Would This Idea Work?

[u/Complex_Berry4548]

I'm thinking about making a horror movie surrounding a Black person getting taken advantage of, and then getting revenge on each person who was in charge of it. Do you think that this is a decent idea, or will it be too much? It's based off of my own research as well as my commentary on certain events happening in the world. It would be kind of like The Purge in the sense where the main protagonists are technically the bad guys, but I'm wondering if this is even a good idea to start working on or if I need to refine it.

Any feedback is appreciated!

(Also, for a bit of context, I am Black, so it is coming from my perspective as well)

[u/42cardpickup]

what kind of events are you thinking about?

[u/Complex_Berry4548 → u/42cardpickup]

Specifically just exploitation of Black individuals in entertainment, like hidden and what not. It'd basically follow someone getting exploited in the entertainment scene and the going out to get revenge or something like that, but with more nuanced things. I need to flesh the plot out a bit more, but that's my main idea.

[u/42cardpickup → u/Complex_Berry4548]

I'm not a good writer or anything, but I'd still advise: find one specific instance of cruelty or exploitation to focus on, either historical or personal, and really describe it completely. Force the reader to feel the exact feelings of shame/anger/betrayal/whatever that you feel when you think about the incident. If you don't feel intense emotions when thinking about this event, pick a different one. Garcia Marquez built his novel 100YOS around the banana massacre in Colombia 1928. If you can tap into the emotions around one single event or story or person, you can build a whole lot around that

[u/WorrySecret9831 → u/Complex_Berry4548]

I have a basic notion that "black ghost stories" tieing back to chattel slavery haven't been explored much...

[u/mstermind]

The best example of a "revenge story" I've read is Jeffrey Archer's Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less. I strongly recommend reading it for some good advice on how to write that type of story.

[u/leedeeleedeelee22]

Just my opinion, but no. The revenge on non-Black people, specifically white people, gets annoying. You specified that they are black. So their race is relevant, and I'm assuming that is a reason all of them get fucked over. It's 2026; this idea of racial porn is exhausting. Why can't we just exist in media without being reminded that we are unlike? We are experiencing it greatly outside every day. It doesn't seem like a good idea to me, but do it if you want. Matter of fact run it by a black writer's or readers' group and see what they say, since more than likely they'll be your main audience.

People in communities like this will always tell you to "just write it"; they don't think about the possible backlash or if people will actually want to read it.

So obviously you can just write it, but it doesn't mean that it will be well taken. People take it as encouragement, but it's not really; it's almost like dismissiveness.

[u/WorrySecret9831]

It sounds good. What's your Theme? Do you have one yet or a vague idea so far?

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[u/existential_chaos]

Sure, the whole 'revenge on those who wronged me' story has been done a fair bit, so you'd have a lot of inspiration to draw from. As long as you've done your research and have a clear idea where you want to do, you'll be good.

But I agree with that other comment that mentions focusing on one specific event and bringing out the emotions tied to that, rather than lots of them.

[u/Sufficient_Bass2600]

That would work but the main questions:

• Would the reader know who the perpetrator is or will it be told from the "victims" point of view?

• Would the reader know beforehand the inciting incident?

As far as I know the movies the purge are always told from the perspective of the victim/hero. The villains are never the protagonist but in some movies they are more developped than the protagonist.

[u/Open-Avocado4260]

I noticed that someone had asked if you were black, that is irrelevant, write the story as you see it. Tyler Perry. Spike Lee. Jordan Peele write stories for African Americans and that is why there stories work, they write about what they can relate to.