Horror

desert_hot_springs_v4

by Kelci Loring

September 11, 2026Draft19 pages

"(Genre: Horror-comedy, Tone: Darkly funny & cathartic) After a breakup-locked woman drags her two free-spirited friends on a desert pilgrimage to a legendary hot spring, their healing weekend spirals into a blood-soaked fight for survival when a hulking, machete-wielding recluse claims the valley—forcing them to confront grief, friendship, and the literal monster guarding release."

Desert Hot Springs is a darkly comic, blood-soaked female friendship thriller set in the sun-blasted wilderness outside Southern California, where Kelci—fresh from a crushing breakup—joins her spiritual-but-spacy friend Sky and too-perfect Alex for a healing weekend that spirals into terror. What begins as a goofy intervention of burned hoodies, psychedelic pendulums, and reluctant vulnerability becomes a fight-for-survival nightmare when a hooded, machete-wielding hermit claims the valley and the trio must rely on wit, loyalty, and unexpected courage to make it out. Equal parts cringe-y chick-lit banter and pulpy slasher, the screenplay mines grief, empowerment, and messy friendship for both laughs and shocks.

Format & Technical

Short

Meet the creator

Kelci Loring profile

Kelci Loring

Kelci Loring is an actress, writer and producer in Los Angeles CA for stage and screen. She is currently the executive producer of the monetized Youtube series "Hot and Funny." Her film "Love" is currently available for streaming on Tubi.

Screenplay Analysis

Analysis of Desert Hot Springs

Statistics

10Scenes
13Est. Pages
273Lines
3242Words

Characters (7)

Showing top characters
KELCI
53 lines
ALEX
a man in his 20’s, stylish, fit, well groomed
48 linesmale20’s
SKY
20’s, female, long hair, witchy, probably smells like patchouli
45 linesfemale20’s
RACHEL
5 linesfemale
MACHETE MAN
5 lines
OATS
Looks a lot like Sky
4 lines

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