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HOT DAMN! A REVENGE SHORT

HOT DAMN! A REVENGE SHORT
By Matt Hausmann

GENRE: Action, Comedy
LOGLINE:

Left for dead after a brutal act of payback, a grieving man embarks on a relentless quest for justice while his hunger for revenge controls him, only to discover a shocking revelation that reshapes his perspective of his so-called perfect life.

SYNOPSIS:

Harrison LeRoy Levy, a remarkably handsome man, was living a seemingly perfect life alongside his beautiful pregnant wife, Michelle, and their meticulously groomed Pomeranian, Duke. Expecting quintuplets, they eagerly prepared a nursery in their RV enclosed by a pristine white picket fence. In a tender moment, Harrison, and Michelle slow dance without a care in the world. However, their idyllic existence takes a dark turn when they incur the wrath of Dante Blaze, the formidable leader of the Chicago mob. Angered by an unsettled debt of twenty grand, Dante and his mobsters enact their revenge on Harrison. His wife and dog were brutally killed, his RV was burnt down, and his family photographs were pissed on. Left for dead in the confines of a Burger King bathroom, Harrison miraculously clings to life, narrowly surviving a gunshot wound to the head thanks to an iron plate in his skull—a relic from a freak Xbox accident. As Harrison regains consciousness, his tear-stained face reflects both immeasurable grief and an indomitable determination. His eyes, once filled with love, are now consumed by a burning rage, pulsating with a mix of anguish and vengeance. In this pivotal moment, Harrison makes a solemn vow to avenge his wife's death, swearing to pursue justice by whatever means necessary.

Harrison releases the lifeless bodies of Michelle and Duke from their nooses, cradling them gently in his arms before chugging a bottle of whiskey and placing them in his 1970 Ford Galaxy convertible. He tapes Michelle’s head to the passenger seat headrest and props Duke’s body on a milk crate in the middle of the back seat. His eyes are consumed by hatred, his thoughts consumed by righteous anger, and his heart is weighed down by immeasurable anguish. With a determined resolve, Harrison navigates the city streets, relentlessly pursuing Dante, and his menacing mobsters. However, his relentless pursuit is momentarily interrupted when he finds himself drawn to a Cold Stone Creamery where he succumbs to the allure of ice cream. Continuing with his mission, Harrison pushes forward while remnants of his once-perfect past replay in his mind. He is brought back to reality when his lactose intolerance catches up with him, forcing him to reach for Lactaid for relief. Determined to stay on track, Harrison resolves that his first priority is to gather weapons. He makes the difficult decision to part with Michelle’s wedding ring, pawning it in exchange for a powerful Magnum handgun, forsaking the balloon animal elephant and the crown he impulsively bought for Michelle in order to stay focused on his mission. Next, Harrison seeks something to calm his nerves. He stops by Walmart to purchase chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, and a torch, messily making s'mores as he drives, swerving all over the road. Revenged-fueled hunger leads Harrison to make his third stop at a local taco stand, after which he takes a brief respite in a bathroom stall and, in a grim yet resourceful act, retrieves an alleviating Tums from Michelle. Refocused and resolute, Harrison accelerates through the city at high speed, ultimately arriving at a towering high-rise in downtown Chicago, its neon sign ominously proclaiming, "The Bad Guys Live Here."

Harrison finally arrives at the long-awaited moment. The tantalizing prospect of revenge looms before him. However, amidst the maelstrom of his vengeful fantasies, a sudden wave of clarity crashes over him, granting him a newfound perspective on his supposedly perfect life. Enlightened, Harrison recalls the mischievous nature of Duke, who would annoyingly nip at his ankles, and he also realizes that his wife, far from being an ideal partner, was actually a controlling prude who constantly made his life difficult. Surprisingly, these revelations bring a sense of delight to Harrison, and he decides to redirect his emotions towards gratitude, contemplating how Dante and his thugs inadvertently liberated him to embrace a life of freedom as a bachelor. As the storm of anger subsides within Harrison, a profound sense of happiness envelops him, replacing the dark cloud that once consumed him. Relishing in this newfound contentment, he reclines his seat with the gun in his hand, feeling at peace. However, an unforeseen and tragic accident occurs as he inadvertently fires a fatal gunshot to his own head. As the world around him fades into the ethereal realms of the afterlife, Michelle's lifeless body unexpectedly comes to life, pulsating with unbridled fury. In a surreal twist, her reanimated form releases her pent-up rage upon a zombie-like Harrison, completing a cycle of unforeseen events.

Sydney Summers

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Sydney Summers

I love the photo you shared!

Tasha Lewis

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Maurice Vaughan

Catchy title and poster, Matt Hausmann!

You put "left for dead in the logline twice. I suggest removing the first "* left for dead."

I also suggest adding an adjective for the protagonist and the mob boss.

"A __________ man seeks revenge against a _________ mob boss that killed his family and left him for dead*."

Marcos Fizzotti

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Matt Hausmann

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Matt Hausmann

Thank you Maurice Vaughan ! Hope you're well!

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Matt Hausmann. I'm doing well. How about you?

Maurice Vaughan

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Maurice Vaughan

I meant to put four stars, Matt Hausmann. Since this is an Action/Comedy, I think the logline should have some comedy in it. When I posted my first comment, I thought it was a straight Action script. I think if you add comedy in your logline, your logline will be five stars.

Matt Hausmann

Maurice Vaughan Thank you. Will work on adding some dark comedy to it. I'm good. Plugging away

Nate Rymer

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