COVERAGE REPORT

TITLE: MEAT DATE: NOVEMBER 30th, 2023

AUTHOR: LOGAN MARTIN PAGES: 92 Pages

FORM: SCREENPLAY ANALYST: URI PONTE

CIRCA: 2016 - 2017 LOCATION: REMOTE RURAL HOMESTEAD

GENRE: PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA / THRILLER

LOG LINE:
A psychological drama set in a rural homestead, which follows a couple who
have chosen to live an isolated and self-suf icient lifestyle in the wilderness.
This story unfolds over the course of a year, depicting their psychological
unraveling and the surreal events that challenge their reality and relationship.

SYNOPSIS:
The movie opens with an animal moving through a lush forest, abruptly shot
to death. We transition to a cabin where Ben and Rein, a couple in their 30s,
live a self-suf icient lifestyle. They discuss their plans for the next day, hinting
at a self-suf icient lifestyle, with no electronics and a focus on chores and
tasks. Ben and Rein, along with their dog Cowboy, settle into their routine:
Ben fetches water and tends to their pigs, Bert and Ernie, while Rein works in
a large garden. Ben selects a ri le from an array and goes hunting in the woods
but fails to catch a deer. During Ben’s trip to town for groceries and supplies,
he meets Jerry, the store owner, who he has occasional contact with. At home,
Ben prepares a meal, and the couple shares a moment as Ben gifts her an
easel bearing the wolf paw insignia. Rein, in her art studio, struggles with self-
doubt, while Ben crafts woodworks with a distinct insignia. We see their
homestead life, with Ben chopping wood and Rein canning vegetables. When
painting outside, Rein is interrupted by a pregnant doe. As seasons change,
Ben encounters mysterious wildlife, including a deer-like igure on hind legs.
Conversations between Ben and Rein delve into wildlife and their past. Ben
inspects the food storage in their basement kill room. Both Ben and Rein
encounter deer near their homestead, leading to a tense moment when Rein
sees Ben hunting. Ben narrowly avoids a deer on a highway trip to town. Back
home, Rein decides to stop eating meat, causing a tense dinner conversation.
Ben's routine is disrupted by insomnia and restlessness, leading him to
mysterious deer tracks around their cabin. Ben works on a wood carving,
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 troubled, while Rein paints and encounters baby mice, leading to a disturbing
scene where Ben kills them, upsetting Rein. Ben's concern for Rein grows as
she behaves oddly, eating raw garlic and brushing her hair in a trance. The
next morning, Ben inds their pigs, Bert and Ernie, outside their pen, and
continues his woodworking, now crafting a cage-like structure. He
contemplates deer igurines and touches hanging deer carcasses thoughtfully.
As fall arrives, Ben hunts and butchers a doe, bringing its heart home. Rein's
discomfort at Ben eating the heart contrasts with her vegetarianism. Ben
observes an owl and undertakes maintenance tasks, underlining their self-
suf icient lifestyle. Rein's distant demeanor grows, deepening their
disconnect. Ben's swollen face from wasp stings leads to Rein taking over
chores, including a trip to town. Ben experiences a disturbing dream about a
mass shooting of deer and a menacing moose. Alone at the homestead, Ben's
unease grows. He discovers a protruding nail and inds the truck still at home,
worrying about Rein, this leads to Ben’s discovery of Rein's painting of
animals in formal attire. Will, a neighbor, brings Rein home, explaining a truck
issue. Ben and Rein's strained relationship is evident in their conversation
about visiting Will for dinner. Ben inds a disconnected cable in their truck,
suggesting sabotage or neglect. Their garden's disease causes a crisis,
jeopardizing their food supply. Rein accuses Ben of sabotage, which he denies.
At Will's house, Ben and Rein's past as a chief operations of icer and daycare
owner is revealed. Discussions about their lifestyle and dissatisfaction with
societal norms occur. Winter brings further strain, with Rein's weight loss
and distance from Ben. Ben's attempt to get Rein to eat meat leads to a violent
situation where he tries to force down her throat Discovering a maggot-
infested deer carcass leads to a decision to slaughter one of his pigs, Ernie, for
food. Back in the cabin, Ben’s announcement of slaughtering the pig is met
with silence from Rein. The next morning, Ben discovers that the pig pen is
empty. He follows Bert's tracks into the snowy woods noticing a perplexing
change from four hoofprints to two, leading to a tree but revealing nothing. At
the cabin, Ben sits in the kitchen, introspectively examining his long hair,
signaling a moment of self-re lection. He then cuts his hair and shaves his
beard, transforming his appearance into that of a new man, perhaps
symbolizing a desire for change or renewal. However, Rein's reaction to his
changed appearance is one of disapproval and distance. A heated argument
ensues. Rein accuses Ben of being a monster, referencing a disturbing incident
in the snow, leading Ben to realize that Rein knows more than he thought.
Ben's pleads for assurance that Rein to not leave without notice. Rein agrees
but remains distant. Ben later discovers her paintings of animals in human-
like situations.
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 In springtime, Ben discovers Rein's rusty glasses, hinting at her changed
habits. He later inds a worn-down clearing with ashes, suggesting Rein's
secret refuge or ritual in the forest. Back at the cabin, a tense conversation
unfolds between Ben and Rein. Ben's discovery of Rein's glasses and his
questioning about her secretive behavior lead to an emotional outburst from
Rein, culminating in her crying in Ben's arms. Ben later inds Rein's hidden
personal items, including a photo of a pregnant Rein. Ben later goes to town,
discovering that Jerry dies. On the drive back, Ben inds a toy Bentley in the
glove box, and encounters a deer and stares in its eyes. At home, Ben's grief
over Jerry's death is acknowledged by Rein. In the woods and hills, Ben tracks
and inds deer, but his hunt is abruptly interrupted by distant gun ire and dirt
bursting near him, sending him into a panic. As dusk falls, Ben cautiously
returns home, observing Rein in the garden. Rein is startled by Ben’s sudden
appearance, and Ben’s careful observation of her while cooking steak
indicates suspicion and unease. The tension escalates at dinner when Ben
questions Rein about her unusual behavior, such as cooking steak and setting
an extra chair at the table. Rein's explanation that Bert, their pig, returned to
make dinner and forgive Ben for slaughtering Ernie adds a surreal and
unsettling element to the scene. Her claim that Bert and other animals have
changed since leaving is met with disbelief and confusion from Ben. As Ben
descends into the basement, he discovers the bodies of Will and Hannah
gruesomely displayed in the hanging room, sparking horror and panic. Rein,
oblivious to the horror below, senses something is wrong. Ben's discovery
prompts a frantic response as he begins closing all the curtains, insisting they
need to lee for their safety. Rein, still in her delusion, believes Bert, the pig,
just wants to reconcile with Ben. In the of ice, Ben uncovers a hidden
compartment in the gun case, revealing stacks of money, a handgun, and a
dismantled cell phone. Ben's attempt to use the phone is fruitless, and his
planning becomes increasingly frantic and incoherent. Despite Ben's urgency,
Rein remains detached, lost in her delusions about Bert, the pig. Ben packs
hastily, but Rein, engrossed in her imaginary world, doesn't follow. Instead,
she leaves the cabin and runs towards the woods. Ben, in a panic, pursues
Rein into the dark, dense forest. He comes upon Rein siting around a ire with
forest animals, including Cowboy and Bert, anthropomorphized and engaging
in conversation. Ben, armed and on edge, snaps a twig, drawing the attention
of the gathered creatures. As he loads his gun, the animals' gaze turns towards
him. It ends with Ben looking up, meeting the viewer's gaze, and cutting to
black.

COMMENTS:
The screenplay presents a diverse array of elements, blending character-
driven drama with supernatural themes. The characters of Ben and Rein are
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 particularly compelling, and their relationship adds a strong dramatic core to
the narrative. However, the integration of supernatural aspects, particularly
the animal-related plot points, seems less cohesive and occasionally detracts
from the main story arc.The script exhibits pacing issues that impact the
narrative low. The story tends to linger excessively on certain plot points,
which slows the momentum. Conversely, the conclusion feels hurried, leading
to a sense of confusion regarding the resolution. A more balanced pacing
would enhance the overall clarity and impact of the story. The current ending
of the screenplay leaves several key plot elements unresolved, particularly
regarding the characters Will and Hannah. A more de initive and clearer
conclusion could potentially elevate my assessment from 'Consider' to
'Recommend.' This would involve a signi icant reworking of the inal act to
ensure a satisfying and coherent resolution. The dialogue is, for the most part,
effective and engaging, contributing positively to character development and
story progression. However, there are notable instances where scenes appear
disjointed or extraneous to the main narrative. For example, multiple scenes
focusing on Ben's hunting activities seem to lack relevance to the overarching
plot. Streamlining these scenes or more explicitly connecting them to the
central story would increase the script's overall cohesion.

Excellent Good Fair Poor

Concept X
Characters X
Story X
Con lict / Stakes X
Dialogue X
Structure X
Pacing X
Originality X
Commercial Appeal X
Writing X

RECOMMEND CONSIDER PASS

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