Logline
Dave Taylor, a phenomenally successful San Francisco surgeon, finds his life shattered after a surgery on a local billionaire goes terribly wrong, leaving the man paralyzed. Confronted with the fallout, Dave seeks solace in his family, but instead faces a night of confrontation and turmoil with his wife, Gwen, and their teenage children, Roan and Rachel. The looming presence of Marius, his intimidating father-in-law, adds another layer of pressure, especially given Marius's political ambitions. As Dave grapples with his own shortcomings and insecurities, he can't shake the feeling that his efforts for Marius's family are never enough.
Awakening in a stark white room, Dave is thrust into a nightmare. Informed by a clinical figure named Mackey that he's committed unspeakable acts in a fugue state, Dave struggles to reconcile this horrifying reality with the man he knows himself to be. Only a compassionate nurse named Ellen offers him any semblance of comfort, urging him to "trust in dreams" as he pieces together his fragmented memories.
Haunted by glimpses of a clandestine affair with his colleague, Suzanne, Dave begins to suspect that she holds the key to the truth behind his family's tragedy. With the arrival of a young lawyer, Rob Ensler, who fervently believes in Dave's innocence, hope flickers dimly. Yet, Dave's days in the hospital become a grueling ordeal of psychological torment, as Mackey and his cohorts subject him to cruel punishments for every fragment of truth he uncovers.
Through sheer determination and resourcefulness, Dave manages to escape with Suzanne's help, only to find himself thrust into a high-stakes game of survival. Pursued by mysterious figures and plagued by doubts, Dave's quest for answers leads him to a chilling revelation: Marius orchestrated the entire ordeal to test his loyalty. Forced to confront an impossible choice between his family and his lover, Dave's descent into moral ambiguity reaches a devastating climax.
Returning to the semblance of normalcy, Dave grapples with the weight of his decisions, haunted by the sacrifices made in the pursuit of power. As Marius ascends to the highest echelons of political power, Dave's own trajectory sees him propelled into the political arena, forever changed by the harrowing journey that led him there. Despite outward success, Dave's soul bears the scars of betrayal and compromise, a cautionary tale of the moral compromises made in the pursuit of ambition.
Dr. David Taylor has everything one could hope for -- a career as a hotshot surgeon, a loving wife, and two adoring kids. Everything changes when he wakes up in a mental hospital, informed that he has murdered his wife and children in cold blood. He has no memory of the killings, but he remembers everything prior. Is it selective amnesia or is he an innocent man? His doctor is engaging in destructive, radical therapies, the chief orderly abuses him with impunity, and his only ally is an alluring ward nurse. His memory of the night of the murders slowly returns. As events from his past converge with his unimaginable present, the doctor discovers that nothing in his world is as it seems.
Summary
Dave Taylor, a phenomenally successful San Francisco surgeon, finds his life shattered after a surgery on a local billionaire goes terribly wrong, leaving the man paralyzed. Confronted with the fallout, Dave seeks solace in his family, but instead faces a night of confrontation and turmoil with his wife, Gwen, and their teenage children, Roan and Rachel. The looming presence of Marius, his intimidating father-in-law, adds another layer of pressure, especially given Marius's political ambitions. As Dave grapples with his own shortcomings and insecurities, he can't shake the feeling that his efforts for Marius's family are never enough.
Awakening in a stark white room, Dave is thrust into a nightmare. Informed by a clinical figure named Mackey that he's committed unspeakable acts in a fugue state, Dave struggles to reconcile this horrifying reality with the man he knows himself to be. Only a compassionate nurse named Ellen offers him any semblance of comfort, urging him to "trust in dreams" as he pieces together his fragmented memories.
Haunted by glimpses of a clandestine affair with his colleague, Suzanne, Dave begins to suspect that she holds the key to the truth behind his family's tragedy. With the arrival of a young lawyer, Rob Ensler, who fervently believes in Dave's innocence, hope flickers dimly. Yet, Dave's days in the hospital become a grueling ordeal of psychological torment, as Mackey and his cohorts subject him to cruel punishments for every fragment of truth he uncovers.
Through sheer determination and resourcefulness, Dave manages to escape with Suzanne's help, only to find himself thrust into a high-stakes game of survival. Pursued by mysterious figures and plagued by doubts, Dave's quest for answers leads him to a chilling revelation: Marius orchestrated the entire ordeal to test his loyalty. Forced to confront an impossible choice between his family and his lover, Dave's descent into moral ambiguity reaches a devastating climax.
Returning to the semblance of normalcy, Dave grapples with the weight of his decisions, haunted by the sacrifices made in the pursuit of power. As Marius ascends to the highest echelons of political power, Dave's own trajectory sees him propelled into the political arena, forever changed by the harrowing journey that led him there. Despite outward success, Dave's soul bears the scars of betrayal and compromise, a cautionary tale of the moral compromises made in the pursuit of ambition.
Cast Selections
DAVE TAYLOR
Handsome, hotshot surgeon who is goodhearted -- a bit naughty and hot-tempered, but a solid sort.
Nicholas Hoult
MARIUS
An imperious old man who does not suffer fools lightly. He has a sly sense of humor but it masks a deep narcissism.
He is running for the US Senate.
Matt Damon
Jamie Dornan
Jeff Bridges
Richard Gere
Gary Oldman
GWEN TAYLOR
Dave's wife. Tidily pretty and measured. The sort of flawless, well-heeled woman who is difficult to match for kindness and steadfastness -- thus a source of stress.
Keira Knightley
Claire Foy
Alexandra Daddario
SUZANNE
Dave's mistress. Alluring and enigmatic, her presence and mystique grow unsettling as Dave navigates the murky depths of his fractured memories
Saoirse Ronan
Brie Larson
Amanda Seyfried
DR. MACKEY
A prim -- perhaps religious -- square, ascetic clinician. He is clean, conservative, soft-spoken and competent.
Michael Keaton
Tobin Bell
John Lithgow
LINUS COFER
Oafish, a little goofy, and severely grumpy. A dangerous man who is not the least bit self-aware. Not at all a braintrust, but he’s perversely likable.
Danny Trejo
John Carroll Lynch
Stephen Root
Cinematic Reference
GET OUT, THE STEPFORD WIVES, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEXT, and the TV series SEVERANCE are comparable psychological thrillers that explore themes of manipulation and control within various societal contexts.
In GET OUT, Jordan Peele crafts a chilling narrative that blends thriller with social commentary, showcasing the psychological manipulation experienced by the protagonist as he navigates a seemingly hospitable environment that conceals sinister intentions.
Similarly, THE STEPFORD WIVES offers a suspenseful exploration of control and manipulation within the confines of a seemingly idyllic suburban community. As the protagonist uncovers the truth behind the town's perfect façade, she confronts the unsettling reality of women who have been stripped of their autonomy and transformed into docile, obedient entities.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST delves into the dynamics of power and control within the confines of a mental institution. Through the charismatic rebellion of Randle McMurphy against the authoritarian Nurse Ratched, the film exposes the manipulative tactics employed to subdue the inmates, showcasing the psychological warfare waged within the walls of the institution.
SEVERANCE explores the theme of psychological manipulation within the corporate world, where employees are subjected to a mysterious program that blurs the boundaries between work and personal life. As the characters grapple with the insidious nature of workplace surveillance and manipulation, they confront the unsettling reality of being mere pawns in a larger scheme.
Across these narratives, audiences are drawn into a web of psychological intrigue and suspense, as they confront the unsettling realities of manipulation and control within various societal frameworks. As the characters navigate the intricate webs of deceit and coercion, they are forced to confront their own vulnerabilities and resilience.
Directorial Selection
JAMES WAN is anAustralian film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is the co-creator of the Saw and Insidious franchises and the creator of The Conjuring universe.
Wan made his feature directorial debut with Saw (2004). The film was a hit and launched a franchise that has grossed more than $1 billion globally. He returned to commercial success with the supernatural horror-fantasy Insidious (2010), and went on to direct Insidious: Part 2 (2013) and to produce further sequels in the series.
Wan also directed Furious 7 (2015) and Aquaman (2018). Both grossed over $1 billion, making him the 20th highest-grossing director of all time as of 2021, with his films having grossed over $3.6 billion worldwide.
WILLIAM OLDROYD is a London-born director who started his filmmaking career started with the short film Christ's Dog (2011). His second short film Best (2013) won the Sundance London Short Film Competition in 2013.
Oldroyd has established himself as one of contemporary cinema’s more provocative voices. His feature debut Lady Macbeth (2016) starred Florence Pugh in a star-making performance and garnered awards at numerous film festivals, including the FIPRESCI Prize at both San Sebastián Film Festival and Thessaloniki Film Festival.
His newest film is an adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s award-winning debut novel Eileen, a chilling Christmas story caught between crime and romance starring Thomasin McKenzie and Academy Award Winner Anne Hathaway.
TOM McCARTHY is an American film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for directing and write The Station Agent (2003), The Visitor (2007), Win Win (2011), and Spotlight (2015), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Director.
McCarthy co-wrote the film Up (2009) with Bob Peterson and Pete Docter, for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He also served as a director and executive producer for the Netflix television series 13 Reasons Why (2017).
He has also appeared in several films, including Meet the Parents and Good Night, and Good Luck, and television series such as The Wire, Boston Public, and Law & Order.
MICHAEL POLLACK (Producer) has held leadership positions for more than 35 years in the legal, financial, and entertainment industries. Michael is the founder and former President of a litigation support firm that is today part of an international group of companies. He has held directorship positions for more than a dozen financial institutions that are both private and publicly held. Specializing for decades in M&A and Turnaround Management, he has spearheaded tens of billions of dollars of financing in commercial real estate, business, and entertainment-related transactions. Stage and screen projects in which Michael has played an integral role in financing and/or producing have grossed more than $2 billion at the box office.
Michael's current projects include the feature films Delfino's Journey, Major, The Black Cyclone, Poe: The Poet, Cold Feet: A Wedding Tale, A Six Gun for the Devil, Meet Me in the Kitchen at Midnight, The Angel Of Harlem, Moonlight Blonde and The Untitled Chic Harley Project. In addition, Michael is developing an exciting new episodic television series which will be announced in 2023.
Team
PETER WALDMAN (Producer)
As founder of WaldmanMusic & Entertainment, est. 2001, Peter has successfully employed his classical music education in teaching, performing, and composing. He has scored the music for 12+ films (including films starring Mark Ruffalo, Ed Asner, John Savage, and Robert Carradine). As a former concert violinist, he studied under Michael Davis, Raphael Druin, Dorothy Delay, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Peter has performed with world-renown musical artists Seal, Jackson Brown, Steven Stills, and John Waite. His current projects include the feature films The Black Cyclone, A Six Gun for the Devil, Bad Rock, 9 to Over, and The Devil Takes Tomorrow.
BEN ROSENTHAL (Writer)
Bio Coming Soon!
