Thinking about writing a horror movie as your ticket into the industry?
This deep structural analysis of Zach Cregger’s Weapons shows you how to think about horror—and any genre—from an organic, character-based perspective.
🎬 Why Horror Matters for Writers
Horror is an $8.5 billion genre—and one of the rare Hollywood spaces where there seems to be limitless demand for new voices and original material.
But what truly makes a horror film (or any genre film) resonate isn’t the scares—it’s the characters, emotional journeys, and human struggles underneath.
🧠 What Weapons Teaches Us About Genre
Why metaphor and allegory let horror tackle societal issues without preaching
How grounding your story in drama elevates horror, action, or comedy
How your authentic voice—and the layers you build beneath genre—are what truly sell your script
Why horror remains one of the best genres for original writers to break into Hollywood
The similarities and differences between writing horror & genre and writing traditional dramas
How to know if you should write a horror movie or horror TV series
🎧 LISTEN NOW and explore how Weapons demonstrates the real power of horror: not just to terrify, but to tell the truths we most need to face.
Join Jake for free every Thursday night at Thursday Night Writes, RSVP here
and check all of our classes!




Thinking about writing a horror movie as your ticket into the industry?
This deep structural analysis of Zach Cregger’s Weapons shows you how to think about horror—and any genre—from an organic, character-based perspective.
🎬 Why Horror Matters for Writers
Horror is an $8.5 billion genre—and one of the rare Hollywood spaces where there seems to be limitless demand for new voices and original material.
But what truly makes a horror film (or any genre film) resonate isn’t the scares—it’s the characters, emotional journeys, and human struggles underneath.
🧠 What Weapons Teaches Us About Genre
Why metaphor and allegory let horror tackle societal issues without preaching
How grounding your story in drama elevates horror, action, or comedy
How your authentic voice—and the layers you build beneath genre—are what truly sell your script
Why horror remains one of the best genres for original writers to break into Hollywood
The similarities and differences between writing horror & genre and writing traditional dramas
How to know if you should write a horror movie or horror TV series
🎧 LISTEN NOW and explore how Weapons demonstrates the real power of horror: not just to terrify, but to tell the truths we most need to face.
Join Jake for free every Thursday night at Thursday Night Writes, RSVP here
and check all of our classes!



