AS - Foundation Portfolio
PLOT & STORY
Film Title
STYX
“shuddering”
Styx, in Greek mythology, one of the rivers of the underworld. The word styx literally means “shuddering” and expresses loathing of death.
“Shuddering” is related to how people will react to Max’s horrific characteristics when he keeps killing people due to his unstable mental health.
Story
When Max was 8 years old - the most innocent and charming age, he witnessed his father abusing his mother for more than a year, until she committed suicide and his father had a nonchalant attitude towards him. Growing up, Max was always isolated and shunned by his peers because of his eccentricity. Even so, he didn't mind and continued to live a life that revolved around only himself. 10 years later, Max has become a brilliant doctor, but his violent nature is constantly increasing. Behind the mask of a conscientious doctor, Max is actually a serial killer. The common point of all the people he killed was that they used and manipulated violence against their family members. This movie revolves around Max's psychological development and the times he fights with his own thoughts.
Opening scene plot
Location: Hospital office
The scene cuts to Max’s face as an adult. In the office, he was looking at the medical records on the TV screen. He turned to the news, and the reporter was talking about the third murder in a month. Reporters at the crime scene are talking about the murder of a girl who was brutally murdered. Within the footage, an earring was found by the police and collected as evidence. After that, the screen dimmed and the back of Max became clearer. Max opened the drawer at the desk, the victim's remaining earring appeared. Finally, the camera shifts to Max's face, he smiles a devilish grin and the titles pops up.
Opening scene plot
Location: Max’s House
Begins with a close-up of the main character's face, when Max is watching his father abuse his mother. The camera then moves further away and turns to the shot where the domestic violence is happening. Instead of crying, scared like other children, Max seems to be used to this when his face shows no expression. He just sat there and stared into the distance, as if his family didn't even exist there. This shows a sense of needless and careless like the emotional aspects of him had disappeared.
Opening scene plot
Location: School
The scene is changed by the ringing of the bell, Max sitting alone in a corner in the classroom, while other students sit with his friends and they all avoid him. The scene uses a timelapse technique to show how impassive he is until Max starts to stab the teddy bear on the table with scissors. Then back to the normal scene, the friends around turned to glance at him with disdain. One of the boys turned and insulted Max and everyone laughed.
CHARACTERS
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Max is a person with antisocial disorder. This illness comes from a traumatizing past when he had an alcoholic father and domestic violence occurred in his own house. This psychological shock caused his behavior and social interaction to shift completely. Max gradually becomes aggressive and starts to self-harm himself as a result of the mental issue.
SCRIPT
