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Scene Map 42
# PG SLUGLINE
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Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT * JUNE (30s), pale and exhausted, slips into the master bedroom * with her daughter EMMA (6). Fear grips their faces as they frantically search for a hiding spot. PAUL (30s), June's husband, lies motionless on the floor, an
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INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS * Emma stumbles into the hallway, freezing at the sight of the * PREACHER MAN silhouetted in the moonlight from the ROSE WINDOW. His 17th-century Saturno hat and wooden cane, adorned with a red ribbon, stand out against the night. Around his
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EXT. COLONIAL HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER * A terrified Sarah races down the driveway, clutching the * locket in her hand. At the boundary near the main road, she stops, looking back at the house. Desperate, she tries to open the locket.
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EXT. COLONIAL HOUSE - DAY * Sarah, now in her thirties steps out of the car first. The * journey of motherhood has left gentle marks on her, including * a small scar on her forehead, but her eyes reveal a mix of * anticipation and uncertainty for this new chapter. *
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE. FOYER - CONTINUOUS * The oak door stands open, May is instantly captivated - an * open plan layout, with the living room, dining room, and * kitchen divided by ornate stone arches. A hand-carved * staircase runs up one side with the basement door just *
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INT. UPSTAIRS. HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER * MAY carries her box of toys down the dim, elongated hallway. * The closed doors on either side seem to whisper, intensifying her unease. At the far end, the rose window casts eerie patterns on the floor. Stairs to the attic loom beside it.
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE. FOYER - LATER * The foyer is cluttered with boxes. Exhausted and on edge, * Sarah picks up a box labeled LIVING ROOM. * INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS * As Sarah crosses the archway, a putrid smell assaults her *
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INT. ROSE WINDOW - FLASHBACK * The rose window silhouettes the Preacher Man and his burning * yellow eyes. * END OF FLASHBACK. * Ryan rushes over to help. *
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INT. BASEMENT - SAME * Ryan twists the lightbulb and it stops flickering. The * basement has a sinister energy and not somewhere you would * like to be alone. * Yellow Rev. (09/02/24) 23.
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INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Sarah tries to ruse Ryan from his sleep, wringing her hands as she paces. SARAH May is sleepwalking again. *
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INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS * Ryan moves towards the stairs but stops dead when he hears * Jason. * JASON (O.S.) * Dad...I have something to show *
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INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah enters the bedroom but no Ryan. * Ryan’s side of the bed is damp with sweat. On the pillow, a * few long grey hairs. Sarah picks one up and is hit by a * memory. *
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INT. BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah runs a cold shower, shocking Ryan awake. * RYAN * That’s freezing. * Yellow Rev. (09/02/24) 37.
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INT. HALLWAY/MASTER BEDROOM - SAME * Sarah is helping Ryan to the bedroom when Jason hurries past. * SARAH * You okay? * No response as he slams his bedroom door. *
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INT. HALLWAY/JASON’S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah knocks on the door. * SARAH * Jas, is everything okay? * JASON (O.S.) *
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EXT. COLONIAL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS * Confused, she steps out, looking around. May plays near-by. * SARAH * May, did you want something? * Without stopping from playing... *
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INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Jason bursts into the bedroom, fear still etched on his face. * Ryan sits by the window, staring blankly outside. Jason notices sweat beading on Ryan’s brow and the strange discoloration creeping up his neck.
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INT. JASON'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Jason rushes to his bed, eyes fixed nervously on the closet. * He hurriedly stacks boxes and a chair in front of the door, then wraps a belt around the knobs. Climbing back into bed, he stares anxiously at the closet.
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INT. HALLWAY - FLASHBACK * Sarah opens the door to a vision of her younger self, her * mother June, and sister Emma, rushing down the hallway in panic. June and Emma don’t notice her, but young Sarah locks eyes with her older self, grinning. *
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INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT * A mystified Sarah wakes on hallway floor with a dead-eyed May * watching from the bedroom door. She turns and heads back into * bed. * INT. MAY’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS *
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INT. STUDY - NIGHT * The laptop’s glow lights up Sarah’s focused face as she * types. Her eyes dart across the screen, scanning quickly before stopping. ON THE LAPTOP
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INT. KITCHEN - SAME * Ryan hums a lullaby, waiting for the kettle to boil. As steam * rises, he smiles, lowering his face over it. Casually, he breaks up some pills and stirs them into Sarah's hot drink. INT. MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER *
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INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS * May sits cross-legged on the stone slab, trance-like, * furiously drawing with a black crayon tied with a red ribbon. Spit trickles from her clenched teeth as she scribbles disturbing images.
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INT. CAR - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah fastens May in and attempts to turn the engine but * nothing happens. She attempts again, but she isn’t going * anywhere. * She smashes the wheel in frustration. *
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS * Sarah frantically locks every door and draws the blinds, * plunging the house into darkness. May huddles on the living room sofa, trembling. * SARAH *
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INT. ROSE WINDOW - SAME * Ryan’s catatonic gaze doesn’t shift but Sarah’s terror-filled * expression stays transfixed outside. * SARAH * We need to get outta here, Ryan. *
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INT. KITCHEN - SAME Ryan pours out a glass of wine as a cautious Sarah secretly * examines him. * Without looking at her... * RYAN *
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EXT. COLONIAL HOUSE. WOODSHED - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah yanks the box to the woodshed and prepares to destroy * it. Raising the axe... * JASON (O.S.) * ...Mom, stop!!! *
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INT. PURITAN CHURCH/NAVE - CONTINUOUS * Instead of her bedroom, Sarah finds herself in the Nave of a * 17th-Century Puritan church. Sinister, cloth-covered children from outside sit in the stalls. * Yellow Rev. (09/02/24) 70.
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INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS * Sarah closes the door and hears a faint, tune coming from the attic. * SARAH * Go get in my bed, I’ll be there in *
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INT. MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS Sarah jolts awake, gasping, half-dazed. Ryan holds her, his grip too tight. * SARAH * I saw it...I...saw... *
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INT. BASEMENT - SAME * The basement is unnervingly still. May lies strapped to a stone slab, the Dybbuk box ajar at her feet. SARAH May!
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INT. MULTIPLE ROOMS - CONTINUOUS * Sarah tears through the house. * SARAH * Jason! Ryan, where the hell are * you? Jason! *
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INT. UPSTAIRS - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah darts upstairs. * SARAH May! Sweetheart, where are you? She spots May, frozen at the attic doorway, eyes wide with
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INT. PURITAN CHURCH. CHAPEL - LATER The once holy chapel is now covered in archaic symbols and nine intertwining squares. The Preacher Man carves Mary’s name into a music box. Behind him, Mary is bound and gagged, crucified to a wooden
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INT. PURITAN CHURCH. CHAPEL - SAME * Nine intertwining squares cover the bolted chapel door. Jason * and May, bound and gagged, are strapped to wooden blocks. The Preacher Man hunches over a bench, engraving two new music boxes. The first letters of Jason’s name are already carved.
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INT. ATTIC - CONTINUOUS * Young Sarah finds herself surrounded by dusty, draped * objects. In the center sits a church pew, the Dybbuk box resting on it. She approaches, drawn to it. *
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INT. JASON’S CLOSET - CONTINUOUS * Young Sarah finds herself back in Jason’s closet, now returned to her adult form. Recognizing the surroundings, she hears Jason’s voice outside. * JASON (O.S.) *
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INT. BLACK VOID - SAME * Sarah is enveloped in darkness, surrounded by endless * intertwining square symbols. Under a dim light, she pulls herself up. * SARAH *
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE - FLASHBACK * Quick, impactful flashes of the past reveal the truth: * - Young Sarah and her family move in, full of love and laughter. - Paul discovers the Dybbuk box in the attic.
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INT. COLONIAL HOUSE. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER * Sarah opens her eyes. They’re back in the colonial house, * Jason by her side, and May unconscious. The locket is gone. Black smoke creeps along the floor. * SARAH *
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EXT. COLONIAL HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER * Jason desperately pulls Sarah and May out of the house and * down the driveway. * INT. HALLWAY - SAME * The Dybbuk box, surrounded by flames, remains untouched. The

THE PREACHER MAN

A family moves into a haunted colonial house, unaware of its dark Puritan history, and must battle an ancient evil that seeks to claim their souls.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

What sets 'The Preacher Man' apart is its deep exploration of familial bonds against a backdrop of horror, where the supernatural is not just a threat but intricately tied to the characters' pasts. The use of a Dybbuk box as a central plot device adds a unique cultural element to the horror narrative, appealing to audiences interested in psychological and supernatural horror. The emotional depth of the characters, particularly the mother-daughter relationship, enhances the stakes and makes the horror elements more impactful.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

Ratings are subjective. So you get different engines' ratings to compare.

Hover over verdict cards for Executive Summaries

Claude
 Consider
Gemini
 Consider
GPT4
 Recommend
Story Facts
Genres:
Horror 65% Drama 40% Thriller 30%

Setting: Contemporary, with flashbacks to the 17th century, A colonial house and surrounding areas, including a Puritan church

Themes: The Power of Family Bonds, The Haunting Power of the Past, The Duality of Good and Evil, The Price of Forgiveness, The Nature of Memory and Identity, The Struggle for Control

Conflict & Stakes: Sarah's struggle to protect her children from supernatural forces and her husband's possession, with their lives at stake.

Mood: Tense and foreboding, filled with dread and urgency.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The intertwining of a family's dark past with supernatural elements, particularly the Dybbuk box.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation that Ryan is possessed and becomes a direct threat to his family, heightening the stakes.
  • Innovative Ideas: The use of music boxes as a central motif linking the family's history to the supernatural.
  • Distinctive Settings: The contrast between the colonial house and the Puritan church, enhancing the eerie atmosphere.
  • Genre Blends: Combines elements of horror, family drama, and psychological thriller.

Comparable Scripts: The Conjuring, Hereditary, The Babadook, The Haunting of Hill House, It Follows, The Witch, The Others, The Ring, The Grudge

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Overall Score: 7.56
Story Critique
Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.
Characters
Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.
Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.
Themes
Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.
Logic & Inconsistencies
Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.

Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
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Go to Scene Analysis

Other Analyses

Writer Exec

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.
Writer's Craft
Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.
Memorable Lines
Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.
Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
World Building
Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.
Correlations
Identifies patterns in scene scores.
Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.

Comparison with Previous Draft

See how your script has evolved from the previous version. This section highlights improvements, regressions, and changes across all major categories, helping you understand what revisions are working and what may need more attention.

Version Comparison Analysis
Summary of Changes
Improvements (5)
  • Premise - hookStrength: 6.0 → 9.0 +3.0
  • Visual Imagery - immersiveness: 5.0 → 8.0 +3.0
  • Character Complexity - characterDialogue: 6.0 → 8.0 +2.0
  • Character Complexity - characterComplexity: 6.0 → 8.0 +2.0
  • Visual Imagery - Overall Grade: 6.0 → 8.0 +2.0
Areas to Review (0)

No regressions detected