Contracted, the Movie and Three More Thing Not to Do.

As always this is from the viewpoint of writing and not a movie critique per say. This is more to ask the question of what when wrong and what can be learned from this? Fine line, I know.

So with that said I just finished forcing my way through, "Contracted." I had truly hoped it was better than what the reviews had reported. The first forty five minutes came across more like a soap opera than a horror story, it had character development, but I wish it had a faster tempo. I honestly had to force my way past this and continued watching it later in the day. Also, the reverse of that, once the story took off and got interesting, character development went out the window and it was eye candy for the most part.

It starts off stating that this is, "Day One," but gives no indication how long the timeline is. When you get to the all important forty five minute mark you start to wonder if there are thirty days of this or ninety days... It should have given the ticking time bomb count down from the get go. It isn't until day three that we learn that there are only three days to the story.

Second, is this mystery character, B.J. that was at the party, he slips something into our main characters drink and rapes her, and is now part of a police investigation, but this is only spoken from one character to another, there is no visual contact for the viewer to make with the investigation and there is no indication of why he is wanted. Not only that but it is systematically brought up throughout the movie as if important, the viewers interest is peaked in this guy, but nothing is said or done about answering the viewers questions ~ unlike Psycho when you gain more interest in the characters and the money is not only lost, but forgotten by the viewer, it isn't continually brought up.

Third, the story ends for no reason. Don't ever end a story so open ended that there is no reason for the story to end. Kill off the main character, solve the mystery to what caused the events to take place, find this B.J. and get some resolution from him, but don't ever end a story fading to black with a scream and nothing answered! That's more annoying than watching a murder mystery and the power goes out as they say, "...and the murder is..." It's like watching a soap opera.

That's my nickle worth of free advise on that.


Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

Coprophages

A look into The X-Files season 3, episode 12, "War of the Coprophages."

This episode has so many things going for it. I truly enjoyed watching this one on many levels and in the end there are no answers found; it's just great story telling. I want to parallel this blog with Alfred Hitchcock's, "The Birds," and why I personally did not like, "The Birds" for for the same reason of no answers in the end.

First let me mention why I did not like, "The Birds" out of the way and I will focus more on the reason I do like this X-Files episode even though both end without everything being answered. In the movie "The Birds," you get no answers at all, there is no character development, no ideas to why the birds are attacking or why they stop, why the characters are there. It plays more like a music video with eye candy. I never was scared for the characters because I had no attachment to them. They simply went through this small ocean front town and left. In the end I did not like it because it didn't focus on the birds and why they were attacking and it did not focus on why the characters were doing what they did.

The basis of the X-Files story has Mulder disappearing to a small town to clear his head and getting pulled into local reports of killer cockroaches. (Which is a borrowed situation from Hichcock of the unsuspecting hero in the wrong place at the wrong time.) The fear of cockroaches is a very common phobia since roaches live on every continent ~ Katsaridaphobia. In the opening scenes an exterminator gives his rant on bugs and history there of and is quickly consumed by roaches (Note the character that hires the exterminator he reoccurs and I missed that fact the first time I watched this.) From the very beginning you are hooked into finding out what is going on, yet this is not a story of the bugs, this is a story of how people react to bugs. The roaches are in fact the, "McGuffin," a mere means for the characters to be brought together so that the story can focus on developing the characters. You can take this formula and plug anything into the slot that grabs the viewer or readers attention. (In Psycho you have the stolen money that gets lost in the story because it isn't about a money theft ~ Psycho is about the characters. The Birds isn't about the characters, and oddly enough, it isn't about the birds ~ See where I'm going?) Other examples are Hellraiser being about the characters and not the box. In Poltergeist it isn't about the poltergeist, it's about the characters. In the original Aliens, it rarely shows the alien because it's about the characters. Plug whatever you want in the McGuffin slot, and write about the characters, tell of their reaction to it. Like I said at the top of the blog I enjoyed this episode on many levels, and this being the center of why. This episode as well as all The X-Files can be found on Netflix.

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)
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The Ever Important Reason for Tension

This would be another case of what not to do, and a clear example showing how a story can fall stale. In the past couple months I have been revisiting The X-Files in order that they were aired, something I have never had the liberty of doing. I ran across one episode that truly stood out as lacking, and I watched it yet again to see if I missed something or if the story was truly missing something.

In season 3 episode 3, D.P.O., the first time I watched it I felt like there was something missing. I watched it a second time and determined this to be true and not my oversight. There is no tension in the writing. There is no pressure from the powers that be from the government side of the story, there is no doubt to who is causing the deaths, and most of all-there is no ticking time bomb. If the Teacher was robbing the cradle and that made up the kids in the area that were dying then you would have a reason for the other deaths, and a time line to save the other students, but there is none of that, more tension would be contributed if D.P.O. was not part of that attention still. In most of the X-Files the viewer watches as the fifth death in forty years is about to happen, and if Mulder and Scully don’t get the killer by the time the fifth person dies they won’t be able to find him in another forty years. There is no mention of having to get to him before time runs out. There is little to no threat to Mulder and Scully. There is a local Sheriff that is skeptical and throws a wrench in the machine from time to time, but even then you don’t get the feeling that he is going to stop the case from being solved. It’s a murder mystery where you know who the killer is in the opening scene with no plot twists, no pressure, no problem. You simply watch as the “Predestined,” events unfold. To me this is a prime example in what not to do, and how important it is in writing to create tension.

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

I Know 1,000 Things Not to Do

Thomas Edison after 1,000 failing attempts at making a light bulb was asked, "Have you learned anything?" He responded, "I know 1,000 things not to do."

Today's blog is in that frame of mind, what not to do ~ when writing! So many times we want to learn what to do, but often we can do much more in what we don't do, learning from other peoples mistakes if you will. Also having a name to go with what you are doing puts a much clearer light on the matter. So with that said here are five things to stay clear of, and inspiration for avoiding them.

Also note the links (book and movie titles...) within the blog for more detailed information.

Numaro five, Dry Dialog. Sometimes in writing it's easy to fall into writing as you would speak rather than writing for your characters and everything starts sounding like the same monotone drone. Make sure that each character has it's own voice. Take a moment from a favorite book or movie, and study and or write the dialog of a character. Many times it helps to see what is being said in order to emulate it. Do some characters speak in long winded~nervous sentences~like the maniacal madness of Edgar Allan Poe's narrators? Does the character speak in slang or metaphors? Is the character somewhat self indulgent? AND ~ What does the circumstance call for? I always liked in Star Wars when Princess Leia told Hans Solo (self indulgent, self centered~Solo) "I love you." and the impromptu line, "I know." This dialog came about when they had shot the scene multiple times and everyone was dissatisfied with the out of character dialog of Han Solo saying, "I love you too." Over and over they shot the scene and hated it, felling something was wrong with it. Then out of frustration they were told to basically do whatever they wanted. The line was so repetitive, redundant and rehearsed that on hearing Carrie Fisher say, "I love you." that Harrison Ford said the now famous line, "I know." Being perfect for what the character Han Solo would say.

Numaro four, A Rotten Fish. I will say this almost tongue in cheek, but breath life into Your World. Write and rewrite and then re-rewrite if need be. Make sure that what you're writing has a hook to draw the reader in. Create a world that is heart pounding, captivating, and alluring. A world that has sustenance, and edifies the imagination by stirring the senses, "By Intention, Mention the Senses." Use all five senses to bring life to the world your characters live in. What do they hear, what do they feel~is it cold/hot... what do they see, and so on. Another way of breathing life into your world is to put some non-fiction - in your fiction; a little bit of Barnum's humbug if you will. Take something that the reader already has a full understanding and fear of and add a pinch of newt's eye. I say all this to inspire, simply said, inspire your reader. I don't know how many times I have gone into a second hand store and picked up a book of fiction, read the first few sentences; to judge a book not on it's cover, but it's opening lines, and was left with the feeling of a cold fish hand shake. You know that person that shakes your hand with a cold and slimy limp hand feeling more like a rotten fish than a friendly greeting? The world you write of is as much a character as those with any other part in your story, don't let it go unknown. I have ALWAYS been a huge fan-atic of Ray Bradbury's work and his ability to draw you in from the moment you open the book. I will leave this here for your enjoyment, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes~click the link and for the Amazon page you have to click on the cover pic to open it, "Look Inside"...

Number three, Gum Drops. Life for the characters are care free, worry free, and everything is handed to them on a silver platter, the story sucks rotten eggs with the pungent smell of ammonia, setting off a gag reflex that makes you want to vomit ~The End.  Alfred Hitchcock said, "Always make the audience suffer as much as possible," He also said, " There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it." There is no better time to start than right from the get go when it comes to alluding, and baiting your reader. It's nothing to be feared as a writer. I know of several stories where the protagonist and antagonist sit down in the same bar unbeknownst to the other, and I never get tired of it. You know something is about to hit the fan in a catastrophic way! From Dusk Til Dawn I like how George Clooney is so jealous in this scene and his outburst at the end, Desperado a cheesy piece of cinema but entertaining none the less, and last but not least is a true masterpiece of cinematic perfection, that never stops for a second with the tension between characters~ Tombstone.

Number two, Throwing Guns, In the 1950's tv series, The Adventure of Superman, I remember as a kid watching this daily~in reruns, I'm not that old!!! B) and even as a kid I picked up on the inconsistencies of the character Superman. He would be face to face with the bad guys and they would be shooting at him till they were out of bullets and in a desperate act of defiance they would throw their guns at Superman and every time he would make the effort to dodge the guns thrown at him.  I always found the idea of taking the brunt force of the bullets and dodging the guns so funny even as a kid. Make sure you stay true to your characters. Write up a character sheet like it was a role playing game so you can spin off situations and ideas that are accurate to the characters strengths, weaknesses, and motivations for who they are. For your viewing pleasure, The Adventures of Superman and Throwing Guns. Also, a very in depth look at making a Character Sheet.

And now, here it is, here it comes, NUMBER ONE!!! ~Always loved listening to The Doctor D. Mento Show. Anyhoo, at number one of the things not to do in your writing, Please Leave a Message and I Will Get Back to You Shortly. Don't leave the reader wanting to contact you with unanswered questions. Nothing in all the world is more annoying to a reader that devotes countless hours to read a story and have the answer to the all important question unanswered. This is not to say that all questions must be answered, and I will come back to that, but answers of character development, of who done it, of who ends up with the Maltese Falcon, of who wins the heart of the fair maiden... However, there are McGuffins, things that the reader doesn't really care about or for that matter need to know. They are simply a means to tell a story. For instance, the money in Psycho, (SPOILER ALERT) the Maltese Falcon~We have to know who ends up with it and why everyone no longer looks for it. That is what the story is about. However we don't need to know who started the rumor of the worthless lump of led being some priceless jeweled antiquity. We don't need to know if it is a door stop in Rick's Place. The story is in its finality when it is discovered once and for all that no one wants it. That all the killing and betrayal was for nothing other than the greed of man; chasing rainbows for an easy fortune and "Happiness" that ends up being anything but...

That's all I have to say about that. Take it to heart and may it inspire you. In the next blog I will be returning to The X-Files and one episode that I didn't particularly like, and an in depth look to why!

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

Prosody of the Pendulum

Prosody ~ the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry.

In the story of The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe there is still the apparent use of repetition that creates a nervousness, a maniacal madness if you will, from the narrator. You can hear the panic in the voice. You can envision the life and death situation, the begging and pleading. There is also a not so obvious anger and resentment of the torturous nature  and the inevitable death with the looming pendulum; an implied begging for death and resolution in the whole matter.

The other thing I wanted to mention in all this is the tempo of the sentence structure. There is an intentional use of long winded sentences that reiterate the situation. The building of panic, and resentment, the animosity of being killed but in such an inhuman manor. With it being part of Spanish inquisition (The Monks/Black robed judges) you can hear the Godless tone, and almost feel the clinched tooth nature of the narrator. The extremely long sentences though stand out as a rant and a plea; a defiance of having nothing to loose in saying what he has to say.

The same holds true in the tale of The Black Cat. The opening paragraph has long drawn out sentences of guilt and denial. However in the next couple paragraphs when simply speaking of his life and everyday subjects there is a calming before returning to the winded sentences of denial and guilt. Most of the paragraphs start off with short concise sentences, but as he eludes to the disease  of alcohol, he takes on a more defensive  and longer sentence to portray some form of innocents in the matter; "having nothing to prove."

In the tale of, Berenice the paragraphs start off in short sentences, but there is a pattern of drawn out sentences when the closing is made. When it is said that the narrator and Berenice were cousins and grew up in the same house together the sentences get even longer and drawn out.The following has to be the longest sentence ever to be published, "Among the numerous train of maladies, superinduced by that fatal and primary one which effected a revolution of so horrible a kind in the moral and physical being of my cousin, may be mentioned as the most distressing and obstinate in its nature, a species of epilepsy not unfrequently terminating in trance itself — trance very nearly resembling positive dissolution, and from which her manner of recovery was, in most instances, startlingly abrupt." This would be a close tie or maybe longer, "In the meantime my own disease — for I have been told that I should call it by no other appelation — my own disease, then, grew rapidly upon me, and, aggravated in its symptoms by the immoderate use of opium, assumed finally a monomaniac character of a novel and extraordinary form — hourly and momentarily gaining vigor — and at length obtaining over me the most singular and incomprehensible ascendancy."

Just something to make note of. I hope this was helpful and inspiring.

Okay, upon further review I started watching the original,  "The Wizard of Gore." from 1970 and for now I have enough to say about it. So, I will have a reverse discussion on what not to do and why.

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

The Repetitive Nature of Poe

The poem, "The Bells" is a lesser known, or should I say talked about, of poems by Mr. Poe.  None the less it paints a clear image that he had when it came to conveying the maniacal madness we know his works for. When I was a freshman in high school I read a few lines of this poem and the constant repetitive, "Bells, bells, bells... Bells... Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells," well, you get the picture. It drove me mad and after only a few lines I had to quit reading. Not having a full understanding of the poem and the intent he had in writing it I couldn't consider finishing it. I didn't realize that this effect was what he was trying to convey. The poem starts off pleasant enough with descriptive images of wedding bells and quickly turned dark and morose with adamant hatred for the nearby bells that plague the brain of the narrator. In many of Mr. Poe's works he uses repetitive lines to portray a diabolical madness; a stuttering of thought. Where the brain of the narrator freezes up with anxiety and is unable to follow through with the currant train of thought. 

In, "The Tell Tale Heart" "~ TRUE! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been, and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Harken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story." Here there is the repetitive nature once again, but in a much more subtle melodic way. I also like the line of denial, "Harken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story." in the opening paragraph. One sentence he is telling of how "~ nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been, and am," and then finishes with, "...how calmly I can tell you the whole story," all in one paragraph. At one point he is saying he is nervous, the next he is calm, and through it all he asks a question on behalf of you the reader, "...but why will you say that I am mad?" Even commenting on his disease that sharpened his senses.

I will leave you with this morsel to ponder today. The next blog will continue, "The Repetitive Nature of Poe;" with a look also into the, "Prosody of the Pendulum."  How he drives you down a heart pounding path of darkness using tempo. B)

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

Zealot

 ~ a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

True, Mulder was the definitive zealot, but that isn't the reason for today's blog. Every episode you eagerly awaited to see what Mulder and Scully would be subjected to next. Fanatically and uncompromising, you waited for an entire week to find out what direction the government cover ups would lead them in their pursuit of the truth. Truth be told there were many reasons that brought you back, to devote an hour of your night to watching The X-Files. However, I would like to make mention of one detail that probably went unnoticed by most.

The mechanics of The X-files, the part that made it work that was in every episode and hidden in plain view... Every episode revolved around a story you had already heard, and still had questions. You still had that nagging, “What if?” “Could this be?” “What would happen if?” Whether it was aliens, paranormal activity, spontaneous human combustion, Sasquatch, parasites, pharmaceutical testing of humans, the list goes on and on. Through it all there was something at sometime you had already heard of and had been left with more questions than answers. Every episode revolved around Mulder and Scully finding explanations to the questions you the viewer already had for a number of years and wrapped it up in life and limb adventure. This one detail is the foundation to making each and every viewer eagerly wait for the next episode. You were getting more of the story that you already knew. A story that you had heard repeated, but never had explained as to how it fits in the big picture; where each story coincided with the others. The X-Files brought it all together and finally had the stories go full circle. Never before had all these stories fell under one title. The series brought cohesiveness to all the fragments.

So for your inspiration, take this to mind. Don’t go into writing a story simply containing the name Lizzy Borden, Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll or any other monster of equal proportion. Rather write from the stand point and frame of mind of giving the reader answers to the questions they already have and your story will write itself.

In the next blog I will delve into, "The Madness, and Genius, of Edgar Allan Poe."

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)

A Look Into Horrific & Suspense Filled Writing

I recently had a discussion with friend and respected writing coach, Karen Woodward on the topic of The X-Files season 2 episode 22 "F. Emasculata." More specifically critics of the times mentioning "Holes" in the plot and "Split Plots" in regards to The X-Files series. I asked her what was meant by "Holes" and "Split Plot." "Holes" being a question that arises and never gets fully answered, and "Split Plots" where a story splits in two separate stories and doesn't finish or circle back to the first story.

That discussion led to this blog, "A Look Into Horrific & Suspense Filled Writing." Without reiterating the conversation, I would like to take the time and discuss several key elements in the series in whole that fill in the "Holes" of the plot. Also, this is a summery from the stand point of writing and contains spoilers if you are not wanting, "The truth to be known."

The single most important quote from the series to remember is from Deep Throat to McGrath in regards to Mulder, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." This is from season one episode ten of twenty three, "Fallen Angel." Deep Throat knows that Mulder in the wrong hands would be a dangerous thing. For instance, if Mulder was to say join, "The Lone Gunman" theorist group it would be catastrophic to the governments plans for their cover up agenda. Mulder would be able to present these bits and pieces of evidence that continuously fall through the cracks. This two minute conversation is the foundation to the entire series, beginning to end. It's why in season two the X-Files was shut down for a very short time and so conveniently reinstated. 

To go back to "F. Emasculata" toward the beginning it was said that a prison escape doesn't warrant the FBI stepping in. This is what some would say is a "Hole" in the plot. It isn't clearly explained why Mulder and Scully would be assigned to this case. However the government knew that Pink Pharmaceuticals was doing tests all along. Left hand knowing what the right hand is doing. The "Hole" is only filled in when you take in the fact that throughout the series Mulder and Scully are the clean up crew~for the clean up crew. They weren't hired on with the FBI and given the X-Files to expose "The Truth." They are sent on these cases to pick up the pieces that no one else would find. The only way the government could stay one step ahead of "Spooky Mulder," the man that was always three steps ahead of everyone, was to keep him on their side. Mulder and Scully are their own worst enemies. The closer they got to the truth, the more it slipped away. All of their hard work always fell into the hands of the powers that be. Many characters warned them that they needed to watch their back more so now than ever before, not to trust anyone. If Mulder didn't play the game, he would~well~get himself killed. So with all that said they weren't there to facilitate an FBI investigation at all. They were there to close off the loose ends. Through many of the episodes they were asking the same question, "Why were we assigned to this case?" Mulder being the fanatical searcher of the truth and Scully the forensic pathologist that searched for the hidden truths, were the perfect two for the government's agenda of keeping the truth from coming to light. Together they asked all the right questions, but in the end for they excepted the wrong answers. I think this may have slipped passed most of the critics because this wasn't to be answered in words or actions. Instead it was answered by the negative space and between the lines of why they were assigned to any of The X-Files~To "X" out the truth.

It's the same with the Greek mythology of Tantalus and the fruit that was always out of reach and the receding waters. A Greek tragedy of sorts. As a viewer watching the series you always hoped that Mulder and Scully would find proof of the truth, but they don't. They only have the useless information that can't be substantiated, and they themselves made sure of it every time.

In the next blog I will go into more detail of the simple mechanics of The X-Files and why you were always drawn in like a zealot.

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)