Ok, the time is come for the final part of our discussion: the script to movie comparison. We've touched on this here and there like we do with most topics, but now we can really get into some opinions on how the script really translated to the screen. What changed? What didn't? What should have? What shouldn't have?

I know this is what a lot of you have been really waiting for, so let's roll.

Quoted from George Willson And that's exactly why I'm turning that script into a novel. I have enough material for several books, so I'm going that route to begin with. Figured that one out myself...

Absolutely and 100% this has to be the way to go for anyone who desires to write seriously at length. I'm included with you here in in this desire.

I don't have a problem writing something for the screen that would be picked up and ripped apart if I were paid. We can all use money. I don't have a desire for anything grand because I like a simple lifestyle, but I could think of a lot of good things to do with extra dollars and that's appealing.

Regarding full length novels, short stories and articles though:

There's a lot of information that people can pass on through the written word-- no matter the form and it's that and the essence of that that I wouldn't want ripped apart for the sake of money.

In this respect, it's important to me to go the hard slow route in what matters. It's the effort; not the outcome. It's the journey; not the destination.

So after reading and watching "The Strangers," no matter what we think of it, I think we've learned something. What? It's different for everyone, but one thing I know: is that things that look easy never are.

I remember spending three months, (not solid) but three months writing and editing what amounted to a mere 1,000 words, but when it was accepted, I knew that what was inside of those 1,000 words was enough to give someone the experience I had years and years ago and that's special. To share with other people.

So keep writing. Even if you think it's junk-- keep writing. You can edit junk, but you can't edit a blank page.

Really good Script club this go around I think. At least for me, I really did enjoy it and thank you all for your participation.

Sandra

I liked this SC too. It was sort of an eyeopener in some respect.

Loved this comment Sandra "You can edit junk, but you can't edit a blank page."

As far as the movie/script comparison goes I think I have already said pretty much what I thought of it. I thought the movie was okay to good. Some nice scare moments that just didn't read scary in the script. So to me, the script was not as good as the film which is unusual to me. I usually find the scripts more entertaining the films themselves.

Good job running this one too George. it's not easy to keep the discussions on track. Maybe we're getting better at it too since it seems we are the same people for the most part in this.

I think I'm with the rest of you when it comes to movie comments, since the stupidity in the script carried over to the movie. The film did do the atmosphere very well, and I did like that it gave a better reason for a new character to randomly wander into the house.

However, changing that shooting gallery from the living room to a room out of the way did hurt one aspect. You see, if I were in a room with only one entrance and a shotgun in my hand, I would NEVER leave. I would sit there and blast whatever dared to show its face. The friend showing up was telegraphed as soon as they planted themselves in the room. You KNEW the bad guys weren't going to go there, and then the friend drove up. I wasn't scared for anyone, because I knew what would happen. It was inevitable. I was hoping he'd take a different path, and surprise me, but no, BANG! Friend = dead.

And then, our stupid couple leaves the safety of the inside room and the well-guarded entrance to get themselves killed. And why didn't the friend speak? If you walked into that chaos, wouldn't you call out to your friends? Sure, you might be afraid of what got to them, and if that's the case, you wouldn't go in at all. You'd call the police.

I think that sequence was improved by relating it to them, and giving the person a  reason to be there, but ultimately ruined by contrivances again.

I also noticed that in the script, the girl just stayed as the guy ran off to the barn, but in the movie, he said "stay here, you'll be safer." WHAT! Did I just hear you say something incredibly stupid? Let's go over the facts relevant to this, shall we? They have gotten into the house multiple times without anyone knowing they were there. Remember the cell phones? Both of them? How the heck is she safe in a place where the bad guys can get her? Oh wait, she's standing outside. That's much safer.

I would like to see an intelligent horror flick. One where the characters are intelligent that forces the writer to be at least a little imaginative with their story. In the end, we've learned that genre movie that follow genre rules are marketable, no matter how bad they are.

To me, it started good with the atmosphere, but too much stupidity just ruins a movie for me, and this one had it in droves. And it's really a shame because it was really creepy in some places.

It's pretty easy to pick movies apart...especially horroro movies.  They rarely even try to get things right, and it never seesm to matter, which amazes me.

The Strangers wasn't horrible in any way.  For the most part it did work, and I think that's due to teh production of the final product.  It was polished, professional, and delivered what it set out to deliver.

If you want intelligent horror, I think you better read my final version of Fade to White.  Funny, aren't I???

Good job everyone.  This was interesting.

Amazing how I had completely forgotten about this. Well since I've missed everything else, might as well give my two cents on the last item.

I truly enjoyed the movie, and I'm not really into horror or slasher films, but I do love me a good thriller. The stupidity didn't bother me, never does actually, i usually don't pay attention to it. I think if you sit back and cow gaze at the screen, not try to analyze the screen or anticipate the next scene or even care that James didn't go all first person shooter on the stranger asses with the shotgun, you'll find movies like this much more enjoyable. I think horror movies in general need to be seen with a blank mind anyway to truly enjoy them. Best time to see a horror film would be friday after work when you're two points away from brain dead.

As far as script vs screen goes, admittedly I haven't seen this movie since it's release date so I can't give too fair of a comparison. However I believe the finished product was better which of course it should have been. I didn't notice too many
dissimilarities between the two. But what did change, I think, polished what we were given, as subtle as the changes may have been. In fact I think the only change that could be significant would be James' friend getting shot instead of an anonymous old man. Certainly gave more impact to the character and the audience could sympathize better over shooting your best friend instead of a neighbor you haven't seen since you were a kid.

Personally what I think makes this movie better over other horror films is the situation. I honestly don't see this movie as a horror, I'll always believe it's more on the thriller side. Horrors are usually associated with ghosts, zombies, demons or something otherworldly surreal and filled with buckets of gore and sex. Some may call it a slasher film but even that can be debated as there was no slashing involved and very little stabbing. 'The Strangers' in this film weren't nightmare monsters, revenge seeking campers or demon possessed children, there were real people and that's the scariest thing of all. At the end of the day what did they do? Nothing.

The scariest moment in the movie for me was the simplest thing of all. The man in the mask stands just outside the foyer in silence watching over the woman smoke her cigarette and then leaves just as easy. Imagine you're doing something mundane like washing dishes. You think you're secure in your home but with much ease some stranger is able to enter your home. He may not do anything but watch you before he leaves. You go into the room the stranger was just in and notice something had moved. You know you didn't move it and no one has been in your house. How secure do you feel now? Now as you stared at the moved object trying to wrap your head around the possibilities of what moved it and someone just happened to knock on your door, you know you'd pee a little.

The people in the movie were worse off being in a secluded area since the strangers were able to cut off all lines of communication. They could now terrorize without interruption.

Granted this movie isn't the smartest film out there, but in all honesty who of us in a situation like this would act in hindsight? I think if you just sit back and watch the movie to enjoy it instead of analyze you'll realize something scarier than any other horror film could produce, things like this and worse happen in real life and could happen to you.