Brief

Strained by a year of cancer rehabilitation, a married couple seek out a counseling retreat known as
The Method to reinvigorate their troubled marriage; instead, they focus on survival when the retreat
becomes a series of horrific and violent surprises.

What We Liked

Mixing horror/suspense and love story elements is engaging, but that combination is brought to
another level with the several shocking narrative twists. The flashforward opening immediately places
the protagonists in danger and desperation, drawing the reader in with anticipation. The two strong
protagonists, Linda and Frank, encourage the audience to sympathize and feel their anguish when
their marriage starts falling apart. Turning from love issues to extreme torture and pain is riveting; the
audience will want to see just how much this couple can endure and what they're willing to do for one
another.
Film: A strong point for a feature film would be the two strong protagonists and their deep emotional
investment in each other - it would draw audiences into the story. Several action sequences have the
potential for suspenseful visual scenes, made more intense by the horror and thriller aspects.
Audiences will relate and root for this couple to beat the odds that have been stacked against them.
TV Show: This novel would work as a limited series for television, due to the scope of the story. This
format would give room for explorating the characters' past that is hinted at in the novel. Through
potentially added-in flashbacks, the story could be enriched by how protagonists met and how they
handled their relationship before and after battled through cancer.

Synopsis

After a lengthy rehabilitation from cancer, Linda and her husband, Frank, find their marriage strained
and on the verge of collapse. Unresolved issues have made them combative with each other,
regardless of their loving but fading feelings for one another. During a rock climbing trip with friends,
Linda and Frank are informed about a marriage counseling retreat known as “The Method”. A lot more
desperate than they’re willing to admit, they decide to enroll in it and give their marriage one last shot.
The Method takes place in Lone Loon Lodge, nestled in a secluded area in Montana. Upon arriving,
Linda and Frank meet the owner, Dr. Kaspar, and an unexpected attractive couple. Although this
couple could test Linda and Frank’s fidelity, the situation is immediately subverted by the emergence
of a violent militia group. They claim sovereignty over the region and hold the entire lodge hostage.
A serious injury to Frank forces him and Linda to set aside their feud and work together to survive.
However, the emergence of the militia’s leader Sarge upturns the entire situation; Sarge is really the
enigmatic Dr. Kaspar. He has been breaking down their psyche and leading them to his underground
asylum. Frank and Linda are surprised even more when they realize the militia and lodge staff are just
actors hired to play out this violent simulation.
The final twist forces Lisa and Frank into separate rooms; they must sacrifice themselves for the
others’ survival, though they are told they are responsible for their spouses’ sudden death. They leave
the asylum, now knowing that they truly loved their now “deceased spouse”. Lisa and Frank then run
into each other outside the lodge — they both survived and can now return to their lives, love renewed.

About The Author

Duncan Ralston is the author of the horror books and collections, such as the series GRISTLE & BONE and VIDEO NASTIES. His screenplays have won and been placed in several major competitions.