Narrative Thoery.

There are ten story types found in screen narratives as described by Phil Parker in The Art and Science of Screenwriting.

I think that most of these story lines can be applied to Horror films, if they are altered slightly, as the stories themselves are very different to other genres as they have to convey very different elements.



The Romance
A person is missing something or someone. There is lack and desire for that thing or person. The character struggles in overcoming all or many of the barriers between him/herself and the object of desire. The closure of unity is eventually achieved.

Example: When Harry Met Sally

The Horror Romance
A person is missing something or someone. There immense desire for that thing or person. The character eliminates all or many of the barriers between him/herself and the object of desire. The closure of unity is temporarily achieved for the desiring character.

Example: All The Boys Love Mandy Lane



The Unrecognized Virtue
A virtuous person enters another world and falls in love with a powerful person in that world. The person seeks love but the power gets in the way. The person tries to help the powerful person and their virtue is eventually recognized.

Example: Pretty Woman

The Unrecognized Virtue Horror
A virtuous person enters another world and falls in love with a dangerous person in that world. The person seeks love but the danger and differences gets in the way too late. The person tries to escape the dangerous person and their virtue is eventually recognized.

Example: The Lost Boys



The Fatal Flaw
A successful person uses opportunities for personal gain, often at the expense of others. Then, seeing the damage, the person seeks to repair it, but the quality that led to success eventually leads to failure.

Example: Macbeth

The Fatal Flaw Horror
A successful person uses opportunities for personal gain, at the cost of others lives. Then, as others see the damage, the person seeks to repair it, but this eventually leads to failure/capture.

Example: Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber Of Fleet Street.



The Debt That Must Be Repaid
A person wants something or someone, for which there is a high price. The person accepts the price but seeks to put off paying the debt. Eventually, though, they have to pay it.

Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Debt That Must Be Repaid Horror
A person wants something or someone, for which there is a high price. The person accepts the price. Eventually they have to pay it, perhaps with their lives.

Example: Hostel



The Spider and the Fly
A person wants another person to do something. Lacking the influence or power to demand it, they seek to ensnare the other person, tricking them into compliance. They are successful and a new future is faced.

Example: Double Indemnity

The Spider and the Fly Horror
A person/thing wants another person to do something. Lacking the power to demand it, they seek to ensnare the other person, tricking them into compliance. They are successful and a new future is faced.

Example: Jenifer's Body



The Gift Taken Away
A person has a gift which is lost. Seeking to regain the gift leads them into a new situation, to which the person eventually becomes reconciled.

Example: Rain Man

The Gift Taken Away Horror
A person has a gift which is lost. Seeking to regain the gift leads them into a new situation or place to which the person eventually becomes reconciled.

Example: Silent Hill



The Quest
A person is set a task to find someone or something. The challenge is accepted and the quest is eventually won. There may or may not be a prize.

Example: Star Wars

The Quest Horror
A person is set a task to find someone or something. The challenge is accepted and high prices must be paid for the quest is eventually won. They may or may not live.

Example: Saw



The Rites of Passage
A person knows they have reached a new stage in life and seeks to find what must be done to complete the transition. They pretend that they already know, then meet a challenge that shows they do not, yet also provides the route by which they achieve the full transition.

Example: Stand By Me

The Rites of Passage Horror
A person knows they have reached a new stage in life and seeks to find what must be done to complete the transition. They pretend that they already know, then meet a challenge that shows they do not, yet also provides the route by which they achieve the full transition.

Example: Shrooms



The Wanderer
A person arrives somewhere new and finds a problem there. In facing the problem they show why they left the last place. They then seek to move on, repeating the pattern.

Example: Shane

The Wanderer Horror
A person arrives in a new situation and finds a problem there. In facing the problem they show connections to previous situations. They then seek to move on.

Example: Prom Night



The Character Who Cannot Be Put Down
A person demonstrates prowess, but then faces a bigger challenge that tests that prowess. They succeed.

Example: Die Hard

The Character Who Cannot Be Put Down Horror
A person demonstrates prowess, but then faces a bigger challenge that tests that prowess. They succeed.

Example: Untraceable