Writing Holiday Movies – Friday the 13th, Christmas and Halloween

Friday the 13^th is upon us – and to celebrate the day that Jason Voorhees first went on his killing spree, here are some date-inspired, holiday movies, and a few suggestions for untapped potential (contact our agent – the pancake day script is a killer).

Five Big Hitting Holiday Movies….

Friday the 13^th

There are now 12 films in the FRIDAY THE 13^TH series – meaning the next one will be the big 13^th film – and yes, likely released on a Friday the 13^th.

The next one to fall in October – traditional horror cinema territory – is not until 2017. Will Paramount wait? Or will any Friday the 13^th suffice?

Halloween Movies

The most famous of all Halloween Movies, trailing Jason with a mere 10 instalments, comes the HALLOWEEN franchise.

The lynchpin of the horror calendar has also provided a back-drop for CASPER, E.T THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, FUN SIZE and THE CROW among many others.

Christmas Movies

JINGLE ALL THE WAY or THE NATIVITY STORY? Yes, you can use holidays to sell toys or religion.

Or if you’re Shane Black, you can build LETHAL WEAPON, THE LAST BOY SCOUT, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, KISS KISS BANG BANG and IRON MAN 3 around the holiday. Shane Black: Official Screenwriter of the Holiday Period.

MIRACLE ON 34^TH STREET, A CHRISTMAS STORY and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS are notable big hitters, but no match for the daddy of them all, Jimmy Stewart-Frank Capra classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Still, here’s hoping RARE EXPORTS will become a future classic to tuck the kids into bed with.

Valentine’s Day Movies

Ensemble mess VALENTINE’S DAY or slasher-horror MY BLOODY VALENTINE? As with RARE EXPORTS, there will be just as many who want to subvert the day and catch the anti-schmaltz crowd, as there will be executives flogging eternal love.

New Years Movies

Too many cooks spoil the broth? Yes, if NEW YEAR’S EVE is anything to go by – another in the ‘how many stars does it take to ruin a movie’ recent sub-genre which started with VALENTINE’S DAY and continued with MOVIE 43.

Best stick with the excellent WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.

And five potential holiday movies with untapped potential

Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)

A man attempts to woo the woman of his dreams with the perfect pancake.

Or a serial-killer asphyxiates victims with pancake batter.

Either way’s good.

Administrative Professionals’ Day

A high-powered executive buys her assistant an inappropriate gift which reveals her true romantic feelings.

Or an over-worked secretary goes postal and holds a building to ransom.

Schmaltz or schlock, those are your options people.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Actually, we think this is probably the plot of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 5 – what else is left?

La Tomatina (the tomato throwing one)

Would be the perfect conundrum for rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Beer Can Appreciation Day

January 24^th, for those interested in observing the holiday – the cans though, not the content. What do you think this is, an excuse to get drunk?

Frathouse movie. Simple.

 

 

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