A parasite that has taken over the mind and body of a realtor in southern Appalachia yearns for the impossible, to be human.
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I found this to be quite original, and it brought to mind some interesting comparisons as different scenes unfolded. I couldn’t help but think of the dynamic between Venom and Vince D’Onofrio’s character in Men in Black during the scenes where a foreign entity takes over a body, particularly the moment when they expel a spear-like object.
Additionally, the theme of searching for a sense of meaning or belonging really resonated. I think that the strong connection between this theme and the decomposer character is quite compelling.
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Have you seen Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin? Terrific film which is the closest comp I can think of - Decomposer has a similar (but equally brilliant) prevailing dread. I agree - the theme of quest for expression and belonging means it maintains somewhat of a positive note, which feels rare for this kind of genre piece.
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I’m hoping to get to this one this week. I’m very curious to see how the writer intends to bring what seems like such a solitary internal struggle to the screen.
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Don’t want to ruin your reading or expectations, so shan’t share too much, but very keen to hear what you have to say about it. It’s a relatively short read and it’s quite propulsive, it won’t take you long.
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Just finished. Yes, it’s quite a script. Very powerful. The more I read, the more the pace slowed for me. I began to picture a filming style similar to A Ghost Story. Maybe not quite that contemplative, but close.
I mean, it has strong horror elements, but it’s not really a horror story. It’s a human story with a horror overlay.
Let’s talk mechanics for a moment: My main concern was definitely realized in the early pages. The writer, several times, used unfilmables to highlight the internal struggle. I noted 7 such instances in the first 19 pages. Fewer after that, but still a couple. One example I noted (I can’t go back to the script to pull other examples) was on pg. 42…“He’s been neglecting his duties. And, he knows it.” We need an action to show that. A visual. Something we can film.
Luckily, it’s not a difficult fix. And, frankly, none of the instances were egregious. So, that’s good news. One or two days worth of scrubbing the script and the problem no longer exists.
The other good news is that this is a powerful script. That’s far more important than the mechanics. (The use of the camera was great!)
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Love your take. This was one of my favorite treatments I’ve read so far. Now I want to read the full script.
I was hoping the Parasite’s love of humanity would somehow lead to it do something more pro-active in saving some people. Perhaps a sanctuary is set up so that humanity survives and can start again while learning from our mistakes? Script kept my interest but was was kind of a downer. I know that’s part of the point, but still.
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Anyone read Weapons yet? Came across the screenplay online recently, I love the opportunity to read something before it hits theatres! Has some similarities to Decomposer with the drifting protagonist and the eerie suburban horror!
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I haven’t. Love the actress. If you go see it, let me know what you think.
Thanks for the reminder.
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Just read this and it goes crazy. I don’t see an ending that isn’t a complete bummer in the grand scheme of things. A small victory for the parasite is about all you can hope for. Feel like it’s an observer not a fighter.
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Hey! Thanks for the kind words and interesting observations! Now that I’ve written a few more, I find that most of the stories I write have to deal with belonging in some way or another. Guess I should talk to my therapist about that, ha!
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It’s an immense honor to be compared remotely to Glazer’s work. Big fan, so thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it.
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“The writer, several times, used unfilmables to highlight the internal struggle. I noted 7 such instances in the first 19 pages.” - GUILTY! Writing unfilmable moments like the ones you mentioned has definitely been something I’ve been practicing doing less. Truth be told, I never went to school for screenwriting, I’m entirely self taught. Which has it’s pros and cons. One con being that I sometimes forget that a script is meant to be seen, not just read. I’m working on it!
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Downer for humans, indeed. But an upper for nature and earth! I think it’s a wash.
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We’ve all got things we’re working on as writers, right? Always be improving. As for this script, certainly your actors will help you out. They’ll know what you’re going for. But, the more action you can give them to highlight those internal moments, the better. Like I said…it’s all easy to fix. You’ve got the hard part down. Good luck with the script! I’ll be tracking its progress.
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Hey Mason. Great to have you here and hear your insights. Wanted to underscore that Kinolime is looking to champion these types of screenplays, ones that bend the rules, subvert the film school model, and blaze new paths.
Me, personally, I love using prose and unfilmables in my writing - expectations be darned! I recently wrote an article for the blog on great screenplays that break convention, link HERE, and would love to draw particular attention to The Tree of Life. May be my favourite film and that screenplay… there’s less filmable than unfilmable in there!
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Thanks for the insight, Paul! And thanks for taking time to read my crazy story!
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Thanks for sharing the link! That’s a very interesting topic. I saw Adaptation in there, which is easily a favorite of mine. I can’t overstate how much I appreciate the support to go outside of the box when it comes to screenwriting traditions. One thing that I find myself very thankful for, as I’ve mentioned in a previous comment, is that I never went to school for screenwriting. If I had, and no disrespect to anyone who has whatsoever, I feel like I would’ve been boxed in a bit - not as free to write in a style I myself developed just by practice. In Rick Ruben’s book, The Creative Act, he calls it “Beginners Mind.” It discusses the strengths of being new to something, not molded by traditions and expectations. And because of this, you’re given fresh perspective that perhaps a seasoned artist of whatever medium wouldn’t have considered. It’s an excellent read if you ever get the chance. Okay, I’m done rambling!
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