Some beginning screenwriters might think that in order to have a powerful, impressive screenplay, it needs to be lengthy. But that’s certainly not the case. A one-page screenplay can be just as powerful and well crafted as a 90-page screenplay. You just need to be able to write economically, short, and to the point.
If you’re submitting to the Killer Shorts Contest, the page limit for submissions is 1 to 25 pages. So to inspire you to write short and sweet, the following are great horror films less than one minute (excluding credits). These shorts are all super thrilling and powerful, proving that longer is not always better.
The Familiar (2019)
Written & Directed by:
Michael Ballif and Stephen Ballif
Runtime:
1 min.
In just two simple, single shots, we get all the vital information we need to understand the character’s situation. The first shot tells us she has just moved in and that it’s late at night. Which means she’s probably spent all day moving boxes around and is quite exhausted. The second shot tells us it’s October, close to Halloween. From here we can sort of guess where this is going.
The next shot is a cat clock that tells us its the middle of the night, but it also connects to the black cat we see later on. We also know, from the only dialogue in the film, that the cat she finds isn’t hers. Which sparks some questions. Whose is it? Did the other tenants really leave it behind? Is it that figure’s cat, used as a distraction? This short is a great example of giving as much information to the audience as sparingly as possible.
Tuck Me In (2014)
Directed by:
Ignacio F. Rodo
Based on a story by:
Juan J. Ruiz
Runtime:
1 min.
Tuck Me In was the winner of the 2014 Filminute Festival and for good reason. This short is one of the more eerie, and unsettling ones on this list. I think everyone can immediately relate to the situation that the film starts with. Whether you’re a parent who has had to check under the bed for your child or whether you were that child that used to be scared, you can relate to the seemingly innocent start to this film.
The film goes in a different direction than you may think. At first, you might predict some kind of creature will pop up when the father looks under the bed. But there’s no jump scare. It’s just the same innocent child that was on the bed a second before. The line that he then delivers is simple yet effective in disturbing you and raising questions about the situation.
Head Over Heels (2018)
Directed by:
Greg Simmons
Runtime:
15 sec.
Clocking in at just 15 seconds, Head Over Heels is another great example of how much can be done in such a short amount of time. The reveal at the very end raises so many questions and grabs a tight hold of your interest. Who is the man in the bed? Her ex? Some random guy she killed? Is she a serial killer? What did the guy do to set her off? 15 seconds and we’re already itching for more, a feeling you definitely want to leave your audience with.
In the Room (2018)
Written & Directed by:
Paul Bedarev
Runtime:
57 sec.
More on the experimental side, In The Room still manages to give a lot of information and raises many questions in such a short amount of time. We know that this cult of some kind is performing some sort of ritual and that these to worlds or universes are connected, as seen with the radio that comes into play.
With only two spoken words in the entire short, it still manages to create this interesting, eerie world that horror audiences will want more of.
Kingcrow (2018)
Written & Directed by:
Ryan Connolly & Josh Connolly
Runtime:
56 sec.
Lastly, created by Ryan and Josh Connolly of Film Riot, Kingcrow is so terrifyingly well done. From the moment you see the crow, you’re left wanting to see a feature film involving this monster, with answers to the questions going through your head. Who is this creature? What does it want? What world is it from? Where did it come from?
The film is so simple, so unique, and so effective. It’s got all the great horror elements and manages to create this spine-chilling world in less than a minute.
To challenge yourself, try writing a ten-page screenplay. Then write a five-page screenplay. Then write a one-page screenplay. Make them powerful and exciting. Use words carefully and sparingly. If you want to challenge yourself further, take the ten-page screenplay and cut it down to five pages. Then cut that down to one page. This can help you in finding the essence of the story you’re writing. What is it really about? What’s the most important part of the story? How can you condense it while still getting the same message across?
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