplays for your screenwriting education.
