Movies are more than eyeball-melting special effects, Technicolor vistas, and complicated camera work. What makes them truly memorable is the dialogue. The screenwriter’s value is often dismissed when it comes to who makes the spectacle that fills the big screen.…
Our perpetual fears were famously made real in a series of films produced by Universal Pictures. Let’s look at the old school manifestations of our night terrors. Every year, as the nights get longer, we circle around to our never-quite-forgotten…
The dolly zoom is an effective technique for creating disorientation in-camera. Here’s what you need to know to pull it off. Camera moves can tell a story, and there are few as unique as the Dolly Zoom. In this tutorial,…
Have horror filmmakers become too reliant on the jump scare? Let’s talk about it. Following the recent release of Smile, which has so eloquently been referred to in social media comment threads as “Jump Scare: The Movie,” we as filmmakers…
Jordan Peele’s horror films are one-of-a-kind, and “Nope” is no different. Let’s break down what makes this film so successful. One of my favorite pastimes is going to see a Jordan Peele movie. While I’m not alone in this, there’s…
If you were to put together a wall calendar of famous directors, there is little doubt that October would be reserved for the Master of Suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Over his six-decade career, Alfred Hitchcock directed more than fifty films,…
After years of anticipation, we’re finally getting Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to the iconic ’80s dogfight flick. Top Gun: Maverick has officially called the ball. The much-anticipated sequel to the classic Cold War dogfighting juggernaut is finally upon us.…
