Xiaofan and The Horseman

Abstract

Inspired by classic horror genre tropes that turn benign objects like dolls and clowns into monsters that terrorize children, this thesis seeks to invert that process. The screenplay explores the possibilities of using storytelling to demystify and humanize figures from childhood stories and tall tales that are historically portrayed as monstrous villains. In Xiaofan and The Horseman, fourteen year-old Xiaofan meets The Headless Horseman and embarks on a journey to find the missing magic amulet that her father died to protect. In order to save her town from the evil spirits that threaten it, she must come to terms with her father’s death, work through her anger, and learn to love and accept love from the community around her.