Iris Before the Storm
ROMANCE SUSPENSE/THRILLER DRAMA ADVENTURE ACTION HISTORICAL FICTION
19th Century
S.L. Vaden

TaleFlick Pick!
Submision Type
book
Logline
Iris is a bounty hunter who becomes hunted while trying to protect the ones she loves.
Genre
Romance,Suspense/Thriller,Drama,Adventure,Action,Historical Fiction
Short Summary
It begins with Iris coming to a small town to find a bounty. She stands out among the town-folk. Which brings trouble to her. This is where she meets her love interest, the town doctor.
Setting
Old west 1800's
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Tragedy
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message,Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity,Substance Abuse,Extreme Violence, Language/Profanity,Incest
Main Character Details
Name: Iris
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Complex,Blunt,Outspoken,Skillful,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Lone Wolf,Strong Moral Code,Faithful,Decisive,Secretive
Additional Character Details
Name: Garrett
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Aggressive,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Selfless,Romantic,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Strong Moral Code,Masculine
Additional Character Details
Name: Cole
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Underdog,Charming,Selfless,Funny,Skillful,Honorable,Romantic,Faithful,Empathetic,Aspiring,Obedient
Additional Character Details
Name: Rune
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Crazy,Narcisstic,Villainous,Masculine,Criminal,Power Hungry,Greedy,Unapologetic,Leader
Genre
ACTION, DRAMA, ROMANCE
Brief
Iris arrives in a small town in the Old West for a secret task but is mistaken for a witch by the citizens. She meets the town's doctor, and they feel an unusual and immediate connection. Iris works for an organization to stop criminals and ends up having to deal with her own past when an old torturer comes back to stalk her.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
The western tone and environment draw attention immediately. The plot begins with the arrival of a foreigner in the small town, showing the reaction of the citizens with that woman ahead of her time. It's a start that draws attention because of the female protagonism and the chosen genre.
Possible Drawbacks
There is a gradual delivery of information, which is attractive to keep us interested in the story, but at the same time, it leaves the reader a little confused. She's in town for a task that involves catching criminals, but we don't know exactly why these people are being captured (besides them being criminals) and why she's the chosen one to do the task. The town's sheriff helps her, but it also takes a while for us to understand why. To increase the complicity with the protagonist, we could receive more information than other characters in the story.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The female protagonist in a western environment is the hook. Her tasks and antagonists end up being less important than seeing her shake the city's structures with feminism ahead of its time.
Fanbase Potential
I believe it can attract fans of westerns, action, and especially an audience looking for strong and different female protagonists.
Awards Potential
It all depends on the dramatic weight of the adaptation. Suppose the story follows a more original path, presenting the oneiric part, from the connection through dreams, that represents internal conflicts and personal barriers, and focusing on Iris's personal drama. In that case, I believe the story would gain more potential for awards. Exploring the conventions of the western genre is also a plus for the film as a model. However, if the focus is on the action and capturing enemies, the potential will likely tend to drop.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
WESTWORLD: AN AMUSEMENT PARK THAT REPRODUCES THE OLD WEST WITH A FUTURISTIC ATMOSPHERE AND A FEMALE LEADER. LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER: A FEARLESS HEROINE FACES A DANGEROUS ORGANIZATION SEARCHING FOR AN ARTIFACT THAT CAN SAVE OR DESTROY THE PLANET.
What’s New About the Story
It's not so common to see western stories these days, and this one brings a somewhat mystical, oneiric side linked to dreams and connections that makes the story more original.
Lead Characters
Iris is an interesting character. She is fearless, strong, confident of her own potential. For a western set in the 19th century, Iris stands out precisely for its feminist traits. She still keeps secrets and has internal conflicts that are revealed little by little. Garrett is a good romantic match for the story, as he doesn't deprive Iris of getting on with her risky task. He is also the reason for connected dreams to happen, opening up a new, more playful narrative layer. Rune is a good villain in a story full of villains. Despite being the direct antagonist of Iris, he is fascinated by her and hunts her everywhere. He is responsible for killing people who try to harm her. While he "protects" her, he is the person who causes her the most damage. It's an excellent contradiction for an antagonist.
Uniqueness of Story
Not a rare gem, but it has interesting elements that can draw attention.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Limited Run / Mini-Series, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
The western environment is intriguing, able to catch the attention of lovers of the genre and nostalgic fans. The female protagonist is a differential here. Female vigilante films such as "Ava" and "Peppermint" are not so successful with the public and critics and have become an unpopular subgenre. However, "Iris Before the Storm" has other elements that end up leaving the "justice" side in the background, thankfully. Iris presents herself as a different woman, at a time when the eccentric feminine was confused with witchcraft. Certainly, the author makes use of a poetic license since hardly a woman would actually be sent for such a task in the 1800s, let alone receive support from the men of a small town in the old West. But this lack of realism here is valid and gives a more modern tone to the story. The fantastic realism bases also bring a fresher air to the old western stories. The extraphysical contact through dreams makes the author achieve communication between characters who are not in the same place, at a time when there were no means of communication from a distance. It is accepted and effective "cheating" because of its creativity and the new fantasy layer added to the narrative. The villain is compelling because he has the controversy over himself. While he protects Iris from other antagonists, he is the source of the young woman's most significant conflicts and fears. He is fascinated by her and does sick things passionately. It's a good way to leave conflicts more internal, with deeper reasons and risks. Obviously, a refinement in character development, dialogue, structure, pacing, and plot would be needed. However, the book has good elements capable of making it stand out somehow.