Relentless

“Relentless” is a crime / drama / mystery that blends many of the classic noir aspects of yesterday with the twists of aHitchcock movie and the fast pace of a modern day film. (there’s a conflict in every scene and a twist in many of them.)

It explores a broken man with so little hope and respect for himself that he’s willing to take a daily beatings in order to get his dose of gambling and, in his mind, pay for his past mistakes. It also is about his road to redemption. About getting a second chance and following through rather than accepting what seems to be the solution.

Cosmo Bertucci is an alcoholic, gambling addicted ex-cop who’s fall happens when his partner was killed while investigating J.R. Baumann, a mysterious powerbroker in the city of Philadelphia, for the murder of his second wife. He knows that it was his obsession to nab this man that caused his partner's death. When the case is closed by “people upstairs” and with no hope of catching Baumann, a lost and emotionally Cosmo leaves the force.

All is changed when he awakens from a drunken sleep to the beautiful and wealthy Abigail Wentworth. Her parents have been killed and she wants Cosmo, now a small-time private investigator, to find the killers. She doesn’t tell him though that she is married to Baumann.
This is leads to the many twists, turns and surprises in an effort to find the killer. Everything seems real, but nothing seems real. And, Cosmo only sees things with his “Baumann blinders” on, insisting this is another one of J.R.'s crimes.

The last thirty minutes are filled with a rollercoaster of distortions, surprises and revelations. (including a "voice" from the grave that puts Cosmo on the right path. )

In the end, though, “Relentless” is a story about one man’s redemption.

All of the three main character's have huge, deep and compelling character arcs that will attract many actors. (the two antagonists - yes two - are including here. Baumann is an exaggerated figure of a overconfident, evil genius. Abigail Wentworth is written in the classic 'Femme Fatale" role, complete with using her brain and her sexuality to control men and the situation.)