The Move
Feature Screenplay, 91 pages
Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Posted by ANDREW MCGIVERN
Written by Andrew McGivern
| Score: 63.69 |
| 3 Reviews |
| Score: 63.69 3 Reviews |
A down-on-his-luck Gen-Z'er finally moves out of his parent’s basement to make a fresh start, but his coming-of-age plan is cut short when his new roomie turns out to be a psychopath who tapes him to a chair and makes him watch as she uses social media to lure his friends and family into a blood-spattered visitation.
Character DrivenComing of AgeHigh ConceptPsychologicalThrillerViolenceTime Period: PresentStory Location: USATarget Audience: Young Adult
The Move is a modern, technology-driven horror story that harks back to films like Misery & Hostile with a brutal, gory style all its own.
Synopsis:
Having recently completed graduate school, JOSH (nerdy everyman, 20s) takes the plunge to move out of his parents’ house. After [ex]girlfriend GISELLE (20s) dumps him for not being “aggressive” enough, Josh is looking forward to this fresh start in a new state as he texts with roommate-to-be, CHLOE (20s), whom he discovered online.
Josh’s parents (NANCY and EDDIE) hold a fare-thee-well for Josh where we meet his niece (MINDY, 9) and nephew (KAL, 10). The bulk of the family regard Josh as the black sheep; it’s easy to see why he’s grown up timid and introverted.
Roadtripping to his new townhome, Josh feels free for the first time in his life. Things get better still when he meets Chloe in person, who appears a perfect yin to his yang. The next morning, Josh aces a job interview, then celebrates afterward with Chloe. But his newfound happiness is cut short by the arrival of Chloe’s intimidating boyfriend GLENN (30).
Chloe mixes drinks while Glenn recalls how he, a struggling artist, first met Chloe. Josh feels dizzy and collapses. Chloe reveals a bottle of crushed sleeping pills as she and Glenn passionately embrace and slow dance around Josh’s limp body.
Josh awakes duct-taped to a chair. Turns out, Chloe and Glenn are psychopaths who lure, rob, and brutally murder unsuspecting victims while Glenn uses their blood and guts to paint wall murals inspired by his hero Jackson Pollack. They accomplish their dastardly deeds by accessing victims’ social media and financial apps on their smart phones using Face-ID and fingerprint-scans to bypass passwords.
Using Josh’s phone, Chloe invites his friend RYAN (20s) over with an alluring photo. Glenn dismembers Ryan in front of Josh and creates “art” with his entrails.
Chloe discovers Giselle’s break-up video on Josh’s phone and is infuriated how she broke his heart via video. Glenn texts Giselle, pretending to be Josh, insisting she must come visit. Giselle doesn’t respond.
A housewarming basket arrives from Josh’s parents with a note saying they can't wait to visit. With that, Chloe and Glenn now have two more victims for Josh to watch die! Nancy responds to the text invite from Josh’s phone - she and Eddie will arrive the next day!
Josh is hidden behind closed doors when his parents arrive. To Chloe’s dismay, they brought Mindy and Kal. Chloe locks the children in the basement while Glenn gives Nancy and Ed a tour, culminating in the reveal of Josh, beaten and bloody. Eddie has a heart attack. Nancy frantically runs between her son and now-dead husband. Chloe enters, grinning. Nancy attacks! She and Chloe struggle but Glenn pulls a knife and slices Nancy open.
Josh pleads for death. They refuse, celebrating with a vodka bottle and cocaine, then walk across the street for Chinese take-out.
Kal and Mindy escape from the basement and find Josh. They try to free him but hear Chloe and Glenn return. Josh sees Chloe’s bottle of sleeping pills on the floor and instructs them to pour it into the Vodka bottle. They do, then hide in the closet as Chloe and Glenn reenter. Glenn grabs the vodka and drinks it down.
The doorbell rings-- it’s Giselle! Chloe and Glenn are caught off guard, drunk and high, but formulate a plan. Chloe will lead Giselle into the room, Glenn will kill her.
But Giselle refuses to follow Chloe and demands she tell Josh to come out to see her.
Glenn can barely stand after the sleeping pills have taken effect. He falls, smashing his face, knocking out teeth. Mindy and Kal emerge and use Glenn’s knife to free Josh!
Chloe returns, jumps Josh. Giselle enters, jumps Chloe. Glenn manages to stand then falls onto his own knife. Chloe screams as Glenn dies. The knife slides over to Nancy’s motionless body. She isn’t dead yet and plunges the knife into Chloe’s foot!! Chloe goes berserk, choking Giselle. Josh lifts the knife to Giselle who stabs Chloe.
Chloe crawls into Glenn’s lifeless arms and dies. The kids go for help. Giselle and Josh lie together; battered and bloody. Giselle smiles, noting how aggressive Josh has become.
