THERE’S SOMETHING INSIDE (4-page short horror screenplay) Written by Mark Renshaw

A strange creature seeking shelter for the night finds itself 20,000 feet in the air on an airplane wing with one passenger inside bent on its destruction.

Whether you’ve ever seen the Twilight Zone episode, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” starring William Shatner or the “Twilight Zone: The Movie” version starring John Lithgow, you know the gist of the very popular tale: Man sees a gremlin on the wing of an airplane plane but nobody believes him. The man believes the gremlin is there to destroy the airplane and decides to take matters into his own hands, no matter how crazy he looks. But, if you’re like me, you’ve always wondered why the gremlin was there in the first place? What were its motives?

Well, in this Twilight Zone-themed, October OWC 2nd place winner, writer Mark Renshaw answers that question with his clever take on the tale – writing it from the perspective of the gremlin.

The story opens with our gremlin roaming an airfield, minding its own business, innocently looking for a place to take a nap. He finds a nice, cozy spot under the wing of a plane. But, when he wakes up, he realizes that he’s 20,000 feet in the air! Confused and frightened, he looks to one of the plane’s windows and sees the Shatner/Lithgow character staring at him from inside the plane. And it’s clear that this passenger has some bad intentions towards our gremlin.

As clever as this premise and its execution was, what I was most impressed with is that this script pretty much has zero dialogue – and yet, I was completely absorbed into this story throughout.

For any filmmakers who are TZ fanatics like me, this would make an excellent fan film and will be sure to rack up some Youtube/Vimeo views.

BUDGET: Modest. Two words: Green. Screen. And a little set-building.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Mark Renshaw is an award-winning screenwriter and producer, his sci-fi TV pilot script “Nearscape” reaching the semifinals of the prestigious Page Awards and 2ndround of the Austin Film Festival. His short script, “Cyborn” was the inaugural winner of the Inroads Screenwriting Competition. Reaching the top 4% of the BBC’s Open Drama Submission, Mark has also been added to their list of promising writers. As a producer, his first two short films, “No More Tomorrows” and “Surrender” have enjoyed successful runs on the independent circuit, garnering several awards. His latest sci-fi short, “The Survivor: A Tale From the Nearscape”, which he wrote and produced, currently has a worldwide distribution deal with Meridian Releasing, also serving as a proof of concept for a TV series. Mark has also had several short stories published, including “Ragnarok” by Cohesion Press in the horror anthology, “SNAFU: Resurrection”. You can watch check out Mark’s produced films and scripts on his website at mark-renshaw.com.

Read: THERE’S SOMETHING INSIDE (4-page short horror screenplay)

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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.

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Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre is an anthology series that celebrates the ridiculous excess of ’80s horror. Eight separate terrifying stories, each told by horror fans, specifically for horror fans.

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Roach Motel by Pia Cook (Wraparound Story Written by Sean Chipman) hosted by Simply Scripts

Five college students traveling back home from a vacation in Florida are forced by a hurricane to seek shelter in a roadside motel where guests check in but never check out. 37 pages (Short, Horror) pdf format

Episode Four of Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre

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AN OCCURRENCE ON OWL STREET (5-page short thriller) Written by John Staats

A man runs for his life in an attempt to get back home to his family after a case of mistaken identity.

One of the top entries from October’s Twilight Zone-themed OWC was a personal favorite of mine. If you recognize the title of this entry, the inspiration for it was a memorable Twilight Zone episode called “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (Season 5, Episode 22). If you haven’t seen the episode, I recommend watching it AFTER you read this script.

The writer makes the episode his own – the object of the OWC was to take a premise from a Twilight Zone episode and create an original, stand-alone story that exists outside of the TZ universe (no Rod Serling intro). But, while this is a great stand-alone short, it also captures the spirit of the legendary television show by updating it to current times and adding some very powerful social commentary.

Our story opens in an urban neighborhood where our hero, Jack, a middle-aged black man, is leaving a store. After noticing that his keys are locked in his car, he tries to break in. Some cops take notice and immediately jump to the wrong conclusion, restraining the innocent family man with excessive force in a difficult-to-watch scene that reminds us of current, tragic injustices by police in today’s climate.

But Jack somehow breaks free and makes a run for it, drawing cheers from the neighborhood spectators rooting for him. Determined to get back home to his wife and child, the duration of the story is an intense, heart-pumping foot chase as Jack runs for his life, refusing to become another unfortunate statistic.

Now, some may read this and think “Too soon!”. Yes, this is very much ripped from today’s headlines. But it’s handled with delicate care and sensitivity. And, unfortunately, this story would have been relevant 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago and beyond. Hopefully, 10 years from now, we’ll look back on the subject matter and deem it archaic and dated… but we still have a long way to go, as this story reminds us.

BUDGET: Low. All exterior locations – outside a store, a playground. Minimal cast.

ABOUT THE WRITER: As a fly-fishing fanatic and skier living in the Arizona desert, John Staats finds plenty of time for writing. His feature Impasse was a 2019 Filmmatic Season 4 Drama Screenplay Finalist and has been published as an e-book on Amazon. In addition to features and shorts for the screen, John has found a niche writing for the illustrated page (comics!). John can be contacted at jestaats (a) hotmail.

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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.

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ARE YOU LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF? (19-page short drama screenplay) Written by BEN CLIFFORD

After feeling his wife has checked out mentally, a young father bonds with a widower in his neighborhood over a shared sense of loss.

The story opens with a very dreamlike voice over as John, husband and father in his mid 30s, holds his breath underwater at a local public pool. He describes this reoccurring dream he’s been having: he’s driving his old car with his wife, Annette, in the passenger’s seat and son, Hayward, in the back. And they’re driving straight into a river. Is it an accident? Or is John purposely driving the car into the river with his family inside? He doesn’t know for sure because, before he can figure out that part of the dream, he wakes up.

If you haven’t guessed, John is having a bit of a mid-life crisis. His alcoholic wife, Annette, seems to be barely there, often times waking up on the couch, hungover. They rarely speak and, when she does attempt to do everyday things, like cooking dinner, she serves it under-cooked. Annette does seem to care, but there’s this distance between her and her family, John and Hayward often spending time together away from her. Things haven’t been right for a while. Perhaps she’s aware of John’s closeted homosexuality. But, even then, they don’t talk about it, which only creates more distance.

As his marriage continues to flounder, John becomes attracted to his neighbor, Alex, a single father who’s wife had recently passed away. Everyone has been really nice and helpful to Alex since the passing of his wife. Maybe a little TOO nice.

Even though John’s wife is very much alive, he relates to Alex, sharing his sense of loss. And the two men bond over it. But, as their bond continues to grow, so does their attraction to each other.

Part “American Beauty”, part “Happiness”, the complex, true-to-life characters in writer, Ben Clifford’s slice-of-life, coming-of-age drama highlight a very poignant, heartfelt script that hits all the right notes.

BUDGET: Low. Some locations, such as a public pool, may require extras. Other than that, there are six speaking roles (2 children).

ABOUT THE WRITER: Ben Clifford is an Australian screenwriter interested in writing drama and comedy. He’s greatly inspired by the works of Peter Weir, Harmony Korine, the Marx Brothers, Todd Solondz, Andrea Arnold, and Cate Shortland. Ben can be reached at: cliffordben502(a)gmail.

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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.

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Stewart is a hopeless romantic searching for the right girl. But it’s been difficult for him. He genuinely seems like a good person, but he’s not exactly the most charismatic person in the world. And his fashion sense can come across as a bit plain. He’s just a regular dude. But, overall, he also seems a bit uptight and conservative – or “stiff”, as his platonic friend Hannah tells him.

But Stewart has a date with a nurse soon. And, fully aware of his shortcomings in the fashion department, he invites his free-spirited friend, Hannah, to the mall with him to help him find a cool outfit for his hot date. On the surface, Hannah seems like Stewart’s complete opposite; she has tattoos and, even though she rocks thrift store duds, she looks pretty hip in a “grunge/skater” kind of way. But, because Stewart is completely aloof when it comes to women, Hannah seems like the right person to help him out.

As they shop around and hit up department stores, we see just how “stiff” Stewart really is when they have an exchange about coffee.

But as we follow them through the mall, through fantastic dialogue exchanges, we start to see a charming side to Stewart. And we also learn that he and Hannah tried dating at one time. Well, they had one date. Of course, it was Hannah who friend-zoned him.

However, Hannah soon learns that one date doesn’t reveal EVERYTHING about a person, as she peels back layers to Stewart’s personality and discovers a very charming side to him. In turn, Stewart learns to loosen up a little bit while finding out more about himself… ultimately revealing why he chose Hannah to come with him.

In what feels a little like “Before Sunrise” in a mall, the intelligent dialogue and charming characters really draw you into this story. Overall, this is an extremely cute, smart rom-com with natural yet witty dialogue… and a very satisfying conclusion.

BUDGET: Low… if you can find a department store or mall that is film-friendly.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Marnie is an award-winning screenwriter and 5-page contest junkie. Due to her addiction, she’s written over 80 shorts, 15 having been produced. Currently she’s working on her 8th feature, an adaptation of a horror short she wrote 10 years ago. Some of her work can be found on her site, BrainFluffs.com

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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.

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… FOR DUMMIES (10-page short dark comedy screenplay) Written by BEN CLIFFORD

A couple planning a special evening for their anniversary have exactly one hour until their guest of honor arrives.

Another top entry from September’s OWC comes my personal favorite of the bunch – a witty, surprisingly dark, pitch-black comedy from writer, Ben Clifford, about a middle-aged couple seemingly trying to add a little excitement to their marriage on the night of their anniversary.

With one hour before their “dinner guest” arrives, David and Doreen nervously prepare for the special occasion. Why are they nervous, you ask? Well, this is the first time either of them has done (or is about to do) something like this – a menage e trois, as the French like to call it. At least that’s what it seems like they’re preparing for before their guest – a handsome stud they found on a dating app – arrives.

As the hour winds down, we’re continuously provided a countdown of sorts to remind us how much time is left before their guest arrives. And as the countdown gets closer, the couple grows even more anxious, as do we, the audience. And David begins to have second thoughts.

Full of hilarious banter between the couple as they continue to rehearse their plan, the awkwardness feels like something we’d be experiencing if it were us and our significant other. It just feels genuine … .

And then comes the ending. I won’t reveal the plot-turn here in this review, but let’s just say we’re taken into a completely different, unexpected direction. And I absolutely loved it!

BUDGET: Shoe string. Only two on-screen characters and a house/apartment. This would be super easy to film.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Ben Clifford is an Australian screenwriter interested in writing drama and comedy. He’s greatly inspired by the works of Peter Weir, Harmony Korine, the Marx Brothers, Todd Solondz, Andrea Arnold, and Cate Shortland. Ben can be reached at: cliffordben502(a)gmail.

Read: … FOR DUMMIES (10-page short dark comedy screenplay)

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*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.

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THE MONSTER IN THE WELL (6-page short horror screenplay) by ZACK AKERS

There’s a monster in the well. Don’t believe me? Take a peek…

On the surface, the story’s main character, Doug, might seem normal to friends, neighbors and people close to him, such as his wife. But, as we see him in his car parked outside of a children’s playground, we learn that he is far from normal. In fact, he’s hiding a very, very dark secret. One second, he’s checking in with his wife after a day at the office. Next second, he’s preying on small children.

On this day, his next target is Cherry, an innocent six-year-old girl. An expert at this point at luring in little kids, Doug makes easy work of Cherry in a very unsettling scene – I hadn’t squirmed this much since that “child catcher” scene in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Doug brings innocent little Cherry to a well, where he says a monster lives at the bottom of.

Though many children are often drawn to campfire tales and spooky stories (Bloody Mary for instance), this frightens Cherry. At this point, all she wants to do is go home. Doug promises her that if she looks down the well just once, he’ll take her home. And, unfortunately for Cherry, like so many other children, she takes the bait and is thrown inside of the well.

Now, as the story progresses, it explores some very, very dark territory and might not be for everyone – it will FOR SURE make you very uncomfortable at parts. But Doug’s visually stunning comeuppance (SPOILER ALERT) might take the edge off.

Dark, edgy and controversial with some really creative horror visuals, THE MONSTER IN THE WELL will make you squirm and shudder long after FADE OUT. Especially if you have children of your own.

BUDGET: Low. Access to a well for establishing shot while creating a set or cheating shots for the scene that takes place inside of the well. Other than that, a park and two main characters.

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!

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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.

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HOWARD’S JEWELRY & LOAN (8-page short thriller screenplay) by James Williams

A boxer pays a visit to his loan shark after being told he has exactly one hour to settle his outstanding debt.

Tied for 2nd place (writer’s choice) in September’s OWC was this nifty little short about a 67-year-old loan shark named Howard who’s way past his prime. He’s not quite as good at collecting debts as he used to be back in his heyday. Especially in this instance when a young, spry 20-something boxer named Marcus barges in to set things straight.

In peak physical condition, Marcus easily beats the tar out of Howard’s “muscle” guarding the door. He’s owed Howard 50-large for a while now. But, after getting paid a visit by a pair of Howard’s thumb-breaking cronies – who Marcus easily handled – Marcus is here to tell Howard that he’s just not going to pay him.

In pulpy stories like these, it’s usually the aging boxer who’s out of his prime, which is why I found this throwback-style crime tale so unique. It seems as though Marcus has the upper hand. But with age comes wisdom and Howard is somehow able to cleverly redirect the conversation and overall situation into his favor.

The clever dialogue really elevates the story, effectively building tension through conversation in ways that loud, run-of-the-mill, action crime-thrillers often fail to accomplish. And with one location and only three characters, this would be about as easy to shoot as a film can get, especially with COVID precautions in effect. As far as crime stories go, this one packs a punch.

BUDGET: Low. One-location (an office room at a pawnshop) and three actors.

ABOUT THE WRITER: James Williams was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. His passion for film started at a young age when he spent weekend evenings attending movies with his father. After some life changing events in his thirties, he began to pursue his passion for film by writing screenplays. His second feature, The Blood Loop, was an Academy Nicholl quarter finalist. After a few successful short scripts were produced by other filmmakers, James decided to pick up the camera himself. Self-taught from YouTube tutorials, reading books, and filling any spot he could on local film crews, James finally shot his first film, Cooper’s Monster with his wife and one-year old son. One year later James has four films under his name and is progressing as a filmmaker. He gravitates towards making the type of popcorn horror movies he and his dad so loved at the cinema. James can be reached at: jdaddy6688 (a) sbcglobal.net

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*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.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre is an anthology series that celebrates the ridiculous excess of ’80s horror. Eight separate terrifying stories, each told by horror fans, specifically for horror fans.

Next up is:

The Dead Rock by Zack Ackers (Wraparound Story Written by Sean Chipman)

A small-time punk rock band seeking a weekend of kicks encounter an unimaginable evil. Bloody chaos ensues. 45 pages (Short, Horror) pdf format

Episode Four of Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre

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