The Angriest Angel
GENRE
ACTION ADVENTURE DRAMA SCI-FI SUSPENSE / THRILLER
Core Theme
UNDERDOG PREVAILS
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
FRINGE (TV), AVATAR (FILM), DOCTOR WHO (TV), LOST (TV)
CHARACTER LIST
• CHASE MADISON: EARLY 30'S. ADHD, ERRATIC, COMPUTER SCIENTIST, FORMER MMA FIGHTER
• AVERY - LATE 20S, SIDEKICK, ALIEN, INTELLIGENT BOTANIST, BEAUTIFUL
• NATHAN - EARLY 30S, ALIEN, AVERY'S FIANCE, LOGICAL, ANTAGONIST'S RIGHT HAND
• LAFAYE - 40S,ALIEN, ANTAGONIST, CLINICAL, PRONE TO ANGER
Logline
Chase is a reckless thirty-something who’s attention deficit disorder has made his life hell. Little does he know that his disorder makes him immune to the subtle mind powers of the aliens living among us.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Chicago area, modern day
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Self-published through Createspace
Year Published: 2018
Starting Description
Chase is caught selling his prescription meds to college kids and gets arrested.
Ending Description
Chase's ADHD makes him immune to the Caelan's mind control power, and as their leader (Lafaye) begins to turn on his own people, they rely on Chase to become the reluctant hero and save them.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
978-1726241588
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Plot - Other Elements
Twist, Meaningful Message, Happy Ending, Philosophical Questions,,Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain
Main Character Details
Name: Chase Madison
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Criminal, Heartthrob, Lone Wolf, Sarcastic, Skillful, Adventurous, Badass, Blunt, Heroic, Masculine, Outspoken, Visionary, Aggressive,Lone Wolf,Sarcastic,Visionary,Skillful,Uneducated,Adventurous,Badass,Heroic,Masculine,Outspoken
Additional Character Details
Name: Avery
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Role: Sidekick
Key Traits: Strong Moral Code, Aspiring, Empathetic, Engaging, Honorable, Sexy, Charming, Complex, Educated, Heartthrob, Extraordinary Powers and Abilities, Beautiful, Selfless,Complex,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Naive,Seductive,Secretive,Selfless,Sexy
Additional Character Details
Name: Lafaye
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Complex, Educated, Manipulative, Aspiring, Extraordinary Powers and Abilities, Power-hungry, Villainous, Engaging, Leader, Unapologetic, Confident, Charming, Skillful, Sophisticated, Aggressive,Villainous,Narcisstic,Power Hungry,Skillful,Seductive,Manipulative,Unapologetic,Leader,Greedy,Engaging,Confident,Charming,Clumsy
Additional Character Details
Name: Nathan
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Role: Logical
Key Traits: Confident, Educated, Engaging, Honorable, Unapologetic, Beautiful, Charming, Extraordinary Powers and Abilities, Leader, Narcissistic, Skillful
Genre
ACTION, DRAMA, FANTASY, ROMANCE, SUSPENSE, COMEDY
Brief
A car accident causes a human man to discover that aliens have descended on Earth and are blending in as Earthlings. The protagonist meets this man in the jail cell of a precinct, and thinks him to be crazy. Over the next few days he is walked out of prison by a woman pretending to be his case manager. As she watches over him for the following week, he comes to befriend her. All goes out the window when she is attacked, forcing her to reveal her true alien identity and her feelings for him.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: GOOD
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
Logline is accurate. Short Summary is a bit brief and fails to mention the love triangle that is most of the third act, but is still relevant.
Draw of Story
The concept of "the aliens among us" is a good hook, especially with the inclination that these are human-like extraterrestrials and thus blend in well with humankind.
Possible Drawbacks
Nothing is particularly off-putting about this book. As the first in a series, it is well-paced and establishes a decent character structure for its A and B actors. The writing is average which leads to some scenes being overwritten, but not unbearable. At times, there was a lot of unnecessary jargon the "Caelans" (aliens) used in the story. At times, that was confusing and also felt like thin attempt at world-building.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook of this property falls into the "underdog misfit wins the heart of the princess" category. It is a tale of the unusual nature of human beings and the power of one man looking to help his newfound alien friend.
Fanbase Potential
Potentially. It is a decent sci-fi premise that has human and human-like characters that are appealing to a large audience. This reader imagines the strongest demographics to be the 12-18 and 19-28, depending on the aging of the protagonists and the final age-rating of the property.
Awards Potential
Probably not. This is more of a light-hearted sci-fi/summer film property than a more serious piece worthy of any dramatic award considerations.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
FRINGE(2008-13), AVATAR(2009), DOCTOR WHO
What’s New About the Story
The property features the alien culture (of the Caelans) that sports its own language, laws and traditions. While this is not necessarily unique, the level of detail that exists now and could be subsequently developed, gives it a stroke of originality in this tried and true sci-fi motif.
Lead Characters
The protagonist struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, which end up being his defense against the mind control abilities of the aliens. His alien sidekick is incredibly intelligent, but still quite innocent to many of Earth's customs and cultures.
Uniqueness of Story
This is a better than average story. As it stands now--the plot is strong and the relationship dynamics carry the narrative. The antagonists (both human and alien) are a bit vague, but for the first book in a series, it is still compelling enough for the audience to enjoy.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, TV Series - Network, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, TV Series - Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
The property has broad appeal across demographics, it is not inherently political, and it is focused on fairly straightforward yet interesting characters. This could be adapted well for TV or Film, and has the "buddy-adventure" narrative baked into its rather linear plot. While the writing is not the most engaging, the premise and bones of the property could carry it through to a film/tv adaptation.
Brief
Early 30s protagonist Chase lives and dies by his erratic whim. His ADHD and tendency towards conflict have led him down a chaotic road. While he feels his disorder has made him a failure, when he comes into contact with a powerful alien species with the power to influence human minds, his ADHD becomes key to overcoming their psychological powers.
What We Liked
- The property fits many typical molds: "downtrodden hero", "underdog gets the girl", "unlikely hero and sidekick" with an interesting twist. There is a good A and B plot that play off one another and have decently-well developed characters to support both.
- For Film, the romance serves as an underlying driver as the tension of the A and B plots intertwine. A quick opening scene of the car crash that starts the story will lead to a few scene changes as the protagonists are quickly acquainted. The rest is really a buddy adventure turned romance as the two
characters come to appreciate each other's quirks.
- For TV this would take on the format of a buddy serial dramedy such as Fringe, Bones, or Doctor Who. The pilot will develop the protagonist human and sidekick alien storylines and then bring them together in a concise fashion. The love interest will seep until the season or mid-season finale, and the aftermath will be put on hold as the B plot involving the "anger infection" suffered by the aliens will take charge.
- There is a good mix of conflict points as the hero and sidekick can be affected by different forces (ie human consequences vs alien consequences) which will create a dynamic sense of stakes and allow the engine to generate a circulating formula of conflicts that remain fresh and interesting. The show could see several seasons if the plot is extended and the other books in the series are used as source material.
- Key points: Underdog Hero, Extraterrestrial Friendship, Overcoming obstacles, Learning and Growing, Self-Acceptance.
Synopsis
A car crash causes a human named Pete McClouth to see and capture evidence of aliens, known as Caelans, on Earth. This information is passed by unlikely means to the protagonist Chase, who then unknowingly encounters two of these aliens in a police precinct. The aliens help him escape his impending jail sentence, and find out that he is immune to their psychological persuasion.
One alien in particular, Avery, is tasked with keeping Chase close as her comrades deal with an even bigger problem. It seems the previously pacifist and calm aliens have developed an infection that causes them to become angry.
Meanwhile Chase and Avery get to know each other. Avery gets engaged to a fellow alien named Nathan, who is working closely with their leader to uncover the cause of the anger infection.
Chase begins to uncover the odd nature of these aliens after dining with Avery, Nathan, and Avery's sister.
The climax occurs when Avery is shot by an unknown assailant referred to as Blond Beard, who has been tracking the duo for an unknown reason. Avery is forced to reveal her alien nature and asks Chase to help her activate an alien device that will save her life. Chase takes care of Avery and helps get her to her sister's house. Once Nathan and her sister arrive at the house, they must confront the issue of what Avery has told Chase.
In a moment of intimacy, Avery tries to share how she feels about Chase but is suddenly driven out of the room, overcome by emotion. Nathan and Avery's sister confront Chase, and accidentally divulge the secret: that Chase is immune to their psychological powers.