Kelly Goodner > Quotes

“Horror movies tend to start and end fast. They may have neither everyday life set-ups, nor codas; they just start and end. That abruptness makes us enter with no stability, and leave with none. No other genre does that. Horror films also have unhappy endings more often than any genre. Endings define themes, which makes horror movies have the darkest themes of any genre. Themes in other genres tend toward the instructive, telling us how to live. Horror films lean toward nihilism, believing there is no hope. What’s scarier than that?”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Each sequence is a mini-story that transitions the character and story from one state of being/plot point to another.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Sequences are for movement – spiritually, psychologically, and/or physically - and plot points, one of which falls between each sequence, are rest stop turning points. They’re like doors that lock behind you. No going back. Plot points are start and end points at the same time - end points of the previous sequence and start points of the next sequence. Plot points allow the audience to get their bearings and catch their breath regarding where they have just been and where they are now going, and why.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Plot points are like magnets. The most important events converge there. In between plot points, you build to the convergence.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Without sequences of movement, the script stagnates, and without anchoring plot points, the audience will feel aimless.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Just like the acts and quadrants, each of these eight sequences is a step forward in the plot, unified by a unique personality and purpose.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“That is the Hero’s Journey: absorbing lessons, then outgrowing mentors, and learning the only way you can be the hero is your own way.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Horror movies have much in common with comedies, which is why the two genres often blend. William Peter Blatty was a comedy writer before The Exorcist. Mel Brooks produced The Fly. The great John Landis only directs those two genres. Both genres tend to ruthlessly torment their heroes, and only succeed if they get the audible reaction out of you that they want – a laugh or a scream.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Horror films barely age because humanity’s deepest fears never go away, but the best horror films also comment on the current moment.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films

“Once I have those quadrants, I divide them in half to get eighths. You may have heard of the eight sequence approach before. Every explanation will have its own nuances, but it’s far from a new concept. This tactic has been around since the dawn of feature films, which had eight reels. TV movies used to be formally labeled with eight acts, for the purposes of commercial breaks. If your script is 120 pages, each sequence will be 15 pages. If your script is 96 pages, they will be about 12 pages each.”
― Kelly Goodner, Sceneclopedia: Horror: Every Scene of 25 Horror Feature Films