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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Unproduced Screenplay Discussion    Short Horror  ›  Lockdown - May OWC - sold
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  Author    Lockdown - May OWC - sold  (currently 2151 views)
Don
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 10:40am Report to Moderator
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So, what are you writing?

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Lockdown by PH Cook (Grandma Bear) writing as Pedro - Short, Drama, Horror - During a pandemic lockdown, a newly wed couple are tested to the brink of insanity. 4 pages - pdf format

Writer interested in feedback on this work


One location. Shoestring budget.


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-------------
You will miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
- Wayne Gretzky

Revision History (5 edits; 1 reasons shown)
Grandma Bear  -  October 7th, 2022, 11:27am
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spesh2k
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 1:13pm Report to Moderator
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Well, this one was fucking dark... I liked it!

It was competently written, didn't notice any glaring typos. I liked the idea that this story existed in a world that's REALLY hit with the lockdown and really extreme measures are taken to ensure people are stuck inside. It's pretty much playing on our most extreme fears of what COULD happen during a lockdown rather than what REALISTICALLY could happen. But, even then, who the fuck knows? If things get worse, maybe we will be locked in our houses, literally.

But, just so I got this right...

SPOILERS

Paul killed the dog Pedro because he wanted to eat meat for once. And his wife, Rachel, who hasn't taken her meds, is really broken up about that... so we think. Instead, she's more broken up about something she did... killing her child because they were crying over the dog, Pedro. I hope I'm correct, here.

This was pretty grim, especially the behavior of the HAZMAT guys who kinda just take the child's body away, giving the couple a slap on the wrist, essentially. But maybe there's no way to lock anybody up in a prison for any crimes during this stage of the lockdown? I'll buy it, I guess.

Anyway, nice effort. It was dark and depressing, but I like shit like that.

-- Michael


THE SUICIDE THEORY (Amazon Prime, 79% Rotten Tomatoes) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2517300/?ref_=nm_knf_i1
RAGE (Coming Feb. 2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8874764/?ref_=nm_knf_i2

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eldave1
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 5:26pm Report to Moderator
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The writing is really good.

This is the other place I was bothered.

SPOILER ALERT



Quoted Text
PAUL
It’s true. I did. So what? How was
I supposed to know they would go
batshit crazy over a dead dog? All
that screaming. They went on for
hours until she finally lost it and
ended it. A horrible thing really.
Hazmat #1 is even more confused.

PAUL
I think she forgot to take her meds
that day.

HAZMAT #1
When this is over, there will be an
official investigation.


If I get the story - the dude kills the dog - somehow that sends Mother and child off the deep-end and Mother kills child. So assuming I got that --

Hard to believe they would just leave murder suspects in the apartment. Would have worked better for me if they dragged her off. AND

Aside from that - dark - nicely done. I could feel the tone to my bones.




My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts

Revision History (1 edits)
eldave1  -  May 16th, 2020, 7:44pm
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ghost and_ghostie gal
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 7:34pm Report to Moderator
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Well, this was dark and twisted.  People love their animals. Sometimes they do crazy things when something happens to them.  A thought. Overall, this was a smooth read. Nothing tripped me up. Entertaining. Good job.

Ghost


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MarkD
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 9:32pm Report to Moderator
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A dark one for sure but very well written. Good job.
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LC
Posted: May 16th, 2020, 10:09pm Report to Moderator
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I really got no clue at all from the story that this couple were newlyweds.

I also think the dog on its own is enough without the kid in the garbage bag.
I liked the government line...

The dialogue that ends with this line:
A sorry excuse of a man
I think ending it at 'disgusting' does the trick.

I'm a little confused with what actually happened to the kid. That final shot alludes to Paul? I'd like to also know more here:

[i]Ranks right up there with[.../i]
Of course the unanswered stuff is often the mark of a good film.

That said, would this make a good film when redeeming character qualities, arcs, and themes are seemingly absent? No offence, they're just not clear to me here.

I like dark, I like creepy, I like bleak. But it has to have meaning.

And, I need a bit more at the point of denouement - a lesson, a message, an element of hope.
Cautionary tale on its own? Ok.Be careful who you get hitched to. He might eat your beloved pet.

Domestic violence has apparently gone through the roof during this crisis...but then that's another story.


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ajr
Posted: May 17th, 2020, 8:50am Report to Moderator
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Definitely dark and depressing...

I had to re-read the story after reading the comments because when I read that "two other hazmat guys walk toward the front door" I do not recall them entering the apartment, and I thought they were taking the child's body out of another apartment. Then I read Paul's dialogue and it made sense. He says "they" though - is there more than 1 child?

Definitely a COVID-y world. Has to be set in the not-to-distant future though, because we are obviously not at this point yet. So the 5 week time period from marriage and having a job to a forced government incarceration seems a bit short. My super-nitpicky self asks where they are getting their groceries in a complete, forced lockdown, and why Paul can't get meat, which is kind of the plot turn that the story hinges on.

Great job otherwise on starting out dark and then hitting the gas pedal!


AJR


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
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Gary in Houston
Posted: May 17th, 2020, 1:30pm Report to Moderator
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So this headed to the dark side quickly!  Dog-killing, child-killing, alcoholic, drug addict, you have them all here in one small space!

I like the writing.  Obviously a good writer at work here, but I guess I want someone to root for here.  Seems like I'm rooting against everyone.  Dark can work really well (e.g., Joker, Breaking Bad, etc.).  But there's always some offset in those movies to make you feel like you are invested in the characters.  Some redeeming qualities that give you some hope.  There's no one with redeeming qualities here.

Still, a solid story and good writing skills.  Best of luck.


Some of my scripts:

Bounty (TV Pilot) -- Top 1% of discoverable screenplays on Coverfly
I'll Be Seeing You (short) - OWC winner
The Gambler (short) - OWC winner
Skip (short) - filmed
Country Road 12 (short) - filmed
The Family Man (short) - filmed
The Journeyers (feature) - optioned

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Bayne
Posted: May 17th, 2020, 3:02pm Report to Moderator
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Solid writing and structure... but boy is this dark! Makes me feel better about our COVID-19 situation. Nothing to add here. You knew the tone you wanted to create, and you executed a complete story in four pages. Nice work.
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Yuvraj
Posted: May 18th, 2020, 2:31am Report to Moderator
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This one is for sure a dark tale.

This goes on to show how hostile the human mind is, under conditions like these. No matter how much one resists, at some point it will take a toll on you.

Nice effort.

Good luck.


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PedroS
Posted: May 18th, 2020, 3:38am Report to Moderator
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Dear writer thank you for sharing this story.
I enjoyed it and liked the twist at the end.
You left some open space for questions, imagination and discontent.
So your job is done properly, I guess.
Thank you very much.
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Reef Dreamer
Posted: May 18th, 2020, 2:59pm Report to Moderator
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That’s was cheerful ...

Writing was strong, tension was constant And the end had a lovely sinister element to it

I suppose my issue is the left field aspect of the child, and perhaps excess of the whole thing

Perhaps, another thing is that they only recently got married - I guess these things can go south quickly, but it made it a bit harder to buy

Got potential and good writing on display.


My scripts  HERE

The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville
Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final
Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards.  Third - Honolulu
Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place
IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr
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Arundel
Posted: May 18th, 2020, 4:45pm Report to Moderator
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I was certain that Pedro was going to end up being the kid. Paul was just saying "the dog" to trick his mind into not thinking it was so bad.

Most of the other reviews kind of pieced it together that Paul killed the dog, and Rachel did their kid. But there was a hint in the dialog that she had done something dastardly herself.

Then Paul says something like, "I didn't think they would take it so badly." They? More than one kid. Who are these people? Or was he referring to the kid and Rachel?

Good tension throughout.
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PKCardinal
Posted: May 18th, 2020, 4:49pm Report to Moderator
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Wow.

Not much to add. Very well written.

Doesn't care if you like anybody or not. Just lays it out there.

I can respect that.

I knew it was going to be an interesting ride when she howled. I mean, two lines in and we've got a character howling. Awesome.


PaulKWrites.com

60 Feet Under - Low budget, contained thriller/Feature
The Hand of God - Low budget, semi-contained thriller/Feature
Wait Till Next Year - Disney-style family sports comedy/Feature

Many shorts available for production: comedy, thriller, drama, light horror
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Dreamscale
Posted: May 19th, 2020, 4:20pm Report to Moderator
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Opening Slug - Who are the Baughmans?  Assuming this is the couple's last name, that would make sense, right?  But, if you never tell us their last name, how would we know?  How would anyone know?

When you use an age in parenthesis, you do not need a comma.  If you don't use parenthesis, you'll need 2 commas - 1 before the age, and 1 after.

So, Paul is sitting on a sofa, and he has a bottle of vodka right there to pour into his glass?

Page 3 - You're introing 3 new characters.  Even unnamed, MEN needs to be capped.

The end.  Very dark, but not remotely realistic, and I thought this challenge was based in reality?  Didn't work for me or do much for me, sorry to say.

**
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