Writing and Filming Your Own Short Horror Film

Inspiration for your Short Horror Film

Outlining your idea is the first step in turning those not-so-clear images in your head into a cohesive narrative. A good outline will guide your script, keep your story on track, and help you visualize your scenes before you even pick up a camera.

Once you’ve got your general idea written down, remember that not every idea has to be built by you alone. Great artists inspire others, and seeking inspiration is key to expanding your creative vision. Dive into the eerie worlds crafted by masters of horror like H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, and Ari Aster. Let their works challenge you to think outside the box, to play with fear in ways you might not have considered.

Got something in mind that’s certain to scare people? Write it down, or else it’s bound to remain forgotten.

And remember, inspiration for horror doesn’t only come from the genre itself. Look for it in unexpected places. Horror is all about tapping into human psychology, and the what scares you surely scares another individual.

Ideation of your Horror Short Film

The tone is practically going to be set by the ideas you wrote down (which we mentioned in the paragraph above).

Let’s say Ari Aster already knew Midsommar was going to be bound by overwhelmingly sunlit sceneries, and Fede Alvarez’ Alien: Romulus was bound to be set in a dark, sci-fi world where humanity is on the verge of collapse. right?

This is partially true, but it doesn’t quite give you an idea on composition, or much detail at all. After all, how could words written down in a notepad actually translate into visual images, right?

Don’t worry, we got you. To get a more clear picture, there is no better guide for this than a good old storyboard.

You don’t have to be a master illustrator for this. If you can get a good sketch artist on set, that’s just fantastic. But if you can’t, you can get your own hands into storyboarding, I promise, it isn’t as hard as it sounds!

Casting & Directing your Short Horror Film

Casting and directing are pivotal in making your horror film believable and impactful. When it comes to casting, look beyond just the appearance of your actors—focus on their ability to convey the complex emotions that horror demands.

Horror relies heavily on the authenticity of subtle reactions, so your direction should aim to elicit genuine performances. Nobody believes exaggerated and dramatized reactions no more, so remember these words, subltle, yet complex.

However, talent alone will not carry the movie, make sure your cast is actually keen on your ideas, think of them as business colleagues, make sure both your vision as a director is similar to the one of your cast.

And same goes for the rest of the team. make sure you work closely with light, sound, makeup, and environmental designers. It is crucial that you, as a director make all these teams converge into one single unit of action.

Sound and Music for Your Short Horror Film

Hey, would you imagine your horror short film with Britney Spears pop music as its main theme? Yeah, neither would I. Choosing the right background music is crucial, especially when it’s royalty-free, to avoid copyright issues.

Equally important are the sound effects—those subtle creaks, eerie whispers, sudden bangs you name it. Just don’t underestimate the impact of good old sound effects!

Promoting Your Short Horror Film

Once you are done with your film, which is the vast majority of the task, comes the promotion of the movie. And of course, as a HookSounds member, we’ll always recommend you to start by using social media.

And why wouldn’t you honestly? Its free, and accessible to your target audience. Share teasers, behind the scenes, and engage with your fans!

Another form of promotion is submitting your film to festivals and participating in online communities, as artists at HookSounds, we can asure you, while a vast audience might sound great, a smaller, yet more invested niche audience, is tenfold better.