Determine a budget for your scary movie and stick to it. Even the most established directors are guilty of exceeding their original planned outlays, but the professionals are lucky enough to have access to almost unlimited funds in order to finish projects off. Consider the props you'll need, the cost of makeup and any materials that will be used in the filming and editing process.
Establish a storyline and build your script and scenes around it. You may need to be flexible with some aspects of your idea as the project develops, but make sure you go into filming with a definite idea in mind.
Location is everything, so consider filming your movie in established settings such as woodland, old houses or empty workplaces. Try to create an ambiance that has an "abandoned" feel. This will make your characters appear to be more isolated and will help to build up their feelings of fear.
Consider your main characters. Many horror films have central characters that are young and attractive to provide appeal and a sense of identity. As well as picking out your good-looking victims, put some thought into any evil characters you are considering. Remember that in many scary movies, you never actually see the bad guys at all. Use this principle to create frightening scenes that rely on atmosphere instead of acting skills.
If you prefer to have a high-profile bad guy (such as Michael Myers in the "'Halloween" series or Jason Vorhees in the "Friday the 13th" films), feel free to be elaborate with costumes and makeup. A believable character often has a dark history, so incorporate any ideas you may have into your story. Make sure your evil character is memorable and macabre in equal turns.
Use traditional scary movie tools to create atmosphere. Music, fog and darkness are all familiar friends to the professional scary movie maker, so make sure you use them in your own productions. If the main characters are going to be picked off by your bad guy, think of some novel ideas that see them being killed or executed in grim and original styles.
Add as many twists to your story as possible. This will catch viewers by surprise when they watch the movie and leave them with a sense of always expecting the unexpected. Predictability can easily ruin a great scary movie, but some of the oldest ideas are often the best ones. Always stay with the plot but don't be hesitant to mislead your audience a little.
Consider your ending carefully. A one-off project may give you the opportunity to present the emergence of a hero who saves the day and disposes of your evil character. If, like many professional directors, you fancy the idea of a sequel, leave the door open for characters to return and always leave your audience wondering whether the bad guy might actually still be out there!
Use editing software to bring your original idea to life. Modern versions of Microsoft Windows include the Movie Maker tool and also allow hand-held recording devices to be plugged in to USB ports so files can be easily transferred to your PC. Hold a "premiere" night and invite friends, family and your cast to attend.