Horror craft, sequel wins, and loglines that work. Geoffrey and Kristy pull takeaways from The Conjuring, Nobody 2, and the Red Sonja remake. You’ll hear how influence can feel fresh, how a sequel stays fun when tone shifts, and what breaks when character motivation is thin. They wrap with a one-sentence logline formula you can use today. Next week: the Naked Gun reboot and Weapons. Share your worst logline “tips” or a love-it or hate-it watch on Instagram @screenwriterpod and tag us.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How The Conjuring mixes classic influences without feeling dated
- Why Nobody 2 works even with a tonal shift
- Where Red Sonja stumbles on motivation and consistency
- A simple, reliable logline formula and the Die Hard test
- Easy ways to invite audience feedback
Key Moments
- 00:00 Welcome and why The Conjuring still hits
- 00:23 Spotting influences: Amityville open, Exorcist close, Hitchcock nod
- 04:00 Nobody 2: expectations, character carryover, fun factor
- 06:43 to 15:45 Red Sonja remake: motivation, tone, and CGI choices
- 16:14 to 19:58 Bad logline advice debunked and the Die Hard test
- 21:17 Next week’s watch list: Naked Gun reboot and Weapons
- 20:46 to 22:28 Call for listener stories
About the Guest
Kristy Leigh Lussier is a writer and filmmaker who brings sharp story sense and a love for genre cinema.
About the Host
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
Resources Mentioned
- The Conjuring
- The Conjuring 2
- Nobody and Nobody 2
- Red Sonja (remake)
- John Wick
- Logline examples: Die Hard, Jaws
Connect with us and Join the convo on Instagram via @screenwriterpod and tag Kristy @kantoka127 with your takes.
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The Successful ScreenwriterDrop your worst logline advice finds or a recent love-it or hate-it watch in the comments on @screenwriterpod.
Hashtags #Screenwriting #Filmmaking #TheConjuring #Nobody2 #RedSonja #Loglines #WritingTips #Podcast
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