The Evolution of My Sh*tty Logline
On Developing the Logline for a New Horror Film.
First, let’s start with the idea…
What is the story about?
LOCKED IN is about Wynn, a young woman house-sitting for a bodybuilding couple in their teched-out smart home. She’s just killing time, watching TV, when the screen suddenly pauses and asks if she’s the homeowner—to keep watching. She says yes, a little confused… and that’s when things start to shift.
The house locks down. The thermostat cranks up. A fitness app takes over and demands she complete an intense, personalized workout before she can do anything else. No passcode. No escape.
The house is locked. The app won’t stop. And the only way out might be the workout from hell.
Genre: Sci fi, Horror short
Inspired by: The Substance (2024, dir. Coralie Fargeat), Ex Machina (2014, dir. Alex Garland), and Aroma-Vision (2025, dir. Shun Powell).
Click here if you don’t know what a “LOGLINE” is.
LOGLINE #1
When a smart house locks her inside, a young woman must complete a difficult workout to escape from it.
Basic. Straight to the point. But… what’s the tone?
LOGLINE #2
While house-sitting, a young woman is forced to complete a grueling workout by a smart home that won’t let her leave.
Adds context and raises the pressure. Also, this clarifies the back half while keeping it concise.
LOGLINE #3
A house-sitter gets trapped in a high-tech home, forced into a brutal competition with the homeowners’ fitness app.
Removes passive phrasing, while shifting the focus more on the antagonist.
LOGLINE #4
While house-sitting, a curious woman is locked into a lethal competition with the homeowner’s fitness app.
Refines the tone more, but accidentally echoes the title.
LOGLINE #5 – the Final Form
While house-sitting, a curious woman gets trapped in a lethal competition with the homeowner’s fitness app.
If anyone important enough discovers this idea and steals it, take it—but give me credit. Pretty please.