I realized that although I've given one of my earlier log-lines as well as the genre of the film, I haven't really talked much about what the plot is. Here's an outline that I wrote for class last week. Please bear in mind that the plot has changed A LOT since then, but the basic concept is the same, or at least similar (I'm even thinking about making it a trilogy)
Loose Outline
Several years after dropping out of college, our protagonist is traveling the country by hitchhiking. While passing through a small town, he chances upon a strange amulet. (Plot Point I) After touching it he finds that his reality has changed. Suddenly, the world is filled with zombies, and people who seem normal really aren’t. After assembling a small coterie of believers, the hitchhiker goes in search of information in regards to the amulet and how to destroy the zombies. His search leads him to a local crackpot/supernatural buff, who informs them that the only way to rid the world of the zombies is to destroy the amulet. They also discover that that the zombie epidemic is far more widespread than they had imagined, and actually comprises a large portion of the population. Therefore by wiping out those who have been infected, they are in effect bringing about the apocalypse. After a long search to find the method of destruction, the group is about to destroy the amulet when they learn the truth about the amulet and the zombies. (Plot Point II) Rather than creating the zombies, the amulet merely allows people to see the zombies. They discover that the crackpot is sympathetic to them and had hoped to lead the group to destroy the only method of ridding the world of the zombies, which are in fact not zombies at all, but an alien invasion sent to decimate the human population. This is achieved through the promotion of consumerism and excess, and the aliens drive anyone that opposes them insane, or just makes them into another one of their pod-people. In order to destroy the zombies the group must amplify the power of the amulet, which they learn is possible through the use of technology located at the alien’s landing site near town. After facing the crackpot and defeating him, the group manages to successfully utilize the amulet to destroy the alien invasion force, killing over half the world’s population. The film ends with a shot of the town littered with corpses, and through montage shows corpses around the world.
Loose Outline
Several years after dropping out of college, our protagonist is traveling the country by hitchhiking. While passing through a small town, he chances upon a strange amulet. (Plot Point I) After touching it he finds that his reality has changed. Suddenly, the world is filled with zombies, and people who seem normal really aren’t. After assembling a small coterie of believers, the hitchhiker goes in search of information in regards to the amulet and how to destroy the zombies. His search leads him to a local crackpot/supernatural buff, who informs them that the only way to rid the world of the zombies is to destroy the amulet. They also discover that that the zombie epidemic is far more widespread than they had imagined, and actually comprises a large portion of the population. Therefore by wiping out those who have been infected, they are in effect bringing about the apocalypse. After a long search to find the method of destruction, the group is about to destroy the amulet when they learn the truth about the amulet and the zombies. (Plot Point II) Rather than creating the zombies, the amulet merely allows people to see the zombies. They discover that the crackpot is sympathetic to them and had hoped to lead the group to destroy the only method of ridding the world of the zombies, which are in fact not zombies at all, but an alien invasion sent to decimate the human population. This is achieved through the promotion of consumerism and excess, and the aliens drive anyone that opposes them insane, or just makes them into another one of their pod-people. In order to destroy the zombies the group must amplify the power of the amulet, which they learn is possible through the use of technology located at the alien’s landing site near town. After facing the crackpot and defeating him, the group manages to successfully utilize the amulet to destroy the alien invasion force, killing over half the world’s population. The film ends with a shot of the town littered with corpses, and through montage shows corpses around the world.
3 comments:
This sounds a LOT like "They Live" meets an old episode of the Twilight Zone. In fact, it sounds a lot like a couple of our pitches for Web TV shows...
You know, the reference to "They Live" was also brought up in my screenwriting class, lol. I've never seen it before, but I went out right after the class and bought it. I'm hoping the changes I've made thus far (but haven't yet posted) will help bring it away from being too much like "They Live" (which I *still* haven't watched. Sucks to have no time).
I don't think you need to worry too much about comparisons to "They Live." I mean, a subversive alien culture influencing our own for their own gain is a staple of modern (and possibly ancient) thought. See: the lizard people, scientology, the idea of demons, etc.
Plus, zombies and the apocalypse. You'll be ok.
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