Our Past Has Eyes
A young African American woman’s cry for help awakens the spirits
of ancient slaves who have grown tired of waiting 400 years for justice.

Socially relevant horror has always struck a creepy chord.

No matter one’s visual acuity, once you slash through the exposed organs of what makes a good story great, it’s not difficult to see why. Because while jump scares and gross outs will always have their place, narratives which also hit the raw nerve of universal human truths are what make a merely spooky tale... much, much more.

And there’s never been a better time for such horror than now. Jordan Peele’s Get Out racked up not only scares, but an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Korea’s Squid Game literally translates the horrors of capitalism to body counts.

And with Our Past Has Eyes, writer Gina Screen metaphorically brings to light ugly truths that the fog of history attempts to hide.

A maestro of weaving words along with horror beats, Screen bonds us adeptly to protagonist Angela Banks as she’s driving down a desolate North Carolina country road at night, towards a new career and life:

ANGELA BANKS, mid-30s, African American, sings along with the radio. Dreads, framing a pretty face, swing to the beat. The song ends on a high note. So does she.

The seat next to her is empty, except for a folder marked, Delta Airlines — Office of the General Counsel — New Employee Orientation.

But that upbeat tune doesn’t last long.

Seconds after the radio announces a “series of recent attacks” where victims were “hacked to death”….

One flat tire and a drained cell phone force Angela to abandon her vehicle and taking a walking detour – towards a run down gas station on the edge of town.

Though she miraculously makes it to the station without running into any machete wielding maniacs, Angela’s about to find out the real horrors of Gatling lie inside.

Horrors embodied by several Southern "gentlemen", ruff n’ ready folk who clearly have chips on their beefy shoulders. After a bit of Angela’s cajoling (countered by their sneers) they agree to let her use the landline in the back of the store. But….

Angela reaches for the phone, lifting the handle.

COUNTER MAN (O.C.)
Why you leavin' so soon?

Angela focuses on dialing. She hears laughter behind her. She turns around. The men laugh and point toward the wall behind her.

They’ve unplugged the damn line. The owner taunts her, holding the cord up for her to see.

She closes her eyes and leans her head against the wall. The receiver in her hand begins to shake.

ANGELA
(under her breath)
Fuck.

… She knows what's about to happen.

Or does she?

Because on the outskirts of Gatling, the fog’s closing in. But depending on who’s predator and who’s pray – perhaps it’s a blessing few can hear you scream.

A supernatural page turner, Our Past Has Eyes turns the tables of these good ole’ boys in visually rich and blood splattering ways.

On this Hallow’s Eve, make sure to “treat” yourself to a read, and grab this gem for production. Because nothing can scare audiences as profoundly – and leave as  lasting a chill - as tapping the vein of history’s atrocities themselves!