Severed
Logline
A small town preacher covers his tracks after a drunk driving accident, only to be haunted by the consequences.
Genre
Horror,Suspense/Thriller
Short Summary
Sam wakes up in a damaged truck on an open country road, late at night. Splayed out in front of the truck is a woman, nearly severed at the waist, attempting to crawl towards him. The woman dies before Sam’s eyes and he decides to hide her remains in the woods nearby.
Sam informs the police about the body and leads two deputies into the woods, but the female deputy suddenly morphs into the woman he had once killed. Sam sees his church in the middle of the woods and runs toward it, seeking refuge. The woman follows him; everything behind her becomes a black void.
Setting
Ridgway, Colorado
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Tragedy
Plot - Other Elements
Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Extreme Violence, Language/Profanity,Nudity
Main Character Details
Name: Sam Preston
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Narcisstic,Secretive,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Arthur
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Criminal,Insecure,Aggressive
Additional Character Details
Name: John
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Role: logical
Key Traits: Charming,Confident
Additional Character Details
Name: Judy
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Role: logical
Key Traits: Gracious,Selfless
Development Pitch
This is a story with a dark, unsettling tone that would offer a unique viewing experience. Think Hereditary meets The Sixth Sense. It’s atmospheric, tense, and most importantly: terrifying. There is a lack of original horror films today, now more than ever before. Severed is a breath of fresh air, keeping the viewer on edge through its dark imagery and vague, but powerful storytelling. Severed doesn’t hold your hand and keeps you guessing every step of the way. Budget is everything when it comes to seeing a healthy ROI, and this film could easily be produced on a modest budget. Minimal locations, small cast size, and practical effects can go a long way in making this film quite profitable. While this story may be structured as a feature film, it can easily be adapted into a limited series as well. Severed was first written as a short story, then turned into a feature script. A pilot episode has also been written aimed at turning Severed into a six episode limited series as well. There are definitely options on what to do with a quality story such as this. Don’t miss out on a HIGHLY PROFITABLE horror film!
Genre
THRILLER, SUSPENSE
Brief
Priest Sam hit a woman on the road with his truck and suddenly finds himself plagued by apparitions and his own past.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: GOOD
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
More or less. I believe Sam is his own antagonist force, but he is still the protagonist.
Draw of Story
The hook is clear from the start. It starts with the accident, and then strange things begin to occur right away. In other words, we are quickly pushed into the story, and the suspense is held until the end.
Possible Drawbacks
The whole story is based on the priest's relationship with his ex-wife and the accident itself, but there's an appropriate balance between these subplots. The pace is also a positive element. Everything happens so quickly we don't have time to feel bored.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The script begins with the accident. Sam opens his eyes and sees himself in the middle of this terrible accident. Then he sees a critically injured woman crawling towards him. It's a punchy way to start a story like this.
Fanbase Potential
It can attract horror film fans. I believe it could have even more scary elements, but it has the base to draw this audience's attention.
Awards Potential
I don't think so. It has the potential for jumpscares, it's entertaining, but the narrative is shallow and not very original. It doesn't make us reflect and certainly will not make us think about the movie for days. It's fast entertainment. It could be selected by horror film festivals, though.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER - AFTER AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, A GROUP OF TEENAGERS IS TORMENTED BY A WITNESS. THE NUN - A HORROR FILM WITH A RELIGIOUS SIDE.
What’s New About the Story
The protagonist in Severed is not a common priest. He hides his evil side and obscure past and pretends to himself that he is a good man. However, we can notice during the whole movie he is not as good as he thinks, which gives the narrative a more exciting hint.
Lead Characters
The priest is an interesting protagonist. His antagonist is his own past and his consciousness. He struggles to convince himself that he is a good man, but his attitudes tell the opposite.
Uniqueness of Story
Not a rare gem, but it could become an entertaining thriller.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, Film - Studio
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER