The Luciferian Candidate

Stephen Martin steve@hawleymartin.com 978363482171

ACTION ADVENTURE APOCALYPTIC CRIME DRAMA EROTICA FANTASY MYSTERY POLITICAL SCI-FI SUSPENSE/THRILLER ROMANCE

Future

Stephen Hawley Martin

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Logline

Former lovers, now presidential campaign operatives on opposite sides of the political and ideological aisle, must work together in an effort to thwart an evil enemy that is on track to take over and rule the United States and ultimately the world.

Genre

Action,Adventure,Apocalyptic,Crime,Drama,Erotica,Fantasy,Mystery,Political,Sci-fi,Suspense/Thriller,Romance

Short Summary

We see a brutal murder committed and learn that the victim is the campaign manager for the progressive candidate. By chance, former lovers on opposite sides of the political aisle come together at the location where the body was discovered. She is beautiful. He is a handsome womanizer. Sparks fly.


The demon is exorcised from the possessed candidate and her opponent wins. It appears all is well until the winning candidate gives her acceptance speech. It becomes clear the demon has now possessed her, creating a dark moment. As the story ends, the hero makes arrangements for another exorcism.

Setting

Washington, D.C., France, and Monaco

Based on a True Story

No

Plot - Premise

Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Quest,Voyage and Return

Plot - Other Elements

Philosophical Questions

Mature Audience Themes

Extreme Violence

Main Character Details

Name: Matt Warner

Age: 32

Gender: Male

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Engaging,Heroic,Heartthrob,Leader,Masculine,Sexy,Patriotic,Visionary,Seductive,Sophisticated

Additional Character Details

Name: Millicent Bardoe

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Adventurous,Charming,Complex,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Educated,Honorable,Modest,Sexy,Romantic,Sophisticated,Naive

Additional Character Details

Name: Anwar Hassassad

Age: 58

Gender: Male

Role: protagonist

Key Traits: Badass,Aggressive,Confident,Criminal,Decisive,Greedy,Leader,Masculine,Villainous,Narcisstic,Power Hungry,Sarcastic,Unapologetic

Additional Character Details

Name: Aline de Comeau

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Role: sidekick

Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Sexy,Selfless,Visionary,Sarcastic,Sophisticated,Strong Moral Code

Development Pitch

I have written a script based on my recent novel that I believe can stand alone as a film, be the first of a trilogy, or it could be a pilot for a TV series. Although I have written a couple of award-winning novels, I am not a veteran screenwriter, and so I hope my formatting of the screenplay meets expectations. Please go easy on any errors in that regard. Thank you.

About The Author

Hook: “The Manchurian Candidate” meets “The Exorcist” & ”Rosemary’s Baby” Log line: Former lovers, now presidential campaign operatives on opposite sides of the political and ideological aisle, must work together in an effort to thwart an evil enemy that is on track to take over and rule the United States and ultimately, the world. Overview: A presidential campaign is heating up, and the polls say it’s too close to call, when former lovers now on opposite sides of the political aisle are thrown together. She is beautiful, compassionate, and Liberal—a strategist for the progressive candidate for President of the United States. He is the campaign manager for the opposition candidate—handsome, conservative, and she would say, hard-nosed and hard-hearted—with a reputation as a womanizer. Sparks fly when they come in contact. Too bad they are on opposing sides—until, that is, she realizes something sinister is going on. Her candidate—whom she has placed all her faith in—is exhibiting bizarre behavior. Is her candidate being blackmailed? He has access to intelligence she does not. Will he help her uncover what’s going on? As events unfold, they come to realize that they have no choice, they must cooperate—work together—for if they fail, a new dark age will engulf the entire world. And time is running out. As Election Day draws near, they realize their adversary is no mortal human being. Can they stop him? Will they be able to save the planet? This screenplay is based on the newly-released novel, also by the author, THE LUCIFERIAN CANDIDATE: A Paranormal Thriller. About the Author: As the talk show host of a popular weekly internet podcast, “The Truth About Life,” it became clear to bestselling author Stephen Hawley Martin as he interviewed dozens of near death survivors, psychics, researchers into the paranormal, as well as quantum physicists and medical doctors, that humankind is on the cusp of a transition to a new understanding of the true nature of reality. To share what he has learned and to help speed the transition, which he believes will result in a rebirth of optimism and the world becoming a better place to live and work, he has written more than two dozen books, many of which have achieved bestseller status on Amazon. Martin is a former principal of the world renowned ad firm that created the GEICO Gecko and “Virginia Is For Lovers,” The Martin Agency, and is currently the editor and publisher of The Oaklea Press Inc. He is the only three-time winner of the Writer's Digest Book Award, having won first prize twice for fiction and once for nonfiction, and he has also won First Prize for Visionary Fiction from Independent Publisher and First Prize for Nonfiction from USA Book News.

Target Audiences

Age: 18-34,35-54,55+

Target Gender: Universal

Publishing Details

Hard Copy Available

No

WGA Number

Information not completed

Genre

ACTION, SUSPENSE, THRILLER, DRAMA, POLITICS

Brief

A presidential race is at the top of the headlines while a nefarious organization rises to interfere. One of the candidates campaign managers is murdered and now the hunt is on to who is behind it. Matt and Milly get caught up in scheme as they try to stop the bad guys. They believe they have stopped the head of organization but when the new president is elected, it seems that they haven't won the war.

Overall Rating

FAIR

Point of View

SCRIPT

Narrative Elements

Authors Writing Style: GOOD

Characterization: FAIR

Commerciality: FAIR

Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT

Pace: GOOD

Premise: GOOD

Structure: GOOD

Theme: GOOD

Accuracy of Book Profile

Yes, the script profile accurately reflects the script.

Draw of Story

The opening scene is of the campaign manager being murdered and his head severed. The hook is not clear from the start but is uncovered slowly as the story progresses. It is a thriller so it should not be clear from the start.

Possible Drawbacks

The story has some plot holes and would benefit from being longer. It also takes an unusual turn when antagonist is revealed to be the Devil and the presidential is being possessed by a demon. The female character, Milly, is sold into sex slavery and raped during the story. It is hardly addressed and is unrealistic that she would be rescued by Matt after such a horrible situation and almost immediately have sex with him before she is recaptured. Rape should not be taken lightly.

Use of Special Effects

THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS

Primary Hook of Story

The hook is that the presidential candidate seems to be controlled by an outside organization that Milly and Matt try to uncover before the election. This story parallels some current events with interesting twist.

Fanbase Potential

This could have a large fan base because it does tie in recent political events. The turn off for many audiences would be the demon possession and the Devil being the antagonist.

Awards Potential

This would not have awards potential. It follows the same formula as many political suspense dramas. There are many unrealistic moments that the audience would be unimpressed with. It needs something fresher to draw the audience and be different from any other story.

Envisioned Budget

MEDIUM BUDGET

Similar Films/TV Series

JACK RYAN, WHITE HOUSE DOWN

What’s New About the Story

The story is unique with its supernatural elements. The organization that the main characters are trying to uncover is headed by the Devil and he has possessed the presidential candidate with one of his demons. It could be more unique if the female characters was able to contribute to the plot other than being a sex slave and rape victim. Especially since Matt doesn't start off with having any skill set that enables him to do half of what he does in the story.

Lead Characters

The lead characters do not stand out. Matt is a typical white male who ends up saving the day with the help of his female side kick, Milly. Milly is prey to what happens to many female characters in action films where they are a vehicle for the hero to rescue.

Uniqueness of Story

This is an average political thriller that has some unique elements. However, the unique elements might be too unrealistic to be believable.

Possible Formats

Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, Film - Studio

Analyst Recommendation

WORK IN PROGRESS

Justification

This story has a good basis but falls victim to many outdated troupes. The male hero, the female that he needs to be rescued, a bad guy are all overly done troupes.

Tips for Improvement

There needs to be a fresh take on this. The main hero could be female, the person rescued could be male and the bad guy could be the Devil but with more mystery and not the standard idea of what the devil is.

Logline

Former lovers, now presidential campaign operatives on opposite sides of the political and ideological aisle, must work together in an effort to thwart an evil enemy that is on track to take over and rule the United States and ultimately the world.

Short Summary

We see a brutal murder committed and learn that the victim is the campaign manager for the progressive candidate. By chance, former lovers on opposite sides of the political aisle come together at the location where the body was discovered. She is beautiful. He is a handsome womanizer. Sparks fly.


The demon is exorcised from the possessed candidate and her opponent wins. It appears all is well until the winning candidate gives her acceptance speech. It becomes clear the demon has now possessed her, creating a dark moment. As the story ends, the hero makes arrangements for another exorcism.

FEEDBACK

I have written a script based on my recent novel that I believe can stand alone as a film, be the first of a trilogy, or it could be a pilot for a TV series. Although I have written a couple of award-winning novels, I am not a veteran screenwriter, and so I hope my formatting of the screenplay meets expectations. Please go easy on any errors in that regard. Thank you.

About The Author

Hook: “The Manchurian Candidate” meets “The Exorcist” & ”Rosemary’s Baby” Log line: Former lovers, now presidential campaign operatives on opposite sides of the political and ideological aisle, must work together in an effort to thwart an evil enemy that is on track to take over and rule the United States and ultimately, the world. Overview: A presidential campaign is heating up, and the polls say it’s too close to call, when former lovers now on opposite sides of the political aisle are thrown together. She is beautiful, compassionate, and Liberal—a strategist for the progressive candidate for President of the United States. He is the campaign manager for the opposition candidate—handsome, conservative, and she would say, hard-nosed and hard-hearted—with a reputation as a womanizer. Sparks fly when they come in contact. Too bad they are on opposing sides—until, that is, she realizes something sinister is going on. Her candidate—whom she has placed all her faith in—is exhibiting bizarre behavior. Is her candidate being blackmailed? He has access to intelligence she does not. Will he help her uncover what’s going on? As events unfold, they come to realize that they have no choice, they must cooperate—work together—for if they fail, a new dark age will engulf the entire world. And time is running out. As Election Day draws near, they realize their adversary is no mortal human being. Can they stop him? Will they be able to save the planet? This screenplay is based on the newly-released novel, also by the author, THE LUCIFERIAN CANDIDATE: A Paranormal Thriller. About the Author: As the talk show host of a popular weekly internet podcast, “The Truth About Life,” it became clear to bestselling author Stephen Hawley Martin as he interviewed dozens of near death survivors, psychics, researchers into the paranormal, as well as quantum physicists and medical doctors, that humankind is on the cusp of a transition to a new understanding of the true nature of reality. To share what he has learned and to help speed the transition, which he believes will result in a rebirth of optimism and the world becoming a better place to live and work, he has written more than two dozen books, many of which have achieved bestseller status on Amazon. Martin is a former principal of the world renowned ad firm that created the GEICO Gecko and “Virginia Is For Lovers,” The Martin Agency, and is currently the editor and publisher of The Oaklea Press Inc. He is the only three-time winner of the Writer's Digest Book Award, having won first prize twice for fiction and once for nonfiction, and he has also won First Prize for Visionary Fiction from Independent Publisher and First Prize for Nonfiction from USA Book News.

Mature Audience Themes

Extreme Violence

Characters

Main Character

Name: Matt Warner

Age: 32

Gender: Male

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Engaging,Heroic,Heartthrob,Leader,Masculine,Sexy,Patriotic,Visionary,Seductive,Sophisticated

Character 1

Name: Millicent Bardoe

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Adventurous,Charming,Complex,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Educated,Honorable,Modest,Sexy,Romantic,Sophisticated,Naive

Character 2

Name: Anwar Hassassad

Age: 58

Gender: Male

Role: protagonist

Key Traits: Badass,Aggressive,Confident,Criminal,Decisive,Greedy,Leader,Masculine,Villainous,Narcisstic,Power Hungry,Sarcastic,Unapologetic

Character 3

Name: Aline de Comeau

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Role: sidekick

Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Sexy,Selfless,Visionary,Sarcastic,Sophisticated,Strong Moral Code