Film Comparables in Business Plans

Comparables give plot, genre, and rating reference points for investors and distributors. It's not enough to state the genre. Comparing it to specific films gives details that will tell others what to expect. To say that your project is a horror film, even if you qualify it with a sub-category, such as occult, suspense, slasher, etc, still lacks important details. However, comparing it to the Exorcist will elicit images of possession, devils, and exorcisms. Amityville Horror conjurers haunting, violence, and family betrayal. Ghost brings to mind ghosts, romance, untimely death, and karmic justice. The Others also contains ghostly and untimely death elements, yet its focus remains on other aspects such as the house, mental illness, and children. Texas Chainsaw Massacre creates images of violence, blood, and gore. All of them are considered to be in the Horror genre, yet each of them has specific elements that evoke a specific response from the audience. However, the comparables also invoke levels of language, violence, and sexuality perimeters. Ghost has more sexual elements than The Others. The Exorcist has more graphic violence than Amityville Horror. When properly used, comparables can be an effective asset. Within a few words, an expectation will be set that will attract the interest of some investors and distributors, while others will give it a pass. However, using inaccurate comparables will do more harm than good. Each movie that is referenced creates a presumption that if not met will reflect poorly on the project that is being promoted.

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