The Vacant Tomb
DETECTIVE MYSTERY SUSPENSE/THRILLER HISTORICAL FICTION
2000s
Bill J. Looney
TaleFlick Pick!
Submision Type
book
Logline
Edgar Alan Poe's time in Charleston leads to a current day mystery.
Genre
Detective,Mystery,Suspense/Thriller,Historical Fiction
Short Summary
read back cover submitted
Setting
Charleston, SC
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Quest,Overcoming Monster/Villain
Plot - Other Elements
Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Extreme Violence, Language/Profanity
Main Character Details
Name: Shelby James
Age: 40s
Gender: Male
Role: Logical
Key Traits: Charming,Aggressive,Complex,Decisive,Faithful,Educated,Leader,Masculine,Romantic,Lone Wolf
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
ACTION, SUSPENSE
Brief
A fan of Edgar Allan Poe decides to shoot a documentary about the lost tomb of Annabelle Lee, his muse. As he and his team approach the tomb, they discover the body of a recently murdered man, one of the teachers to be interviewed in the documentary. They discover the killer, who was torturing and killing experts on Edgar Allan Poe and was looking for a poem Edgar would have left for Annabelle in the cemetery. At the end of the investigation, they find the box with the message, but the poem is erased over time, keeping everyone's curiosity.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
The beginning is sure to appeal to thriller movie fans. In the first pages, we know crucial characters to the plot and the inciting factor that will trigger the whole plot. And the writer knows how to create an atmosphere of suspense in an engaging way.
Possible Drawbacks
The problem with many action thrillers is that the entire plot is focused on the same point. Here, too, the focus falls exclusively on the murders that are taking place, which ends up making the narrative a little tiring, but the author manages to create different situations and keep the suspense growing.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
There are two hooks here that run in parallel: The historical interest and curiosity about the figure of Edgar Allan Poe that is sustained throughout the narrative, and the criminal investigation that brings out an interesting tone of fear and mystery.
Fanbase Potential
As the story has these two well-marked hooks (Poe and the murders), I believe it would have a chance to reach a large audience.
Awards Potential
It depends on how the film will drive the narrative. Due to the historical content mixed with a criminal mystery, the story has the potential for a plot original enough to achieve awards. However, this type of film also carries the chance of staying only on the surface of the investigation, thus reducing the interest and possibilities of awards.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
FILMS BASED ON AGATHA CHRISTIE'S BOOKS FOR THE TONE GIVEN TO THE INVESTIGATION. THE RAVEN: A KILLER IS KILLING PEOPLE, INSPIRED BY THE TALES OF EDGAR ALLAN POE. WITH THE HELP OF THE POLICE, POE WILL TRY TO STOP THE KILLER.
What’s New About the Story
The figure of Annabelle Lee as part of the mystery, even if indirectly, is original in this story. Her figure could even be further explored.
Lead Characters
As the characters are used more as tools of discovery of the mystery, and they are in the middle of an investigation, they end up not being much developed, and their personalities are not much explored. We do see a group of people who are afraid of the murderer and afraid of failing, but who are driven, each in their own way, to solve the problem. The members of the police end up acting more professionally, though they end up becoming more intimately involved with the case, and the documentary's filmmakers are motivated by their appreciation for Allan Poe to discover one of his greatest treasures and stay alive. This differentiation in terms of motivation is very interesting for the plot.
Uniqueness of Story
It's not a rare gem because, despite the story slightly bringing the figure of Poe to the plot, we've seen countless mystery films with a similar narrative. Making more use of the Poe figure could help the story feel less generic and more memorable.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
The story brings tropes from the thriller and mystery genre that are narrative-friendly and appealing to fans. The mix of a historical fact (including a secret poem by Poe) with a series of murders raises the level of suspense and keeps curiosity high until the end. The characters, although not very developed, work well, pushing the story forward and bringing their point of view on the case. Knowing the murderer and his real motivation well before the end removes the mystery itself but raises the fear of a possible encounter with the protagonists. Knowing the antagonist beforehand helps us understand who the protagonist is dealing with and increases the stakes. The writer introduces the personal lives of some characters to take the focus off the case slightly, but ends up not being very successful in this aspect since the main plot is much more intriguing than the subplots. It's a story with good elements, capable of drawing attention and attracting a slightly wider audience than fans of mystery and investigation. It requires development in various aspects like pacing, character development, and dialogue, but it's on a good path.