A horror/thriller film trailer is outlined that tells the story from the killer's point of view. The main character, Madeleine Blackwell, chases her dog into an abandoned church where she becomes possessed by a mysterious shadow. She begins having blackouts and nightmares that may be more than just dreams. As her frenzied states start, she kills her family and friends with no memory of what happens. Her sister helps keep her secret but also meets her demise. The narrative explores whether Madeleine's violent acts are truly her own or being committed by the demon that possesses her.

1. Planning My Text
Genre: Horror/Thriller

2. • A horror/thriller film trailer based on the lines of Pandora's box or a
special object, which links to demonic possession of a character.
The main character being an innocent girl; a conventional character
for horror/thriller films.
This was the least popular option from the survey, but we may include
some parts of this idea.
OR…
• Or a horror/thriller film trailer in the killer's point of view, his
perspective of why they are a killer, you see everything the way
they see it. The killer would be the hero and the villain; the victim
of possession. This is unconventional of horror/thriller films and so
makes this idea new and more exciting for the audience.
First Ideas

3. 1. Innocent girl walking her dog, her dog wonders into the church yard.
2. The dog disappears around a corner, she hears a creaking inside the
church that makes her investigate inside.
3. A shadow/ cloaked figure moves down the side of the wall and
disappears.
4. Girl calls out but no answer.
5. Shadow/figure possesses her (use cuts to black, like in Cloverfield film
trailer).
6. Starts going mad (shown in black and white and using mirror effects)
and is unaware of this state. She can’t remember when she’s normal.
7. She starts killing her family (not necessarily shown in trailer).
8. Starts to realise (using flashbacks), she sets up a hand held camera to
record what’s happening.
9. Seeks help to fight demon (from friend/sister).
10. Realises she can’t and kills herself (left as a mystery: if it was her or
the demon inside her).
Narrative Ideas

4. • In Her Eyes
• Through Her Eyes
• Point Of View
• Perspective
• Nightmares
We need a title that gives away the idea of a killer’s point of view; so these title
ideas portray this. It’s also unconventional to do this in a horror film and will
therefore attract more of an audience. On the other hand the title ‘Nightmares’
suggests some of it is real and some is not; this can be worked out during the
trailer by the audience and perhaps attracting them more as they want to work it
Title Ideas
out.

5. 1. Girl (the main character) - The Villain and the hero, the victim of
possession (name: Madeleine Blackwell).
Actress: Anna Self, studies drama at GSCE, 14 years old, fits in with
the normal image, innocent; these factors are conventional of
thriller/horror films.
2. Sister/friend- Amy Blackwell, acts as the helper/friend (props
theory), is killed by Madeleine.
Actress: me, actually sister of Anna, as I'm playing her sister in the
trailer it will look more realistic.
3. Extras- people in the background, around Cabot Circus and school.
Characters

6. Anna Self- Madeleine
Zoe Self- Amy
Actors

7. • Church (In Burnett)- where demon possesses Madeleine. A setting
the audience can relate to and is an iconic location associated with
fear.
• Ellie’s house (big and in rural area)- where family deaths occur (not
necessarily shown), Madeleine and Amy’s home.
• Surrounding woods- where she could wake up from a killing, with
blood down her front, or a chase.
• An urban setting, Bristol Cabot Circus (somewhere with
houses, roads and people)- normality, to make it relatable and real.
More interesting as there’s a wider range of settings.
• School- scene where Madeleine is with friends, goes crazy.
Locations/Settings

8. Wellsway School
Cabot Circus, Bristol
Locations

9. Our local woods
Ellie’s house
Locations

10. Locations The church, Burnett

11. Costumes
• Simple, everyday wear (jeans and T-shirts), relevant for context.
Makes it look real and believable which our research has shown
to be important to horror/thriller, also conventional.
Props
• The dog is one of the main props, it allows the audience to relate
to the characters, making it seem more realistic.
Costumes And Props

12. Final Font:
Final Title: Nightmares
Final Title And Font

13. After chasing her dog into a church she should never have gone
into, Madeleine Blackwell’s life takes a turn for the strange. She
starts having blackouts and terrifying, vivid nightmares that may not
be nightmares at all.
Madeleine is lured into a church after her dog disappears, it’s the
place where the mysterious shadow will possess her. As her frenzies
begin, she has no memory of what happens when they finish. She
ends up destroying her family and friends. Her sister keeps her
secret, but when things get out of hand it ends up destroying her too.
Her closest friend attempts to help as she begins to develop a memory
of what’s happening in her states of madness. But when the penny
drops she realises she can’t fight it any more and she takes her own
life… or did the demon inside her?
Final Narrative

14. Storyboard