In 15^th century France, a disillusioned friar is coerced by a mercenary, conscripted by the council of Nantes, to investigate on the disappearances of children from the surrounding townships.

SYNOPSIS:

Saint in the Shadow of Bluebeard is a fictional retelling of a series of true events which transpired in France in the early 1400’s. The story of a real-life boogeyman. A vicious child killer, virtually untouchable and practically invincible, considered by those around him to be a specter. Dispensing untold wealth and power to satiate an unholy bloodlust. Hot on his trail, the unlikeliest of sorts. A disillusioned, alcoholic and sexually traumatized friar (George) cast out by his order and destined to wander the streets of Nantes in obscurity. Aided by an Italian priest of a fledgling chapel (Bennitorio) and a beautiful but mentally scarred sister of Machecoul (Margaux). George attempts to regain his courage and self-worth, while uncovering one of the most prolific and heinous serial killers to ever scour the history books.

Synopsis:

Nantes. 1440. An alcoholic friar (George) vomits into the Loire river as a throng of children pester a mercenary (Alcazar) and his bodyguards for gratuity. Alcazar complies, to the distaste of his men. One of the children drops their coin near George, but he’s too afraid to approach the drunkard. A small confrontation arises between Alcazar and George. Further into the city a congregation of priests and friars from various denominations discuss the prospect of funding an investigation into supposed abductions. Alcazar and his men have been hailed for said reason by head friar (Guy). Alcazar reluctantly accepts the job and half the pay, but in a turn of hesitation he instead coerces George into the task by threat of violence.

Somewhere in the outskirts of Machecoul. In a dank, eerie torture chamber. A child (Frederic) struggles to free his binds. Before he manages to escape a grotesque figure in full battle armor (Bluebeard) intervenes.

George arrives in Machecoul the next day, on the brink of detox. With a little help he manages to track down Bennitorio’s church. Introductions are made, George is illuminated of the kidnappings and Bennitorio gives him a tour of Machecoul along with some exposition on the infamous Rais estate. We meet a vendor’s young son (Roland) at the bathhouse before Bennitorio scoots him along to his studies. The beautiful sister (Margaux) is introduced under extraordinary circumstances as she puts her expertise on display and assists a mother deliver her baby safely. George bunks at Bennitorio’s church, although his Franciscan tenants deny him shelter, so he sleeps under the stars. Awoken by a cryptic fever dream, George is surprised by Margaux who gives the sober friar a sack of wine in pity.

The next morning, as George relieves himself a little further in the forest, he stumbles upon the eviscerated body of Frederic. George shows Bennitorio the grisly find and Bennitorio hails a couple of experts who speculate on the cause. Marshal of France and owner of the Rais estate (Gilles) is called to the scene with his entourage of experts. Most of the experts agree on a wild boar attack but George is not convinced. He and Bennitorio attempt to canvass the Rais estate, but their plan is thwarted by Gilles’ maid (Macy) and personal bodyguard (Garrett). George goes to clean up at the bathhouse, confronts the peeping tom Roland and gets a peep at Margaux in all her glory. Through a conversation between Roland and George it is revealed that George is one testicle shy, though he doesn’t elaborate on the cause of his deformity. Gilles and his entourage return with a freshly slain boar, cementing their theory of a wild animal attack. George returns to his old miserable habits.

While Bennitorio presides over his congregation, with George’s drunken presence, a small town in southern France named Tiffauge presides over theirs. Bluebeard and his entourage storm into town, snatch two children from the hands of their helpless parents and ride off. At the same time George watches Gilles ride past Bennitorio’s church, further distancing himself as the culprit.

Bennitorio reluctantly contacts George as one of the presiding sisters tells of the kidnappings in Tiffauge and presents two nasty letters written by the killer to the families of the victims. Margaux joins the investigation when she reveals that Gilles has a body double. They further investigate Bennitorio’s communion index to reveal a page has miraculously been torn out. Margaux and George interview (Flavienne) on her son Frederic’s disappearance. We come to learn why Margaux is in the convent because her husband supposedly beat their child to death.

On the night of Bennitorio’s sermon Bluebeard finally strikes, forcefully taking Roland from his mother in front of Bennitorio’s entire congregation. George is indisposed of as the events transpire. Cloaked in darkness, Margaux manages to tail Bluebeard as George is brought up to speed. George runs for the Rais estate and eventually heads Garrett. They are met by the marshal of Nantes and his guard, to Garrett’s dismay. Miraculously Gilles is in estate to welcome them, further casting doubt on his involvement. What transpires is a back and forth between Margaux tailing Bluebeard to a subterranean torture block with Roland in tow, and George along with the marshal investigating the Rais estate’s seedy underbelly to no avail. Margaux is almost exposed but manages to remain undetected, until she stumbles on the previous investigator (Loeb) missing his eyes, his nose and his tongue. Margaux flees the scene.

George and Margaux reflect on their failures in their sacred bath house. In a moment of catharsis, both characters confess their innermost secrets. That Margaux actually beat her own child to death in spite of her abusive husband and that George was tortured and sexually traumatized as a young boy by his caretaker, ultimately taking a piece of his manhood. In the moment, Margaux and George give into their carnal desires.

George is beaten unconscious by Gilles in Bennitorio’s church for his insolence. When he awakens, he is bound to a torture rack. Gilles reveals that he, along with the help of Macy and Garrett have been kidnapping, molesting and torturing children from Machecoul to Tiffauge. George overcomes the fear of his past and endures unimaginable mental and physical torture at the hands of Gilles. Before Gilles can kill George, Margaux, the marshal of Nantes and his guard's barge into the torture room, apprehend and arrest Gilles. While Gilles was distracted Margaux and the marshal managed to save Roland as well.

Gilles, Macy and Garrett are convicted and sentenced to death. Gilles gives an oddly impassioned speech before they are led to the gallows. Garrett and Macy get a clean drop, but Gilles rope snaps and he breaks his leg on the fall. For all his misdeeds Gilles gets a very satisfyingly brutal death.

George is given Alcazar’s reward by friar Guy, but he refuses, instead opting for another plan altogether. He returns to Machecoul a new man with the intention of presenting a ring to Margaux. He finds her at one of Bennitorio’s sermons with another man, her brother, but assumes it’s her lover. George breaks down and finds himself back where he started, drunk and on the streets of Nantes.

During a festive occasion, and in a drunken stupor, George hits his head and takes a plummet off the bridge into the Loire where he unfortunately drowns. Months later a pregnant Margaux rides into Nantes with her brother in search of George. Guy lies to Margaux and reveals that George perished in a disaster on the Loire instead of in a drunken stupor. Margaux is distraught but ultimately relieved that in some way George will still live on through their child. Living defiance of his supposed lack of manhood. The story ends where it begins. On the same bridge overlooking the Loire.