HERE COMES THE BOGEYMAN (23 page short horror script) By Zack Akers

He said he’s coming tonight.

Kids say the darnedest thing, don’t they? It’s always unsettling when that darndest thing happens to be something super creepy. Yes, it’s a very familiar horror trope. But it’s a horror trope that never fails to weird me right-the-F-out every time I see it in a film. It just works… if done effectively. And in, Here Comes the Boogeyman, it most certainly works – to very, very creepy effect.

But that’s merely the set-up to writer, Zack Akers’ atmospheric bone-chiller, which centers around another familiar trope in horror films and campfire tales alike – the Bogeyman.

The story opens with single mom, Mary, tucking in her six and eight year-old sons, Tyler and Devin, respectively, to bed. But, for some reason, Tyler and his older brother choose to sleep in the same bed. When asked why, Devin falls to tears, afraid to tell his mother.

“The Bogeyman,” Tyler tells her, speaking up for his older brother.

Like most children have at some point of their adolescence, Devin has been having nightmares about the Bogeyman. Mary comforts the boys, telling them it was just a dream and the Bogeyman isn’t real. Because of course it’s not. But that’s when Devin says that “darndest thing” – “He said he’s coming tonight.”

The comment seems to bother Mary as she talks about it over the phone with her boyfriend, Luke. He tells her there’s nothing to worry about, to which Mary reluctantly agrees – “Yeah, you’re right. I’m probably just overreacting.”

But later in the night, as Mary makes her way to bed, her doorbell rings… followed by four slow knocks at the door. This, indeed, turns out to be the Bogeyman – at least he knocked, right?

In what plays out like a cat-and-mouse home-invasion film, the Bogeyman has one unsettling request – “Give me one… or I’ll take them both.” Refusing to accept the “Sophie’s Choice”-option given to her, she decides to try and fend off the Bogeyman. But she makes some very bad decisions in the process, those moments that make audience members yell, “What the F are you doing?!” at the screen. This ends up resulting in the gruesome demise of the whole family.

Although it sounds like I just spoiled the ending for everyone, I assure you, it’s only just the beginning. And to see exactly what I mean, you’ll have to check it out for yourself. But I will say that it’s at this point that the story takes all these familiar horror tropes and uses them to create something truly unique and original. I especially came away impressed with how our protagonist, Mary, learns from her earlier mistakes (that so many horror characters tend to make). And, yes, I know I said she met her demise. But, again, read it for yourself. It’s soooo worth checking out.

This is the type of film I can see raking in some serious views on Youtube, Vimeo and maybe even Shudder, who I know lists short films from time to time. Atmospheric and suspenseful with some truly terrifying visuals and a gut-punch of an ending, “Here Comes the Bogeyman” is what nightmares are made of.

BUDGET: Low. One location (a house) and a cast of five (two child actors). This will require some blood, makeup and practical effects (or special effects, depending on how the filmmaker sees it).

ABOUT THE WRITER: Zack Akers has been writing screenplays since 2005, accumulating over 25 horror shorts with a handful of them having been produced. A true fan of the horror genre, Zack’s goal is simple – to scare the audience. Right now, Zack is collaborating with several talented filmmakers on some very exciting projects. So be on the lookout for some of his work! He can be reached at: zack.akers.89 (a) gmail

Read: Here Comes The Bogeyman (23 page short horror script in pdf format

^*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, “Rage”. His horror feature, “They Never Left” is currently in development.

RELIVE (7 page short horror script) by Luke Anthony Walker

While rushing to the hospital, Ben and his pregnant wife, Anna, accidentally injure a mysterious woman with their car. When they try to help her, the night takes a very bizarre turn for the worst.

“Be careful who you help…”

We’ve all been there – whether in a rush or running late for an appointment, we’ve all, at some point, exceeded the speed limit to get somewhere quicker. But there are consequences to driving too fast sometimes: speeding tickets, traffic violations, minor fender-benders… and sometimes, much, much worse.

Driving past the speed limit is rarely warranted but, for Ben and Anna, it’s necessary, in Luke Anthony Walker’s twisty mind-bender, “Relive”.

We’re taken to a dark, desolate road in the middle of the night as Ben drives his very pregnant wife, Anna, to the hospital. With time of the essence and no other cars in sight, Ben keeps the pedal to the metal as they get closer to their destination.

Playing soothing classical music to calm Anna’s nerves, they’re not too far now. But that’s when the proverbial poop hits the fan…

A WOMAN caked in mud, with long, sodden hair covering her face and wearing nothing but a dressing gown, suddenly appears in the middle of the road with her hand held out, gesturing for the car to stop.

Ben slams on the brakes, jolting the couple forward. The car comes to a screeching halt, but still hits the woman, knocking her to the ground and out of sight.

Who is this woman? And what was she doing in the middle of the road… in the middle of the night… in the middle of nowhere?

Ben isn’t sure what to do – Call the cops? Wait for help? But, with his wife’s contractions getting stronger and more painful, Ben doesn’t have much time to act. So, he does what any good person would do – he helps the injured woman.

Already in a hurry to the hospital anyway, Ben loads the mysterious, unconscious stranger into their car – two birds, one stone, right?

But, as if having a baby wasn’t nerve-racking enough, they now face some pretty grim circumstances, unsure if the injured woman is even alive. Already at wits end, things seem like they couldn’t get any worse…

But they do.

Ben attempts to comfort Anna, his attention switching between her and the road ahead.

Unseen by them both, the woman sits up straight, her long hair dangling across her face.

She raises her hand and points toward the road ahead.

            WOMAN
     (shrieking)
Stop!

The car careens off the road and crashes straight into a tree at the bottom of a ditch.

And this is when things start to get really bizarre.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I will say that the way Luke’s story unravels is one hell a trip. It draws comparisons to films such as the criminally underrated Mexican film, “The Incident”, and the also very-underrated cruise-ship horror flick, “Triangle”.

“Relive” is a creative, mind-bending read that would be a terrific notch on any filmmaker’s belt. And it would be one hell of a ride (pun intended) for its viewing audience.

BUDGET: Moderate. The car accident scenes can be executed well on a low-budget with some clever editing – no need to total a car. As for the stag in the story, that can easily be replaced with another, cheaper obstacle (the injured woman can just yank on the wheel).

ABOUT THE WRITER: Luke Walker, a part-time stay at home Dad to two young Padawans, is a self taught, award-winning horror screenwriter from Bristol, England. He’s best knownfor his short film ‘Paralysis’, screened at Macabro: Mexico City International Horror Film Festival. And for short script ‘Rose’, winner of ‘Lets Make It! Screenwriting Contest / Antic Horror – International Short Screenplay Contest / 13 Horror.com Film and Screenplay Contest. Luke can be reached at luke.ewoods (a) googlemail.com

Read:RELIVE (7 page short horror script)

^*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, “Rage”. His horror feature, “They Never Left” is currently in development.

THE MAN IN THE WOODS (8 page short horror script) by Luke McCain

Things take a truly terrifying turn when a man burying his wife in the woods crosses paths with a lost stranger.

Nothing good ever happens in the middle of the woods, at least not in horror movies. This couldn’t be any truer in Luke McCain’s chilling new short horror script, “The Man in the Woods”, which is currently available for production.

“The Man”, or at least one of them, in Luke’s story is William Hobsmire, a rugged, scraggly bearded 1800’s woodsman. The story takes place in the woods and this is, indeed, a horror story. So it’s safe to say that William is probably doing something he doesn’t want to get caught doing. In this case, burying his dead wife – who he does, at one point, admit to murdering.

After dumping his wife’s cold body into the makeshift grave, William soon finds out that getting away with murder isn’t so easy…

Suddenly, a voice from far in the distance calls out through the trees –

            VOICE
     (Far away)
Helloooo!

IN THE DISTANCE – A hazy figure: A MAN. He waves his hand in the air.

            MAN
     (Far away)
Hellooooo!!

Their encounter is friendly enough at first, the man merely a lost traveler looking for a point into the right direction. But despite William’s efforts to cover things up, the man can’t help but sense something a little off, to say the least.

            MAN
…Is that a grave?

William wipes a bead of sweat from his eye.

            WILLIAM
Ah – Indeed it is. You caught
me burying my dog. Due south
is that way.

The curious stranger continues to ask questions after noticing a pair of women’s boots near the makeshift grave:

            WILLIAM
Those are my wife’s. She’s
gone to pick a bouquet of flowers
for the headstone.

            MAN
Your wife went to pick a
bouquet of flowers in the
woods… with bare feet?

Sensing that the lost stranger is onto him, William is left with no choice…

I’ll stop right there as to not spoil the story for you any further. But it’s at this point where things take a truly terrifying, unexpected turn. Why did William murder his wife? Who is this stranger really and where did he come from? You’ll have to read the rest of it yourself to find out. And trust me, you’ll have a great time doing it.

BUDGET: Shoe string. All you need is the woods, 4 actors and a little makeup. Costumes should be a piece of cake.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Luke McCain is a writer / director based in San Diego, California. He owns and operates Pure Cinema – a commercial production company working with brands such as Google, Netflix, NFL, Chevy and many more. As a writer and filmmaker, Luke’s style is influenced by art house horror, blending odd stories with visceral imagery. His films often find characters in morbid or distressed situations, unfolding with uniquely dark twists. Luke can be reached at luke (a) purecinema.tv

Read: The Man In The Woods (8 page short horror script)

^*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

Find more scripts available for production

About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, “Rage”. His horror feature, “They Never Left” is currently in development.

Dialled Up (7 page short horror script in pdf format) by Matthew Taylor

A grieving old man tries to hold off the bailiffs in order to answer one last call.

What would you do if you could go back in time? Would you right an old wrong? Go left where you once went right? Or maybe just take a moment to say I love you to someone who needs to hear it most. It’s a hard choice to make. Now, what if that same opportunity presented itself every single day?

Every single day. Same time. For 43 years.

That’s what happens with Frank, a man beaten down by life and on the verge of eviction. Perhaps he’s gone a touch mad, too, alone in that small apartment with the faded wallpaper and sickly green rotary phone. Yet, there’s one thing that keeps him waking up every day. A phone call he knows is going to come. A call he must take, and answer correctly. For if he answers incorrectly, his son dies. Again, and again.

Somehow, some way, that’s exactly the situation he’s in. The year is 1977 and an impatient Frank waits, anxious, wanting to know where his car has gone. But he knows the answer already. It’s Andy, his son. Always Andy, it seems. He took the car again, didn’t bother to ask permission, and now it’s getting on 3:00 and nary a peep has been heard.

That’s when the phone rings. That sickly green rotary phone you’ll see throughout this expertly crafted story. Frank’s anger boils to the surface as Andy tries to explain where he’s been. But Frank’s not having it. Not this time. He slams the phone down, maybe like he’s done a hundred times before. Beyond frustrated and so done.

If Frank had only known he would never see Andy alive again, he might have been inclined to take it a little easier on his son.

An accident has claimed Andy’s life, setting in motion a grim daily routine that will last for years and years. By some miracle that stretches the fabric of existence, Andy calls again nine days later. It’s the same call. He’s still late and he still has the car. At first Frank thinks it’s a sick joke, but as time goes by –call after call — he realizes it’s not. This is real. Somehow, it’s real.

Armed with that new knowledge, a curious question is asked…

What if he can stop it? What if Frank can save Andy’s life by saying something different this time? Telling him to make a left instead of a right. Or maybe just by saying I love you.

Maybe there’s a way. Besides, Frank only has the next 43 years to get it right.

Producer/Director: With Dialled Up, Matthew Taylor has crafted a powerful, easy to film 7 page story – one actor, one location, and enough emotion to fill the movie poster with laurels. It’s available to the right director. You can reach Matthew at Scripts.By.MT(a)gmail.com

Read: Dialled Up (7 page short horror script in pdf format)

This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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Thanks Jonathan for this exclusive shooting script of Animal Among Us out now! Watch it streaming on Amazon.

Animal Among Us – June 1, 2016 shooting draft script by Jonathan Murphy – in pdf format

Fifteen years ago, two teenage girls were murdered at Merrymaker Campgrounds. The case was filed an animal attack, the camp was condemned and the killer never found – but something horrific still waits in those woods.

Information courtesy of imdb.com

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The Other White Meat (9 page horror) by John Hunter

When their food supply fails to arrive, space researchers Sarah and Jack face the ultimate fear…

            SARAH
You wanna shuffle?

            JACK
     (snaps)
Give me the cards.

We’ve all experienced it. A task that no-one wants to do must be done.

So a contest to randomly select the unlucky loser is reluctantly agreed upon.

In John Hunter’s The Other White Meat, Jack and Sarah are two researchers who’ve spent 18 months searching for extra-terrestrial life on a remote ice-planet… with absolutely no success.

When the story starts, they’re already in a jam. The food’s run out, and supply line issues ensure there’s no more arriving for several weeks. So there’s only one course of action left.

But neither of them wants to decide.

A method of arbitration is therefore required; for the two starving scientists, it’s a one card draw. The stakes are higher than any card game ever played on Earth, and the rules are staggeringly simple: highest card wins, or so it seems. Though with hindsight, it appears the loser may end up being the “winner”. That is, when all is said and done…

White Meat is a script that never backs itself into one genre – sci-fi, horror, and even some dark comedy are mixed to create a concoction that invokes every emotion there is. One page you’re laughing. The next, paralyzed with fear. And it all comes across seamlessly, resulting in a roller coaster ride that handcuffs the reader – never letting them go until the very end.

With more twists than the current race for the White House, dialogue in this script shines: ranging from bitterly ironic to traumatically blunt. In fact, there’s just one box left to tick off to make this a festival winner: a director who can leverage all of White Meat’s twists – and let this infinitely rewarding script hit new heights!

Budget: A bit of FX.  But low-moderate.  The station can be a basement. And most of White Meat’s shocks can be implied!

About the writer, John Hunter: With the completion of (4) features, a litter of riveting shorts, a one hour take-your-breath-away sci-fi TV pilot and first 30 minute episode for that series, I am now officially THAT guy — The one who really needs an Agent or Executive Producer. Contact me at x32792 (AT) yahoo.com.

Read The Other White Meat

This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the reviewer: Hamish Porter is a writer who, if he was granted one wish, would ask for the skill of being able to write dialogue like Tarantino. Or maybe the ability to teleport. Nah, that’s nothing compared to the former. A lover of philosophy, he’s working on several shorts and a sporting comedy that can only be described as “quintessentially British”. If you want to contact him, he can be emailed: hamishdonaldp (a) gmail. If you’d like to contact him and be subjected to incoherent ramblings, follow him on Twitter @HamishP95.

Now that we are through the Brown Water, we push through the … Veil of Blood

The October, 2011 One Week Challenge genre was Gothic Horror. The theme was Ghosts are not bad, just misunderstood.

Participants had one week to write a 6 – 12 page script on the genre and theme. There were 38 scripts which were read and discussed over on the discussion board. One script was selected to be audio performed by the fine folks over at iScript.com.

That selected script is Veil of Blood by Ryan Lee.

A young woman ventures to her uncle’s crumbling plantation in 1874 Louisiana.

You can read along with the pdf version of the script. You can discuss this script and all the OWC entries here. Click the “Play” button to listen to the script.

Veil of Blood [ 16:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3211)

Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge. – Don

PACKAGING (6 page short horror script in pdf format) by Rob Barkan

A young couple’s stopover at an isolated mini-mart grows more mysterious-and-dangerous-with each passing minute.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Halloween… Tis the season to indulge in all things spooky, scary, spine-tingling, and out of this world.

Cue one essential horror trope that I’m a big fan of: The road trip gone wrong. Oh, the perils of being on the open road, off the beaten track and far far away from the safety of home. Flat tires, busted windscreens, an overheated engine? Those things are nothing compared to the terrors that can befall characters in horror movies.

Just look at the rather aptly titled: Wrong Turn; fill up the tank and stop off for a cuppa in The Vanishing, follow the mind bending puzzle of In Fear, hitch an ill-fated ride in Wolf Creek, or, if you dare, get out of the car and follow the trail of a demonic flesh eating creature to his lair in Jeepers Creepers.

Which leads us to: Taking a wrong turn, and the dreaded road trip pit-stop. Two things that should be avoided at all costs.

The characters in Packaging really should have heeded that advice and stayed in the car. But, a wayward GPS, the loss of cell-phone signal, and an ill-advised but much needed trip to the rest-room forces their hand. It’s a split-second decision that could lead to a detour to hell for one young man and his very pregnant wife.

Writer Rob Barkan, knows how to craft horror so subtle it creeps up on you, and then shocks you when you realize exactly what you’re looking at. With an opening scene of deftly choreographed visuals and an unsettling sense of foreboding and fear, if you’re anything like me you’ll at first be not quite sure what you’re looking at or what you’re afraid of… And then it’ll hit you. And you’ll just know, it ain’t going to end well.

We open on a close-up shot of a large spider spinning its web then segue seamlessly to a surreal scene in a parking lot:

A small, run-down mini-mart tucked against the flank of a dark mountainside. Shreds of fog settle over gas pumps. A row of parked cars and SUVs line the storefront,
lights on, engines (still) running.

In the distance … Headlights bathe the deserted highway. The purr of a Volvo’s engine as it pulls into the lot and parks next to the other vehicles.

Rob Barkan knows how to spin a yarn where nothing is as it first appears to be, where horror masquerades in the ordinary, where further inspection of the finer details reveals the true horrors that lie beneath – where two innocent characters are lured into a web of unsuspecting terror.

Filmmakers: Here’s your chance to take the right road, no detours along the way. Rob Barkan’s Packaging could be your big ticket out of town. Your ultimate destination: success.

Production: Cast of two adults – male & female early 20s. Mostly one location/one room cafe/store int & ext, plus minimal on-road footage. Some minor SFX, blood & gore.

About the Writer: Rob Barkan has been writing horror, fantasy and science fiction since the age of seven. He has placed several short tales in small press and online magazines like Lovecraft’s Weird Mysteries, Dark Planet and Strange Fire. A more extensive collection appeared on his award-winning Deathlife Gravesite. He has taken a deep plunge into screenplay writing for the past few years, totally enjoying mastering the art of visual writing. He recently scripted segments for a Hollywood director’s horror anthology project, showing a great ability working under time pressure to make required changes. His short scripts have all gotten favorable reviews.

Rob resides in the Arizona mountains with the three loves of his life: a beautiful poet-artist wife and two adorable poochies. He can be reached at robbybarkan (at) yahoo.com.

Read and talk about Packaging (6 page short horror script in pdf format) on the discussion board

This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the reviewer: L. Chambers has been writing all her life – especially in her head, and on scraps of paper. It’s only in the last few years she began to get serious about screen-writing. Prior to this she worked in the Features Department for ABC TV as a Program Assistant, and trained as a FAD. She currently works as a freelance web-content editor and lives with her husband (also a screenwriter) in Sydney, Australia.

Sean Elwood has been a long time and major contributor to the screenwriting and SimplyScripts community. Never a fan of horror, Sean reintroduced me and taught me to appreciate some of the subtle nuances of the horror genre. Sean has just published his nineteen tales of horror and suspense available on Amazon^*. You can also get more information about this and Sean’s other works on his website SeanElwoodArt.com

AfterLife AfterDeath: Stories for the Dark presents nineteen chilling tales that will creep beneath your skin and chill you to the bone, opening up some of the most primal feelings that every human being retains of death, darkness, and the fear of the unknown. Follow a man who returns to his childhood home after his mother’s suicide, only to discover something evil residing within it, and has been waiting for him to return; A dispatch operator receives a terrifying 911 call from a frantic woman who finds her entire family slaughtered; Three teens chasing an urban legend get more than they bargained for when the rumor ends up being true, and more than just a ghost story; A public channel broadcasts something strange to the residents of an apartment building, who begin to act even stranger; A horrific nightmare comes to life for a passenger on a plane traveling overseas. These stories will make you reconsider what truly lives in the darkest shadows of your home, and instill fears you thought you would never have. Turn the lights off!

Purchase Afterlife Afterdeath >

^*I am an Amazon affiliate and a small percentage of sales goes to support and keep SimplyScripts free.