- A Web Adventure!
I have described the Slasher horror film formula below. This is taken from my own personal experiences watching slasher and how I understand the pattern. It's a set of general rules many Slasher films follow. Some break the rules to good or bad effect.
Opening
Opening Kill
Sets the stage! It lets audiences know what they're in for and gives the filmmakers time to set the stage for the later kills by introducing the location and characters.
Original Sin
It's a sort of backstory that gives the killer their motive.
ex: prank gone wrong.
Often happens on a special date. (Halloween, Friday the 13th, ect)
Characters
Harbinger of Doom
an unhinged (usually) old man who gives the cast a warning.
Sometimes he's the exposition.
Final Girl
The Protagonist!
The Main Character!
The (typically) female survivor.
Slasher
The Antagonist!
Usually masked and /or mad killer.
Cast!
A finite amount of unsupervised high school to college aged youths who are hight, drunk, horny, and on a killer's stomping ground.
Sin Factor!
Sex, drugs, alcohol, partying, showering, babysitting, walking in the woods, skinny dipping, swimming, being at home, going camping, traveling, pulling pranks,
Ya know, being alive when someone wants you dead. Rude.
Plot Set Up
Location
Horror films rely on isolation.
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Physical isolation achieved by a remote location (Alien, The Thing). Or, from traveling/camping.
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Social isolation achieved by having authority figures unwilling or unable to help the cast of youths.
Splitting Up
The cast splits up and is killed off one by one. This aids in the isolation.
Timeframe
Slashers usually take place over a tight timeframe. A day of set up then the killing take place over a night.
Day break brings help.
Ending
Third Act
The prolonged third act chase scene between the Final Girl and Slasher.
Chair Jumper
The film usually ends on one last scare. This makes the end more ambiguous.
Killer Doesn't Die
...or if they do,
they're returning for the sequel!