************The REVIEWS are in on POLLING PLACE**************
“Concept - 5/5, Theme – 5/5, Overall - 4.5 out of 5; Overall I really love this script and think it’s very well done. You’ve done a fantastic job setting up a small-town political story that aptly reflects and represents the state of culture and politics in present-day America. I think a small-town mayoral race is such a smart way to make commentary about the chasms between the right and left; the depths of voter intimidation and suppression; and the political divide that has separated townsfolk and families.
Your writing is sharp, clear, and concise, and held my attention from the jump. The script comes on like gangbusters and never lets up. You have created a contained story with minimal characters that takes place over the course of one night, which is not an easy task. The story itself is tight, and most everything you set up is paid-off in a satisfying fashion...
The structure is nearly perfect, in my opinion... The story beats and plot points build and rise engagingly and suspensefully... The characters are clearly drawn, and the family tension is believable... Reading this script felt like getting lost in a good movie, and it sucked me in from page 1. Bravo... This is one of the tightest scripts I’ve read... Great job, and thanks for sharing!”
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“...the scenes themselves with this strange shadowy figure display a tasteful and sparing use of violence. When the violence is utilized, the script absolutely delivers, giving that fun slasher energy reminiscent of the classic slasher films of the 80s. The imagery itself is extremely visceral and disturbing, but displays the script attempting to show a more fun side of itself...”
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“So, this had a solid premise, and the way you structured the plot made it very easy to like the “hero” and very easy to hate the villains... your writing style is very good at building and releasing tension...”
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“Finally, a script that delves into one of the biggest problems we have these days, our politics. I have to say that I was waiting for something like this to come up, especially in the form of a thriller/horror flick, which gives it another layer of intrigue. Overall, I think this is a very good concept... I liked Walt and Debbie as they are sympathetic characters... I like the Dark Figure, and I like what appeared to be his backstory... The action sequences really draw you in without too much talk and gives an idea of how evil this person is... Overall, I like what you have. There are some real strong points especially with the thriller aspects of the script.”
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"In a small town torn apart by political tension and long-buried secrets, a family reunion becomes a deadly battleground. As Brett and Tracy navigate the treacherous waters of rural politics and family expectations, they must also confront a mysterious and violent figure threatening their lives...
Standout Features:
Unique Hook: The screenplay combines political intrigue with small-town tensions, offering a fresh take on the thriller genre.
Plot Twist : The true identity and motivations of the Dark Figure are gradually revealed, adding a layer of intrigue and suspense to the story.
Distinctive Setting: The small rural town of Summitville serves as a unique and atmospheric backdrop for the story, adding to the overall tension and suspense.
Marketability: The screenplay offers a suspenseful and thrilling storyline with a unique blend of political intrigue and small-town tensions. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, making it appealing to a wide audience.
The screenplay explores timely themes of political corruption and small-town tensions, which could resonate with audiences... The screenplay features a compelling and mysterious antagonist, whose true identity and motivations are gradually revealed. This could generate buzz and intrigue among audiences, making it a strong selling point.
Profit Potential: Moderate to high, due to its suspenseful and thrilling storyline, well-developed characters, and timely themes.
Overall, 'Polling Place' is a well-crafted screenplay that effectively combines elements of political drama, family dynamics, and the supernatural. With its strong characters, consistent themes, and engaging narrative, the screenplay is a compelling read... the screenplay shows great potential and has all the necessary elements to translate into a successful feature film...
This screenplay presents a highly engaging and suspenseful narrative with a unique blend of political drama and horror elements. The character development and interactions are generally strong, and the action sequences are well-executed...
The screenplay's concept is a unique blend of political drama and horror, with a compelling and relevant backdrop of a close and divided election. The family dynamics and personal conflicts add depth and complexity to the story, while the mysterious dark figure and supernatural elements create intrigue and suspense...
The plot of this screenplay is excellent, with a high overall rating of 9.2. The key strengths include excellent pacing, well-developed conflicts, effective use of twists, and strong build-up of suspense...
The characters in the screenplay are well-developed and have clear motivations and conflicts. Their actions and reactions are believable, adding depth to their portrayal... Overall, the screenplay's conflict dynamics are a strength, with consistently high conflict levels and multi-layered conflicts that drive the plot forward."
*****
BREFNI O'ROURKE is a New York based screenwriter and novelist. A former stand up comedian, he is the author of more than 50 original feature-length spec screenplays, primarily within the action, suspense-thriller, and horror genres. The "cinematic Brefniverse" includes:
"The Awning", a supernatural thriller, has been named a quarterfinalist in the 2023 WeScreenplay Feature contests. It was named a finalist in the 2022 Story Pros International Screenplay Contest and has been awarded a Coverfly badge of - Top 6% of discoverable projects. In March of 2023 it made the Red List as the # 8 ranked thriller screenplay. (The novel is now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD4ZKQDZ )
"Wake", a psychological thriller, was recognized as a semifinalist in the 2022 Creative World Awards. It was recognized as a quarterfinalist in the Final Draft/Big Break Contest (top 10% of entries) and the American Zoetrope contest. It has been awarded a Coverfly badge of being among the top 23% of discoverable projects.
"Descendancy" was recognized as a Quarterfinalist in The Script Lab - Free Screenplay Contest 2022 and has been awarded a Coverfly badge of - Top 20% of discoverable projects.
"Moving Day", a supernatural thriller, was recognized as a quarterfinalist in the 2015 Final Draft/Big Break Contest. It has been awarded a Coverfly badge of being among the top 34% of discoverable projects.
"Panopticon", an action-thriller, was selected as a "Notable Project" by Amazon Studios (one of only 50 projects recognized as such).
"God's Work", a supernatural action thriller was optioned by The Ferla Consulting Group.
"Threshold", a horror-thriller (Cowritten with Elizabeth Rowin and Greg DeRochie) was optioned by Contribution Films. (http://www.contributionfilms.com/threshold.html).
Read his novels on Amazon Kindle! https://www.amazon.com/author/brefniorourke
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