Synopsis/Details
In the vein of CARRIE and SE7EN
After losing her parents at the age of five, LUANNE REAGAN is raised by her nightmare spinster aunt, MAUREEN. She forces Luanne to perform a corny children’s song (“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) for the middle school talent show in hopes of winning the $1000 cash prize. Of course, everyone laughs at Luanne and she never lives down the embarrassing incident throughout her school career. She is especially tormented by the lead mean girl, NICOLE JENSEN.
Right after graduating from high school, Luanne smothers her aunt Maureen in her bed. She eventually forgets all about Nicole Jensen until one day when she hears that cursed children song. All the old feelings of humiliation and inadequacy flood back and sets her heart on seeking revenge. She goes on a mission to find, kidnap and murder Nicole Jensen. She cuts off Nicole’s head, shoulders, knees and toes and sends them around town to her friends.
DETECTIVE URSULA MACINTOSH heads up the case and struggles not only to crack the mystery but also deal with her own loneliness and memories of being ostracized in school for being biracial.
One night, Luanne finds herself lost in an unfamiliar ghetto and is carjacked; this is what solves the case. The remainder of Nicole’s body is in the back of Luanne’s taxidermy van and it’s traced straight back to her. If the carjacking never happened, Luanne may have gotten away with it!
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WGA # 1824605
All Accolades & Coverage
Blcklst evaluation:
"The script covers a few large social issues (bullying; systemic discrimination; racism) which should be able to spark interest in the film. The opening scene acts as an effective gun-under-the-table; the film uses the unknown circumstances that created the first scene to create momentum in the story. LUANNE’S (protagonist) treatment at the hands of her aunt (and legal guardian) MAUREEN effectively builds sympathy for Luanne and creates excellent conflict. Her humiliation in front of her peers on pages 22-23 is uncomfortable (in the way a must-see train wreck is) and heart-wrenching; from that point the audience is firmly on Luanne’s side or at least understands her motivation. Luanne’s transformation from unpopular teenager to psychopathic killer is a solid arc. The details of Luanne’s character (i.e. the inhumane mask, the harpsicord music) add to the terror in the film. Page 57 has a decent twist that adds complexity to the story. Luanne stalking GINA and EMMA adds some tension to the script."
"The script has some off beat elements (taxidermy, unconventional music, etc.) which could be a breath of fresh air into the genre and might help attract a broader audience. From a casting perspective the script has several strong female characters. Detective Macintosh and Luanne are both attractive roles for female talent; additionally placing two women at the center of the script is a nice change of pace from the usually male dominated thriller genre. The film could be made on a low budget which makes it a possibility for any producer."
