How to Write an Elevated Horror Screenplay

Learn from a top horror expert who was a story consultant for IM Global where she worked on a number of Blumhouse films!

More horror films are getting greenlit than any other genre because they are cost-effective to make and can usually produce a great return on investment. Last year alone horror films grossed almost 1 billion dollars at the box office and they show no signs of stopping.

A mandate we often hear is production companies looking for "elevated horror" - but what is that exactly? Elevated horror is more than just a buzzword - it is a deep psychological connection for your story to the audience.  Not elevating your horror script can turn your greenlight into a "pass" so it's important for you to know the nuances of elevated horror. 

To guide you, we are thrilled to welcome back one of the industry’s foremost experts on developing horror scripts, Karina Wilson. She has worked on over 30 films and was an outside consultant for Blumhouse. She specializes in genre movies and adaptations (particularly horror and romance) but works in all genres. Her analysis of horror trends through the decades has been featured in the WSJ, on NPR, in medical textbooks and in documentaries alongside luminaries such as Jason Blum, Joe Dante, and Andy Muschietti.

You will learn key themes in elevated horror, how to elevate your story's premise, story choices, character development and your third act. You learn how to give your story the much-needed psychological and emotional journeys that audiences crave through escalating stakes, leaning into universal fears and leaning into consistency and unpredictability. Katrina will teach you everything you need to know to write a killer elevated horror screenplay.

PLUS! you will receive:

• A pdf guide on the elements of Elevated Horror and how it differs from other horror genres.

Praise for Karina

"She delivered on the topic and gave an informative lecture. I took many notes on how to immediately improve the horror script I'm writing now. That was my goal!" - Martha C.

""Karina is a master of all things horror and story! She knows more about crafting an effective horror story - from the plot to the villain and the scares - than anyone I've ever worked with or learned from. I can see why she's in high demand in the industry!" -- Mark L.

"Karina is passionate about horror and has a lifetime of great experiences and information!" -Cooke Q.