In honor of Halloween, I did a minute-by-minute analysis of John Carpenter's horror classic, HALLOWEEN, to prove that the Something Startling Happens' universal story beats work in any genre, including horror:
MINUTE 1: ATTENSION!
A stranger peers into a window and watches teenagers make out
MINUTE 2: THE BUILD
The stranger sneaks in and grabs a knife
MINUTE 3: THE RATCHET
The stranger sneaks upstairs with the knife
MINUTE 4: ANOTHER NOTCH
The stranger stabs the girl
A stranger peers into a window and watches teenagers make out
MINUTE 2: THE BUILD
The stranger sneaks in and grabs a knife
MINUTE 3: THE RATCHET
The stranger sneaks upstairs with the knife
MINUTE 4: ANOTHER NOTCH
The stranger stabs the girl
MINUTE 5: JAW DROPPER
We find out the killer is a little boy
MINUTE 6: FRIEND OR FIST
Dr. Loomis chats with the nurse on their drive toward the mental hospital (Friend).
MINUTE 7: FRIEND OR FIST 2
Dr. Loomis and the nurse discuss Michael Myers even more (Friend)
MINUTE 8: SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
An escaped mental patient leaps onto the car and startles the nurse
MINUTE 9: THE PURSUIT
Dr. Loomis discovers that Michael Myers has escaped. He must pursue him at all costs
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
Laurie’s Dad tells her to drop the key off at “the Myers place.” (Significant because this is where Michael Myers, the killer, first sees her.)
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
The ominous atmosphere warns of an upcoming threat
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
The boy warns Laurie not to go toward the Myers’ house
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Michael Myers steps outside, and Laurie walks away
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH
We find out the killer is a little boy
MINUTE 6: FRIEND OR FIST
Dr. Loomis chats with the nurse on their drive toward the mental hospital (Friend).
MINUTE 7: FRIEND OR FIST 2
Dr. Loomis and the nurse discuss Michael Myers even more (Friend)
MINUTE 8: SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
An escaped mental patient leaps onto the car and startles the nurse
MINUTE 9: THE PURSUIT
Dr. Loomis discovers that Michael Myers has escaped. He must pursue him at all costs
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
Laurie’s Dad tells her to drop the key off at “the Myers place.” (Significant because this is where Michael Myers, the killer, first sees her.)
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
The ominous atmosphere warns of an upcoming threat
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
The boy warns Laurie not to go toward the Myers’ house
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Michael Myers steps outside, and Laurie walks away
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH
Laurie notices an ominous car sitting outside the school
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Michael Myers follows the boy, but luckily for the boy, Michael doesn’t attack him (Whew!)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The boy shows deep concern over the bullies
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Michael Myers pulls his car next to the boy and watches him walk.
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Dr. Loomis doesn’t notice the dead body in the grass
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT
Michael Myers drives his car slowly past Laurie and her friends
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Annie shouts at Michael Myers as he drives slowly by
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT
The girls talk about keeping each other company tonight—this sounds great to Laurie now, but later Michael Myers will attempt to kill them all
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Laurie to Annie: "The guy you yelled at is behind the bush”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Laurie walks toward Annie to see if scary Michael Myers is hiding behind the bush
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Laurie bumps into Sheriff Brackett and screams
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Laurie sees scary Michael Myers outside
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
The killer calls Laurie
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST
Laurie waits for Annie to pick her up (Laurie’s Mini-Quest before she starts her babysitting job)
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP
Dr. Loomis searches for Judith Myers’ grave (preparing himself to find Michael Myers)
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2
Dr. Loomis discovers that Judith Myers’ headstone is gone (preparing himself to find Michael Myers)
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Michael Myers follows Laurie and Annie (he needs to kill them)
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL
Laurie hears the store alarm and sees the police
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
The burglarized store causes Dr. Loomis great anxiety
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Laurie doesn’t notice that Michael Myers is watching her (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT
The girl’s parents—who Annie is babysitting for—leave for the night
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH
Happy Annie walks inside with the little girl (+), not knowing Michael Myers is watching her (-)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Dr. Loomis searches for Michael Myers at his old house, but he’s not there (he remains hidden)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Dr. Loomis realizes he may be in over his head pursuing Michael Myers
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Dr. Loomis reconnects with Sheriff Bracken
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Laurie reads to the boy she’s babysitting, preparing him for bed
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Annie babysits across the street
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Laurie laughs with Annie on the phone (the Rose), but the little boy interrupts and says the boogie-man is outside (the Thorn)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
The dog barks when he sees Michael Myers (Negative Surprise)
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
The boy says that the boogie-man is after him
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Annie reacts when the light switch doesn’t work
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Despite Michael Myers being outside, Annie leaves the door open as she does the laundry
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Annie can’t hear the girl calling for her
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT
The girl leads Annie toward the house
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE
Paul tells horny Annie he wants to come over and have sex with her
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Michael Myers appears, giving the audience (the hero in this case) the Foreboding Fact that he is watching Annie go to Laurie’s house
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
The TV forewarns of impending doom: “And now, the horrifying conclusion...”
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE
Annie discovers that the door is locked (Michael Myers locked it from the inside), she must return to get the key
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE
Michael Myers chokes Annie in the car
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION
Michael Myers kills Annie
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB
The boy sees Michael Myers carrying a body toward the neighbor’s house (-)
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE
Sheriff Bracken surprises Dr. Loomis
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT
Dr. Loomis tells Sheriff Bracken, “Death has come to your town”
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS
Sheriff Bracken says to Dr. Loomis, “Damn you for letting him go”
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT
Lynda and her boyfriend make out, not knowing that Michael Myers is nearby
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION
Michael Myers secretly watches the couple making out
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Lynda tells her boyfriend that “Lindsey is gone for the night,” which means they can have sex in the house
And so on...
Michael Myers follows the boy, but luckily for the boy, Michael doesn’t attack him (Whew!)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The boy shows deep concern over the bullies
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Michael Myers pulls his car next to the boy and watches him walk.
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Dr. Loomis doesn’t notice the dead body in the grass
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT
Michael Myers drives his car slowly past Laurie and her friends
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Annie shouts at Michael Myers as he drives slowly by
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT
The girls talk about keeping each other company tonight—this sounds great to Laurie now, but later Michael Myers will attempt to kill them all
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Laurie to Annie: "The guy you yelled at is behind the bush”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Laurie walks toward Annie to see if scary Michael Myers is hiding behind the bush
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Laurie bumps into Sheriff Brackett and screams
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Laurie sees scary Michael Myers outside
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
The killer calls Laurie
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST
Laurie waits for Annie to pick her up (Laurie’s Mini-Quest before she starts her babysitting job)
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP
Dr. Loomis searches for Judith Myers’ grave (preparing himself to find Michael Myers)
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2
Dr. Loomis discovers that Judith Myers’ headstone is gone (preparing himself to find Michael Myers)
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Michael Myers follows Laurie and Annie (he needs to kill them)
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL
Laurie hears the store alarm and sees the police
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
The burglarized store causes Dr. Loomis great anxiety
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Laurie doesn’t notice that Michael Myers is watching her (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT
The girl’s parents—who Annie is babysitting for—leave for the night
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH
Happy Annie walks inside with the little girl (+), not knowing Michael Myers is watching her (-)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Dr. Loomis searches for Michael Myers at his old house, but he’s not there (he remains hidden)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Dr. Loomis realizes he may be in over his head pursuing Michael Myers
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Dr. Loomis reconnects with Sheriff Bracken
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Laurie reads to the boy she’s babysitting, preparing him for bed
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Annie babysits across the street
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Laurie laughs with Annie on the phone (the Rose), but the little boy interrupts and says the boogie-man is outside (the Thorn)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
The dog barks when he sees Michael Myers (Negative Surprise)
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
The boy says that the boogie-man is after him
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Annie reacts when the light switch doesn’t work
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Despite Michael Myers being outside, Annie leaves the door open as she does the laundry
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Annie can’t hear the girl calling for her
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT
The girl leads Annie toward the house
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE
Paul tells horny Annie he wants to come over and have sex with her
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Michael Myers appears, giving the audience (the hero in this case) the Foreboding Fact that he is watching Annie go to Laurie’s house
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
The TV forewarns of impending doom: “And now, the horrifying conclusion...”
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE
Annie discovers that the door is locked (Michael Myers locked it from the inside), she must return to get the key
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE
Michael Myers chokes Annie in the car
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION
Michael Myers kills Annie
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB
The boy sees Michael Myers carrying a body toward the neighbor’s house (-)
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE
Sheriff Bracken surprises Dr. Loomis
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT
Dr. Loomis tells Sheriff Bracken, “Death has come to your town”
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS
Sheriff Bracken says to Dr. Loomis, “Damn you for letting him go”
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT
Lynda and her boyfriend make out, not knowing that Michael Myers is nearby
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION
Michael Myers secretly watches the couple making out
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Lynda tells her boyfriend that “Lindsey is gone for the night,” which means they can have sex in the house
And so on...
To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know
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