The best way to develop a strong understanding of how to pen the perfect horror movie is to read them.
Being able to articulate a story onto the page is a feat in and of itself. The art of making the written word cause jump scares and thrills is an even harder act! Reading through some of the best horror scripts over the past few years gives insight into the language and story that started it all. Writers at every level can learn from these examples in order to inform and elevate their own work.
Without further ado, take a look at these scripts to learn how the pros do it! Click the links to access free, downloadable versions of the movies’ scripts.
 Regency Enterprises
Zach Cregger. 2022. In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that it has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway. |
 Working Title Films
Coralie Fargeat. 2024. A fading celebrity discovers a black-market drug that replicates her cells, transforming her into a younger, enhanced version of herself. As she revels in this newfound vitality, she grapples with the consequences of chasing eternal youth. |
 Hyperobjects Industries
Seth Reis and Will Tracy. 2022. A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. |
 Hyperobjects Industries
Lauryn Kahn. 2022. Tired of lackluster dating app experiences, Noa gambles by sharing her number with the quirky Steve after a chance meeting in a supermarket’s produce section. |
 Maiden Voyage Pictures
Robert Eggers. 2024. In a chilling gothic landscape, a young woman finds herself ensnared by a menacing vampire whose obsession with her leads to devastating consequences. As fear spreads through her town, she must confront the darkness lurking in the shadows. |
 Stay Gold Features
Nikyatu Jusu. 2022. Aisha, an undocumented immigrant, lands a job as a nanny for a wealthy Manhattan couple. As she prepares for the arrival of the son she left behind in Senegal, a violent presence begins to invade both her dreams and her reality, threatening to destroy the American Dream she is painstakingly piecing together. |
 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
E.T. Feigenbaum and Zoe Kravitz. 2024. Tech billionaire Slater King encounters cocktail waitress Frida at a glamorous fundraising gala and entices her to vacation on his private island with friends. As bizarre events unfold, Frida grapples with her perception of reality and the true intentions behind Slater’s world. |
 Summit Entertainment
Aneesh Chganty and Sev Ohanian. 2020 Diane home-schools her wheelchair-bound teenage daughter, Chloe. As time goes on, Chloe begins to harbor doubts about her mother, suspecting that a sinister secret may be concealed by Diane. |
 20th Century Studios
Patrick Aison and Dan Trachtenberg. 2022. Naru, a fierce Comanche warrior, battles to defend her tribe from an advanced Predator that’s just touched down on Earth for the first time. |
 Monkey Paw Productions
Jordan Peele. 2019. Husband and wife Gabe and Adelaide Wilson take their kids to their beach house expecting to unplug and unwind with friends. But as night descends, their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited. |
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