Always Vietnam

"Die Today, Fight Tomorrow."

Synopsis
Mikie "Mike" Williams (28), a haunted survivor of Vietnam’s brutal riverboat missions, has 33 days until his tour ends. Once the sole survivor of 10 missions where his men perished, he’s fled the rivers for the war’s deadliest job: tunnel rat. In 1967’s dense jungles, on his first mission crawling into a Viet Cong tunnel, Mikie’s world unravels. A mysterious shaman flings glowing powder in his face, and he wakes up in his barracks on June 12, 1967—trapped in a Groundhog Day-style time loop.

Each day resets with “Paint It Black” blaring, and every mission ends in death—mines, ambushes, or the shaman’s curse. Mikie’s warnings about an ambushed Marine patrol are ignored, and his squad—gruff Sgt. Kowalski, devout Pvt. Rodriguez, and cynical Cpl. Jenkins—doubts his sanity, calling him “Ghost.” As the loops pile up, Mikie’s guilt over his lost riverboat crew surfaces in haunting visions. The shaman’s cryptic words, “Face your death,” push him to learn the jungle’s traps, save the Marines, and confront his past.

With Rodriguez as his ally, Mikie hones his skills, turning the loop into a weapon. But the shaman’s power grows, stalking him with shadows and hallucinations. In a heart-pounding climax, Mikie faces the shaman in a collapsing tunnel, confessing his guilt to break the curse. Emerging to a new day, he saves his squad and finds redemption, volunteering for one last mission—not to run, but to protect. Always Vietnam is a gritty, surreal war epic that blends Platoon’s intensity, Groundhog Day’s ingenuity, and Apocalypse Now’s mysticism, delivering a fresh take on Vietnam’s psychological toll.

Show Notes to Sell Always Vietnam
• Unique Hook: A Vietnam Groundhog Day
• The time loop, a proven crowd-pleaser from Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow, gets a gritty, grounded twist in the Vietnam War’s chaos. Mikie’s relentless day of death and reset offers high-stakes action and emotional depth, appealing to fans of war films and sci-fi thrillers.
• The shaman’s curse adds a mystical layer, blending Vietnamese spirituality with psychological horror, setting it apart from traditional war dramas.
• Broad Audience Appeal
• War Fans: Authentic 1967 Vietnam setting, with visceral jungle combat and tunnel rat sequences, rivals Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.
• Sci-Fi/Thriller Fans: The loop mechanic delivers suspense and ingenuity, like Edge of Tomorrow’s tactical replays, as Mikie masters the battlefield.
• Drama Lovers: Mikie’s arc—guilt to redemption—offers a universal emotional core, with his confession scene primed for awards buzz.
• Diverse Casting: A multi-ethnic squad reflects the era’s military, broadening representation and relatability.
• Cinematic Potential
• Visuals: Claustrophobic tunnels lit by flickering flares, lush yet deadly jungles, and surreal loop cues (a cracked watch, recurring bird calls) create a vivid, immersive world. The shaman’s glowing chamber is a standout set piece.
• Action: Intense, practical-effects-driven sequences—tunnel collapses, mine explosions, ambushes—deliver adrenaline without over-relying on CGI.
• Soundtrack: Iconic 1960s tracks (“Paint It Black,” “Fortunate Son”) paired with a haunting score of tribal drums and warped radio static evoke both era and unease.
• Awards and Festival Potential
• Mikie’s psychological journey, anchored by a raw lead performance (think Andrew Garfield or Adam Driver), screams Best Actor contention. Supporting roles, especially Rodriguez’s quiet faith, offer breakout opportunities.
• Themes of guilt, redemption, and war’s trauma resonate with festival audiences (Sundance, TIFF) and Oscar voters, akin to The Hurt Locker.
• The shaman’s mysticism, rooted in Vietnamese culture, adds a fresh lens, inviting critical praise for authenticity and innovation.
• Marketability
• Tagline: “Every Day He Dies. Every Day He Fights to Live.”
• Trailer: Opens with Mikie crawling through a tunnel, heart pounding, then cuts to resets—explosions, gunfire, the shaman’s eerie chant. Voiceover: “One day. One war. No escape.” Ends with Mikie’s defiant stand: “I’m breaking this curse.”
• Poster: Mikie emerging from a tunnel, half his face in shadow, with jungle flames behind him and the tagline bold.
• Cross-promotion with Vietnam War anniversaries or military history platforms boosts relevance. Streaming potential on Netflix or Amazon is high, given the war/sci-fi blend.
• Budget and ROI
• Estimated Budget: $40-60M, leveraging practical sets (jungles, tunnels) and minimal CGI. Filming in cost-effective locations (e.g., Thailand, Australia) keeps costs down.
• Revenue Streams: Theatrical release for war and sci-fi fans, followed by streaming dominance. Merch (soundtrack, tie-in novels) and international markets (especially Asia, with Vietnam’s cultural nod) maximize returns. Comparable films (The Hurt Locker, $49M worldwide on $15M; Edge of Tomorrow, $370M on $178M) show strong profit potential.
• Creative Team Fit
• Director: Seek a visionary like Oliver Stone (Platoon) or Denis Villeneuve (Dune) to balance war’s grit with surreal loops.
• Writer: A scribe with war or sci-fi cred (e.g., Eric Heisserer of Arrival) to nail the loop’s emotional and tactical beats.
• Producers: Partner with A24 or Blumhouse for bold, mid-budget success, ensuring creative freedom and festival buzz.
Always Vietnam is a high-concept war epic that marries the visceral stakes of Vietnam with the addictive replay of a time loop, delivering action, heart, and a fresh spin on a storied genre. It’s the war film audiences didn’t know they needed—ready to dominate theaters, streaming, and awards.