The Priest, the Witch & the Poltergeist
GENRE
HORROR SUSPENSE/THRILLER MYSTERY DRAMA
Core Theme
DON'T MAKE SNAP JUDGEMENTS,OPEN MINDEDNESS
TIME PERIOD
19th Century
COMPARABLE TITLES
HÄXAN (1922)
CHARACTER LIST
• FATHER LARIAT: 50S, CHURCH LEADER, SELFISH, OLD-FASHIONED, PRUDISH, ATTEMPTS UNDERSTANDING AND STRIVES FOR COMPASSION
• THOREL FELIX: 30S, "ANTAGONIST" WITCH, INTELLIGENT, QUIET, COMPASSIONATE, ABLE-BODIED, THOUGHTFUL
• EVE: LATE 20S, LAUNDRESS/MEDICAL ASSISTANT, THOUGHTFUL, INTELLIGENT, CUNNING, HONEST
• BUNEL: TEENAGER, LARIAT'S WARD, NERVOUS, SECRETIVE, EMOTIONAL
• GUSTAVE: TEENAGER, LARIAT'S OLDER WARD, DUTIFUL, CAPABLE, REASONABLE
Logline
In 1850 a priest in a rural French village blames a male witch for the poltergeist haunting his parsonage. Half-crazed by noise, the priest beats the witch terribly, but he survives and sues the priest for assault. The only known trial in history with a witch as plaintiff follows. A true story.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Story and trial: Normandy, 1850 and 1851. Prologue and epilogue: Paris, 1870.
Based on a True Story
Yes
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: BooktrackPLC
Year Published: 2013
Starting Description
Father Lariat has jailed his coven leader for naturopathy, so outsider Felix Thorel frightens the priest's two parsonage students with a 'hex' of strange words and electrostatic charges. The priest forces Thorel to apologize to the boys. Soon horrible noises erupt inside the parsonage walls.
Ending Description
Witnesses at trial (from true accounts) describe the poltergeist and how Thorel boasted of his power over the priest Jean Lariat. Lariat is found not guilty. Thorel escapes for Paris. Lariat's students are taken from the parsonage and that day, the poltergeist noises stop.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
144994048X
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Twist
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Rebellion Against 'The One',Other
Main Character Details
Name: Thorel Felix
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Clumsy,Complex,Badass,Uneducated,Sexy,Blunt,Masculine,Heroic,Secretive,Unapologetic,Lone Wolf,Underdog,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Father Jean Lariat
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Confident,Crazy,Desperate,Power Hungry,Religious,Educated,Insecure,Leader,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Eve Therigny
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Aspiring,Badass,Underdog,Uneducated,Sexy,Criminal,Selfless,Outspoken,Skillful,Romantic,Flexible,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Robert de Saint Victor
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Role: logical
Key Traits: Confident,Decisive,Skillful,Visionary,Sophisticated,Honorable,Educated,Masculine
Genre
SUSPENSE, THRILLER, RELIGION, POLITICS
Brief
A dispute between a Father and a witch in a small 1850's French town is complicated by the presence of a poltergeist. The sounds of the spirit drive the parishioners and its stewards crazy, and the Father is driven to extremes. After beating the witch and slandering his name, the two go to trial. Things end unceremoniously as the witch flees and the poltergeist is exposed as the two wards under the Father's care.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: EXCELLENT
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: GOOD
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The Book Profile is accurate
Draw of Story
The realistic nature of the story (as it is meant to be based on true events) makes the story of religion-meeting-folklore even more enticing. There is a mystery around the power of witches that is equally captivating to some as the power of religion is to others--so it is a somewhat polarizing case.
Possible Drawbacks
There are good efforts by the author to tie many things together, and the foreshadowing is for the most part well-executed, however the story sometimes falls prey to its own sense of expectation. Even the resolution of the trial has lost its stakes as Thorel Felix the witch has already taken to fleeing town. It seems there are a few instances: the seance, the exorcism, the trial verdict, the trial itself, where either the sound of the poltergeist machine or the chattering of non-essential characters takes away from the tension of the moment. This reader suggests allowing the tension of these moments to build up a bit more, especially with the poltergeist scenes. The constant use of onomatopoetic devices and ghost noises could easily be replaced by the internal tension of the characters that would help to foreshadow the actual culprits of the poltergeist’s unsettling noises.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The religious history vs folklore tension is a great thriller/drama hook. It is not something that is done outside of the horror genre very often, and it's based-on-a-true-story appeal will also make for good seat-filling power.
Fanbase Potential
This could have a fanbase of those that are into: witches, folklore, atheism, agnosticism, sadism, as well as those who like folktale dramas and thrillers. The demographics are a bit scattered, but it would certainly be a fresh property if it is executed well in the drama/thriller space.
Awards Potential
This could be relevant for awards regarding original screenplay as an adaptation from true events. It depends on the level of quality and production value.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
HÄXAN (1922)
What’s New About the Story
The story is a mix of religion, science and folklore. There is a great deal spiraling around all three, but the angle that is least explored and most interesting is that of the witches. There is little explained about which society, its coven leaders, and the actual motivations of the witches themselves that would make for an even more engaging story.
Lead Characters
Father Lariat is a complex mixture of caring, selfish, accepting and prudish. He tries to train his wards as best he can, but ultimately he puts himself first as that is both the way of the world and of his position in the church. He is fallible and goes through a change of heart and several moments of realization that make him engaging.
Uniqueness of Story
This is a better than average story, but it needs some more development to pad the spaces between key scenes. There is a lot of letter writing from minor characters that could be replaced under the guise of a more intrusive narrator. A story so dependent on the changing of emotion, the grating and frantic nature of the poltergeist that drives its subjects mad, has a surprising lack of emotional description. Instead it relies on conversations and accounts of actions that feel emotionally indirect.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, Film - Studio
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
This story is worth pursuing for two distinct reasons. The writing of the story is serviceable and engaging enough for an audience to stay interested in the with v priest battle throughout a lengthy buildup and somewhat shallow payoff. It has a good host of characters, all of whom have clear desires, and many of whom act in ways that are explainable to their interests. The story matter itself is also a driver for its success. Unlike many others, this story refrains from using witches as a ploy or to scare the audience. Instead the witches are complicated members of this rural society and, like any other member of society, they have structure and purpose. The legal battle between Father Lariat and Thorel the witch is a unique story that pits both of these people against one another in a neutral territory. It is also supported by the notion that it is based on true accounts, which helps audiences bridge the gap toward this story and their own reality.
Brief
It is 1850's rural France. A priest's parsonage is overtaken by the sounds of an unrelenting poltergeist. The Father blames a nearby witch whose coven leader he had jailed some time back. The sounds of poltergeist leader the priest to a rage and he attacks the witch. The witch does not defend himself, and instead takes the priest to court to let the courts decide.
What We Liked
- The story is decently well written; it has a host of characters with strong motivations and a good sense of foreshadowing. The story itself is interesting. There is quite a bit of internal strife that is played out well through the environment and the use of minor character cameos. The subject matter is ambitious. It straddles religion, science and folklore in a way that gives credence to all three.
- Film: The film adaptation seems like the most likely path. The content of the book is already sufficient for a 2hr drama. There are an abundance of minor characters with interesting tie ins and a good layering of subplots to push through the lull points of the A plot.
- TV: For TV this story feels like the first season of a show. There is a lot of character development that can be adapted or cut, and perhaps some of the more minor characters can be saved for later seasons. There is a lot of "montage potential" in which several episodes can be devoted to the different seances exorcisms and trials that take place. If the entire book is used in the first season, later seasons can focus on witch squad and Eve on the run with the help of Robert the seigneur. That can easily be spun out into content for several more seasons.
- Key points: Witches, Religion, Redemption, Poltergeist, Revelation
Synopsis
In the months of fall leading up to Christmas, Father Lariat of the Cideville parsonage in 1850s rural France, is preparing for an audit. His seigneur Robert has come to check the books and offer what money he can for the Christmas season. We meet Lariat's wards Bunel and Gustave, who are first scene at an auction buying pieces to fix up the church's organ.
At the auction the boys meet Thorel Felix, a witch, who is working to secure the release of his coven leader Gosselin, who was jailed at the hands of Father Lariat's court case.
Not long after this incident, a poltergeist appears in the church and begins breaking things and causing a commotion. Loud sounds continue for weeks, disrupting the parishioners and church stewards alike. Several of the stewards leave, including the chef, maid and laundress. The latter of whom is a girl named Eve who goes to work for Robert the seigneur.
During her work about town she meets Thorel Felix who comes off to her as a misunderstood and caring man. She steals medicine from Robert to help him heal others, and they form a kindred friendship.
The holidays come and go and the poltergeist is unbearable. Several experts are brought into to perform exorcisms and poltergeists, none of which subdue the spirit for long.
The incessant noise causes Father Lariat to seek out Thorel, who is calm and non-threatening about the situation. Still, Lariat beats the witch and proceeds to slander him to other members of Cideville. Thorel retaliates by taking the priest to court. The case proceeds for about a week, until the final day when Thorel produces a stunt using smoke and fire that causes a disruption and leads to the evacuation of the court and the jail below.
In the chaos, Gosselin escapes, and Eve gathers some of the coven to assist in Thorel's fleeing as well. The verdict comes in that Thorel must pay the court fees and damages, and Eve seeks out Robert for help. Though he previously fired her for stealing his medical supplies, he helps the woman and the witches flee Cideville.
The church of Notre Dame comes down hard on Lariat for failing to disclose the nature of the poltergeist, and removes the boys from Lariat's care. Before they leave, Gustave shows Lariat the contraption that was made to produce the poltergeist sounds. He admits that at one point the boys made the noise, but after a while they stopped, and yet the sounds of the poltergeist continued without them.