Movie Notes 52: An unremarkable universal template for horror movies

Laurianne 2022-04-20 09:01:43

Anomaly - Dangerous - Exploration - Historical Cause - Reversal - Ending

1 There is an abnormal (dead silence) strange doll / (midnight bell) legend of a dead phone

2 Dangerous Doll Murder / Phone Murder

3 Explore the cause Give the protagonist a reason why he must explore the cause of the ghost story (because the more normal response is to escape danger): want to know the reason for his wife's death, and it feels related to his family story / The son is cursed, and the curse must be broken to save the son

4 Historical Causes Constantly finding clues, and finally showing the biggest mystery of the story - how the source of terror came into being (in Eastern stories, it is generally the resentment and revenge of the weak). The story of the cause should preferably have a larger emotional load, so that the ghost itself can gain the sympathy of the audience, and the tragic encounter must support her to produce such a lasting and powerful force of terror.

5 Reversal After listening to the story, it is best to have a small reversal of "I thought it was finally resolved, but (because there is some missing information) it was not resolved ", otherwise the story will be too smooth and boring. (Dead Silence) Thought all the dolls were burnt, I didn't expect that my father and stepmother were also dolls, the male protagonist couldn't hold back the scream and was killed / (Midnight bell) Thinking that the burial of Sadako's remains would break the curse, Unexpectedly, the male protagonist is still dead, and the curse continues.

6 Ending Three ways: a Because of the reversal of the previous step, the ghost wins the final victory

b After the reversal, the protagonist found a new way to subdue ghosts, and the protagonist finally won

c The ghost wins a temporary victory, the anomalies and dangers at the beginning continue, and the protagonist is busy - open ending/sequel.

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Extended Reading

Dead Silence quotes

  • Jamie Ashen: Who would've dug up a dummy and sent it to me?

    Henry Walker: I don't know! No one from this town dares speak Mary Shaw's name, let alone go near her grave. They know she won't stop killing, until the screaming does!

  • Henry Walker: If you go looking for answers, you just might find them.