The Survivors: A Glen Haven Tale
GENRE
HORROR SUSPENSE THRILLER
Core Theme
GOOD VS. EVIL
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
FRIDAY THE 13TH, SCREAM 1, SCREAM 4, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, BLACK CHRISTMAS, HALLOWEEN, YOU'RE NEXT, PEEPING TOM, SCREAM (TV), AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984, SLASHER
CHARACTER LIST
AUTUMN: 18. LEAD. YOUNG BUT BRAVE, THE FINAL GIRL OF THE STORY.
DIANA: 26.CO-LEAD. AUTUMN'S FRIEND AND CARETAKER AFTER ENCOUNTER WITH GOATMAN, FOUNDER OF THE SURVIVORS CLUB.
TESLA: 36. CO-LEAD. ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CLUB, WHICH IS HOUSED (ALONG WITH ALL THE WOMAN) IN HER OWN HOME.
ANNE: 23. CO-LEAD. MEMBER OF THE SURVIVORS CLUB, SEXUALLY OUTGOING.
CAT: 20S. CO-LEAD. FORMER STUDENT DOCUMENTATION AND MEMBER OF THE SURVIVORS CLUB.
EDISON: 20S. FBI AGENT INVESTIGATING THE GOATMAN.
Logline
The Survivors Club, a group of women who have all survived past encounters with a serial killer known as the Goatman, tracks the killer down and captures him. An FBI Special Agent and Texas Ranger investigate the murders and uncover the supernatural mystery tied to the murders and the town.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Small east Texas town.
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Self Published
Year Published: 2017
Starting Description
Diana, Tesla, Anne, Cat, and Autumn are women who have survived separate vicious attacks by a demented madman. Now, seeking closure, they team up, seek out this murderer and attempt to end his reign of terror once and for all. Capturing the monster is only the beginning. It’s what they decide to do
Ending Description
In the showdown between the Survivors Club and the Goatman, it is revealed that the Killer does not work alone. As the Survivors fall one by one, only one remains to carry on the quest to bring the monster's reign of terror to an end.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
9780692921685
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity,Extreme Violence, Language/Profanity,Substance Abuse
Plot - Other Elements
Philosophical Questions,Twist
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Tragedy
Main Character Details
Name: Autumn Carpenter
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Strong Moral Code,Underdog
Additional Character Details
Name: Diana Roa
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Badass,Leader
Additional Character Details
Name: Tesla Lawry
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Role: protagonist
Key Traits: Modest,Selfless,Strong Moral Code
Additional Character Details
Name: Anne Lee
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Role: protagonist
Key Traits: Aggressive,Charming,Decisive,Sexy
Genre
SUSPENSE, THRILLER
Brief
Five women who individually survived attacks from a serial killer band together to support each other and form a community of survivors. They’re able to capture the killer, something not even the police can achieve. They must decide whether to turn him over to the authorities or kill him themselves, and they’re torn on what to do. While in their custody, the killer is released by a compatriot, and he and his family kill all of the women off but one.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: EXCELLENT
Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT
Pace: GOOD
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: EXCELLENT
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, the Book Profile accurately reflects the book. The writer’s callout in the development pitch of 1980s slasher flicks is a great note to include, as the book owes a heavy debt to them. Setting the atmosphere is nice, too. The bio could focus more on the author’s actual life and experience instead of what they enjoy.
Draw of Story
The prologue is compelling right from the jump, and it sets up an action-packed thrill ride, as well as the subversion of a classic horror tale. The premise is immediately established, and the audience knows exactly what this story is about. That can be hard to do, but this book does it well. The idea of all these women coming together to destroy the thing that haunts their nightmares is superb, and it’s so rarely what you get to see from “final girls.” This is a small note, but this could just be the first chapter instead of needing to call it a prologue. The story continues immediately after the end of the prologue, so it’s not really fulfilling what the term means.
Possible Drawbacks
The way that women are described in the book unfortunately comes off as misogynistic at times. This clearly isn’t the intent, but it’s difficult to look past when the main characters are being overtly sexualized at every turn. Their bodies are vividly described, including in moments where they’re running for their lives. Nearly all the women in the book are also described first and foremost by their attractiveness, and how it’s relative to other women’s. To be fair, some of the men are described in vaguely similar terms, but it’s not as exploitative, and it’s not done from the perspective of the killer. Nothing is gained by making the women into sexual objects, and it’s not a boon to the story. Trimming these out would make for a stronger impression and help the women’s characterizations.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The premise in this book is truly unique, even to an audience very familiar with the horror genre. Survivors fighting back against the crazed serial killer is a perfect idea, and this community of hurt women that they create is a great lead-in to that hook. Some of the strongest moments of the novel are when the women work together. They’ve built this life for one another, and it’s inspiring. The fact that they also manage to capture (one of) the killer(s) is fantastic, and it’s nice to see them get to be in control for a little while.
Fanbase Potential
Slasher films have a natural audience, and they’re often very popular. It’s one of the most popular sub genres, and horror fans aren’t the only ones who will line up. The unique premise sets this apart from other media in the same genre, too.
Awards Potential
Due to the genre, this would be unlikely to have traditional awards potential.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
FRIDAY THE 13TH, SCREAM, SCREAM 4, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, BLACK CHRISTMAS, HALLOWEEN, YOU'RE NEXT, PEEPING TOM, SCREAM (TV), AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984, SLASHER
What’s New About the Story
The fact that the Survivors Club manages to capture the killer makes this a unique story, and it puts a fun spin on the traditional slasher genre. The fact that he ends up getting released, and all of the women die but one, takes away from this slightly. If they killed the man they catch — maybe in self-defense, even, so it’s a more morally sound decision — and then are set upon by the killers’ compatriots, it might be more successful. It feels a bit hopeless with the current ending, and the brunt of the continuing story seems to be placed on the shoulders of Agent and Edison and the multiple killers, rather than these survivors. These women all working together and being a support system for one another is fantastic, and it’s the most original element here.
Lead Characters
With stronger characterizations, the female characters could also be the kind of women onscreen that everyone wants to root for — or the kind of women they want to be. Everyone wants to be the kind of survivor who can get revenge on the person who terrorized them and killed their loved ones. Autumn is the most well drawn character right now, and she’s given the most to do within the plot. It makes sense that she ends up being the ultimate survivor if, unfortunately, only one is making it out alive. Tesla has some interesting moments, but her characterization feels uneven. Diana’s does as well, as her entire roll is mostly that of being a mother figure to the rest. She doesn’t get a chance for her own story to be told, and instead it’s told through others. Anne’s story is fairly interesting, but she comes across as a sex-crazed after the attack, which is a potentially realistic but odd way of coping with trauma. Cat is unlikable when her own story is told, as she’s rude to everyone around her. Diversifying the women more from one another and making sure they have strong characterizations not based around their attractiveness would help to bolster what’s already done so well.
Uniqueness of Story
As discussed, the more original element of the novel is that these “final girls” work together to bring down the killer who ruined their lives. This has the potential to put power back in these women’s hands, and the best way to do that would be for their efforts to have some impact. Right now, the killer escapes thanks to his family, who slay all but one of the women and ultimately escape. The script is not, ultimately, flipped. In a novel chock-full of violence (including sexual violence) against women, it would be nice if they held the upper hand. Besides that, the novel also wears the influences from the horror genre on its sleeve in a fairly obvious way. Especially with storylines that are near-identical to both the FRIDAY THE 13TH and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT series, the novel would do well to set itself further apart. It’s great to be inspired by existing media, but it needs to distinguish itself more in the killers’ attacks to be considered a true rare gem.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
This story should absolutely be considered due to how unique the premise is. The author manages to do something completely original within the genre, which is heartening to see. The structure of the book is enjoyable, and it’s great that we get to see every victim’s backstory. Parsing out the story in this way is clever and successful, and it would work on both the big and small screens. The pace does drag a bit in some of the flashbacks due to their lengths, but the structure overall is effective. One of the main reasons this is not a full “recommend” is that the characterizations are a bit lackluster. With some adjustment, these characters can be well drawn and complex women that any audience will rally behind. In addition, the ending of the novel is frustrating and unsatisfying. It would be great if more of the women survived, and/or if they managed to knock off at least some of the family of killers. The killers win in the end, and though Autumn is a “final girl,” there’s no sense that she’ll be able to get revenge for everyone she’s lost. The novel ends up focusing more on Edison than the survivors, which is a missed opportunity. The Survivors Club is the most unique part of this story, and it’s a shame that they aren’t the protagonists throughout. They also do very little to the killer before he escapes. It might be nice to see them enact a little revenge torture or something of the like on him. It could be cathartic for them as well. Edison’s role in everything is also a little lackluster, as he doesn’t catch any of the killers. He just passively learns about what has already happened in the past.
Brief
The Survivors Club, a group of women who managed to escape with their lives from a deranged killer that offed their loved ones, are faced with a new struggle when they manage to bait and capture the perpetrator. While struggling with whether to turn him over to police or enact their own cruel justice, an FBI agent comes to town to get to the bottom of the slayings.
What We Liked
The premise is fresh and compelling, and the author presents a puzzle an audience will want to unravel from the very first pages. There is so much happening under the surface with this story, and it’s teased out as we learn more about these women and their Survivors Club. We empathize and relate to them, even if we haven’t been through such horrible events. It’s impossible not to root for them, to want them to succeed. They’ve done something amazing in luring out their tormentor and keeping him hostage, and that sends a message to all survivors that they’re not solely victims of some heinous crime. These women are seeking to right the wrongs visited upon them, and it’s a thrill ride that an audience would kill to be along for.
Film: Horror films always find an audience, as it’s a devoted fanbase and a very wide audience in total. The fact that this premise is doing completely unique by letting the surviving women capture the killer is huge, and it would undoubtedly spike interest in a universal way. The flashback structure of the book would also be very successful when put in the hands of talented filmmakers, as it allows the story to deepen and the female characters to be more fleshed out. This is not your run-of-the-mill slasher flick, but rather it flips that familiar story on its head and gives the audience something brand new to enjoy.
TV: The best choice the book makes to make it an obvious choice for television adaptation is beginning to establish this community that’s been racked by tragedy and murder. The ins and outs of familiar small town creepiness, from taverns to diners to local legends, is fantastic. This is the kind of location that’s perfect for a series, and there have been several successful shows that focus around these supernatural epicenters. There are also so many characters to explore, and the ending of the novel leaves room for endless future storylines. Autumn has to pick up the mantle of her fallen sisters-in-arms, after all. The folklore of the area also lends itself well to exploring more terrible tragedies in this place, even beyond the present day family of killers.
Key points:
1. Subversion of a classic genre
2. Unique premise
3. Female protagonists
4. Flashback structure to reveal story
5. Horror is a popular and easily producible genre
Synopsis
ANNE lures in the GOATMAN for the rest of her “Survivors Club.” Alongside Anne, TESLA, DIANA, CAT, and AUTUMN chain him to a chair in Tesla’s basement, where they plan to keep him until they decide what to do. The Goatman of Azlewood, so named because of the woods that surround the town of Glen Haven, Texas, wears an animal skull mask. He seems to have preternatural strength, and the sound of a baying animal is heard in the woods when he strikes. Each of the women is a survivor of his attacks, and they’ve all lost friends or family while barely managing to escape. Autumn was all of 17 when the Goatman attacked. She met JONATHAN, who was staying with FRIENDS in Autumn’s FATHER’s guest house. He invited Autumn to a party, and she had a great time — until the killing started.
The Goatman stalked the party, offing the teens one by one. Autumn and Jonathan fled to her father’s house, where he attempted to protect the children. He was killed by the Goatman, as was Jonathan, and Autumn barely managed to protect her YOUNGER BROTHER. She shot the Goatman and sent him through a window, but he survived. Autumn was institutionalized as she attempts to recover from her trauma. That’s where Diana and Tesla find her six months later, and they invite her to be part of their Survivors Club alongside Cat and Anne. Together the women hatch a plan to get their own revenge since the police have been unable to catch the Goatman. The first Goatman murder was Diana’s twin SISTER, who was strangled in her home while Diana was in the room two years ago.
Diana is also the sole survivor of an unrelated earlier massacre at a summer camp. The second Goatman attack was when he invaded Tesla’s home and killed her HUSBAND and her unborn child. Sixth months after that, ANNE, her sister ANGELA, and a group of COLLEGE STUDENTS they were hanging out with were attacked. His fourth spree was against a group of film students who were making a documentary about the summer camp massacre Diana survived. The slaying of Autumn’s father and those at Jonathan’s party is the most recent set of murders. In found footage they shot, film student Cat and her TWO FRIENDS explore the ruins of the summer camp, where a massacre was carried out by SALVIA VASA, who claimed she wanted to protect the land. They get increasingly lost, doomed to end back at the camp no matter which trail they take.
The Goatman descends, and Cat is held by him for days after the two others are killed. She’s raped and tortured, but she manages to escape. Tesla was attacked in a home invasion alongside her husband ROSS. The Goatman killed Ross and stabbed Tesla in the stomach, leading her to lose her baby. In the present day, the Survivors Club holds a vote of whether to kill the Goatman or not. Anne is the only one who wants to kill him, which angers her She goes to a bar and meets BRET, who used to date her sister. Anne tells him about how she and Angela befriended a group of college kids in the woods. That night, everyone was slaughtered except for Anne.
She brings Bret to the house to show him the Goatman, knowing he also wants revenge. SOMEONE sneaks into the basement and frees the Goatman from his bonds. He kills the two before making his way upstairs. Autumn is thrown out a window when he attacks, in a reverse of what happened the last time she encountered him. Tesla is beheaded leaving Diana and Cat racing to figure out what’s going on. The women split up, and Cat realizes that the killer they captured is not alone. There are four total GOATMEN, and they close in on Cat. She shoots herself before they can kill her. As Diana dies, she sees Salvia Vasa, the perpetrator of her original tragedy at the camp. Salvia is in control of the killers, who appear to be her sons. Autumn is the lone survivor, as she was able to sneak away despite being severely injured.