Custom (2024) Movie Script
1
[silence]
[silence]
[static]
- Hi, I'm Snake.
- And I'm Flower.
- Uh. We met in an
art collective, me,
video, her, photos.
- And we're pretty
fucking good at it.
- Yeah, yeah we were,
um, but guess what
it doesn't really matter
because you can't pay rent
just doing art shit,
so we've decided to
do something new,
something fun and exciting.
- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. - Uh.
Basically we're new here,
so just be gentle with us.
- Yeah, and if you
want anything specific
you can just send us a message
and, um, we'll do our
best to accommodate.
- Uh. Private show
tickets are available here
and, um, click
subscribe, it's free.
[laughs]
Okay?
- Okay.
[smooches]
[smooches]
[rumbles with static]
[silence]
[deep drumbeat with static]
[deep drumbeat continues with
horns]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[eerie vocalizing]
[eerie vocalizing continues with
deep drumbeat]
[eerie vocalizing with deep
drumbeat continues]
[eerie vocalizing]
[eerie sound]
[static]
[static continues]
[resonant rhythmic breathing]
[resonant rhythmic breathing]
[static]
[resonant rhythmic breathing
continues]
[static]
[resonant rhythmic breathing
continues]
[heavy breathing]
[heavy breathing continues]
[heavy breathing continues]
[static]
[heavy breathing continues]
[static]
[organ note held]
[constant ringing]
[constant ringing continues]
[ringing intensifies]
[muffled rumbling with ringing]
[ringing continues]
[tense sound]
[ringing]
[tense sound]
[ringing]
[tense sound]
[slow exhale]
[silence]
[footsteps]
- What have you been?
What happened?
[eerie sound with static]
[eerie sound]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie sound continues]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie sound continues]
[heavy breathing]
[sucks]
[heavy breathing]
[smooches]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[heavy breathing continues]
[smooches]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[eerie sound]
[ruffles]
[insect sound]
[birds chirping]
[indoor noise]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound with drumbeats]
[background music playing]
[squeaks]
[lights]
- I had a weird dream.
[inhales]
[exhales]
- Alright well, ease
up on the booze then.
- Any shots for today?
- No but, um, aren't you still
editing that one from Tuesday?
- What's wrong
with the last cut?
- Nothing, I just... [exhales]
figured we could
spice it up a bit.
Had some inserts.
[sniffles]
I've got like a whole folder of
stuff we can use on my laptop.
Maybe change the soundtrack.
I'm thinking Goblin, maybe
Cipriani, Bay of Blood.
Oh you know I was talking
to Heidi last night
and she has that photography
exhibition at the gallery.
[chupse]
Apparently her main
guy has dropped out
because he was sending
pictures of his dick to some
of the models so she said she'd
take a look at my portfolio.
- That's good.
[sniffles]
[grunts]
[exhales]
[snaps]
- Something's cooking.
- Yes, got a few ideas.
- You gonna finish any of these?
[exhales]
Well good.
Oh god.
[suspenseful music]
[tense sound]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensifies]
[footsteps]
[kicks]
- How many times do I have to
tell you not to pull this shit?
- What are you talking about?
- Oh don't play Tom, you're
too fucking good at it.
- What are you doing?
- What do you think I'm doing?
[plastic rustles]
[plastic rustles with gasping]
[heavy exhales]
You disgusting little
piece of shit, look at you.
You make me feel sick.
[spits]
[gasping continues]
Do you like that?
[gasping continues]
Do you like that you
disgusting little fucking
little maggot, you
fucking arsehole.
Fuck you Bill.
[plastic rustles]
- For fuck's sake Harriet.
[heavy breathing]
He specifically said not Bill.
[heavy breathing]
See?
[heavy breathing]
- Okay well we
can cut around it.
- No we can't just cut around it
because it breaks the illusion.
[heavy breathing]
- Come on you should be able to
do this in your sleep by now.
- Yeah, well, maybe
that's the problem.
[heavy breathing]
- Let's just go for one more.
- No, I need to eat.
[sighs]
- Are you fucking joking?
It takes you like five hours to
get into that setup, come on.
[smirks]
- I'm not joking. And
we need more towel,
why don't you write that
in your little notebook.
[footsteps]
[phone switch]
[switch]
[footsteps]
[rustles]
[static]
[smooches]
[background music]
[footsteps]
[swallows]
- Talk.
- Bishop wants us
to talk to someone.
[footsteps]
- After his last referral?
- 10k a scene.
- That's fucking insane Jasper.
What does he want us to do?
Kill a homeless person
on camera, ain't he?
[tense sound]
- What about eyeball
lady over there?
- "Lucia of Syracuse."
When she decided to give her
family's riches to the poor,
she had her eyes gouged out,
set on fire and a humongous
sword to the throat.
- Any favorites?
- Has to be crazy Kate.
"Catherine of Siena."
She claimed to have a ring
made out of Christ's foreskin.
The fucking thing was only
visible to her of course.
Those were the
original perverts.
They paved the way for us.
- You look healthy.
Electric.
[smirks]
What's going on
in Jasper's world?
[footsteps]
- I don't even know
where to start.
[sighs]
- No, no.
There's something here.
Something new.
That elusive glint in
the back of the eye.
Like a burning ember.
- I've been thinking
about a new piece.
- Back into artsy
snobbery again, huh?
Oh, Jasper.
I had such high hopes for you.
[heavy breathing]
Well...
[thud]
[footsteps]
[moaning sound]
[footsteps]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[sniffs]
[rustles]
[grabs]
- For his eyes only.
[footsteps]
- You're not serious.
[rustles]
- When you're playing
me ten grand a scene,
you can come up with
all the rules you want.
He likes you, you know.
We talked about you.
And Harriet.
Yeah.
I sent him some of
those old videos.
Loved it.
Top job.
Top job.
[rustles]
[thud]
[heavy breathing]
You just need to
follow his assignments.
And never watch the tapes.
[chuckles]
- I mean we could just do some
fucking cave paintings instead.
- Woah, woah.
What this camera sees gets
engraved into the magnetic tape.
It's a chemical process.
Physical.
What this sees is
literally being conjured
into the material world.
Just hear me out.
What's worse can happen.
[tense sound intensifies]
No, Jasper.
We're not getting any younger.
Resistance is a
fucking meat grinder.
We have to suck the weirdos tits
while they're plump and fat.
How's Harriet?
- Yeah, she couldn't be better.
- Great to hear.
Great to hear.
[indoor noise]
[clicks]
[eerie sound with static]
[static]
[eerie sound continues]
- The path to your utmost
desire comes through me.
You give me what I want.
And I'll give you what you want.
[sighs]
The male.
Come closer.
Closer.
We may proceed.
What you're about to create
is unlike anything
you've experienced.
Your choice is final.
There's no looking back.
Will you glance behind the veil?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
[rumbles with static]
Now, listen.
As I present the assignment.
[rumbles with static]
[static]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[drumbeats]
[drumbeats]
[sighs]
[sighs]
- Masks?
- Mm.
[drumbeats]
This has gotta be up there
with some of the weirdest stuff
that we've done.
[chuckles]
- Yeah.
[exhales]
[exhales]
[deep breathing]
[drumbeats]
[inaudible]
- Just clear your mind.
[deep breathing]
Breathe.
Slowly.
In and out.
[deep breathing]
Now.
Create an image in your mind.
A black circle.
A hole.
Nothing goes in.
Nothing comes out.
[tense sound]
You are the absence.
You are the nothing.
You are the hole.
Nothing goes in.
Nothing comes out.
[tense sound and rumbles]
[switch]
[radio speaking]
[tense sound intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[warp sound]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[background music]
[drags]
[drags]
- You okay?
[gasps]
- Heidi said she liked my work,
but they went with
the dick pic guy.
Yeah, she said it
was out of her hands
and that I should keep
working on my art.
[rustles]
- I'm sorry.
- What more can I do?
[phone alert and vibrates]
- Ah.
- Harry.
[thud]
10,000.
[sighs]
- Yeah, well, at least
somebody's a fan of my work.
- Did you send the link?
- He insisted I post
the tape to a PO box.
- Oh, yeah, great.
[rustles]
- I saved a digital
version of us.
For the archive.
- Ugh.
- I didn't think we were
supposed to watch it.
- Oh, we're playing
by the rules now.
[rustles]
- Why don't you
stay here tonight.
I can put on a screen for us.
You know what is funny?
I can't seem to remember
much of what we did.
[rustles]
Where are you going?
- Out.
- By yourself?
[sighs]
- It's cute.
[footsteps]
I don't ask you about your shit,
so, don't ask me
about mine, okay?
- Yeah, well, there's not
a lot going on my side.
- Yeah? And who's fault is that?
- I'm working on a
new piece, you know?
- Yeah, how's that going?
- Why don't we go out together?
Celebrate.
[smooch]
- I'm free on Thursday.
[turning door knob]
[door closes]
- I want something
classy this time.
And, like, maybe the
whip in the body,
but with some real
action going on.
Uh.
Choose a scene, play
with it, you know,
but the whip is a must.
- Okay, yeah.
- The rest that's up to you.
- Sure.
- And keep the camera
closer, all right?
- Yeah, yep. - All right.
- Okay. - Just give me some
of that sweet whip, you dig?
- All right. - All right, yeah.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, thank you, cheers mate.
[snaps]
[soft thud]
[paper rustles]
[suspenseful music]
[soft thud]
[suspenseful music continues]
[typing sound]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensify]
[suspenseful music continues]
- Okay.
[clicks]
[suspenseful music continues]
[switch]
[static]
[suspenseful music continues]
[static continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensify]
[tense sound continues]
[static]
[high pitch frequency]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensify]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[deep breathing]
[tense sound continues]
[ripping sound]
[eerie vocalization]
[tense sound continues]
[deep breathing]
[screams]
[static]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
- You better not be
watching porn without me.
[rustles]
- I have no recollection
of doing this.
[bites]
[chews]
- What is...
[chewing continues]
What are you talking about?
- This is our footage.
This is what we shot.
This is us.
[closes lid]
- Jasper, I just
got in the house.
[footsteps]
[suspenseful music]
[sniffs]
[suspenseful music continues]
[plastic rustles]
[suspenseful music continues]
[rumbles with static]
[rumbles with static continues]
[rumbles with static continues]
[crowd noise]
- What do you think
hell looks like?
[crowd noise continues]
Or any hell.
Or hell.
Just give me one last thing
that could happen to you.
Dismemberment.
Drowning.
Disembowelment.
Getting stuck.
Cross a river?
- No, like a hump.
Not being able to move
forward, progress.
Stuck.
[smirks]
- You're no fun.
- Well, alright
then, what's yours?
- I don't believe in hell.
[chuckles]
[footsteps]
- Listen, I've been, um...
I've been thinking about
our new mutual friend.
How do you meet him?
- Bishop!
I specifically asked you not to.
- Ignore her.
[sighs]
- I just... I just
don't understand.
What's the problem with
the usual boring clients?
- They're usual and boring.
I've met some of my best
friends through this gig.
- That's some fucking
military-grade mediocrity
you've got right there, love.
[thud]
[footsteps]
- Something feels off.
- Of course it feels off,
that's the whole fucking point.
[sighs]
It's probably some
bored, ultra-rich,
hoarding fucked-up video so
you can wake to in their bunker
after they've caused the
downfall of civilization.
Trapped in this
world, we're done.
It's a place driven mad
by repressed desire.
The Empire.
- Never ended yet, I know.
- Don't be smart.
- Why do the tapes
smell like that?
Like they've been treated
with... some sort of chemical.
And how are they going to know
if we've even watched the tape?
- You need to tread lightly.
We don't know who's
behind the hand, alright?
Could be anyone.
- Ever heard of Sam Norda?
[background noise]
[deep breathing]
- Tell me.
What have you seen when
you watched the tapes?
- Fuck off.
- You see, Harriet,
something I learned about you
is something I
learned about myself.
We're looking for
the same thing.
To create something beautiful
and then be annihilated by it.
Cheers.
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[rumbles]
[static]
[growls]
- Did you enjoy their last tape?
- Exquisite.
- Cool.
So, what next?
[sighs]
- Can I...
Can I ask you something?
What's the purpose
of the assignments?
- The point of the rituals
is to empty yourselves,
to become meat, to bring
the impossible night.
These are ancient ways
of the flesh remastered
in polyester plastic and oxide.
There's power in the rituals,
but to achieve it in full,
you have to leave your
fears, become a true artist.
Tell me, where's the female?
- I don't know.
- Do you want to know who
she's fucking right now?
- How do you know where she is?
The rituals give
us unbound vision.
They can transport
you to new places.
The rituals will
teach you to see.
And once you gain true vision,
you'll get your heart's desire.
Oh.
Can you see it yet?
[exhales]
- So?
- Does this feel right to you?
- Well, I have a theory.
It's... It's an auto-hypnosis
prompt, like a trigger.
He's pulling a
Manchurian candidate.
- Do you feel like we're
in control of this?
- Are we ever really in control?
Come on.
Be a good boy.
[rustles]
[radio speaking]
[radio speaking intensifies with
rumbling]
[radio speaking with rumbling
continues]
[transition sound]
[rumbling continues]
[lights]
[rumbling continues]
[tense sound]
[burns]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[radio speaking]
[typing]
[radio speaking continues]
[paper rustles]
[sniffles]
[radio speaking continues with
tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[slow surprise]
[heavy breathing]
- I've got it.
The Key of Solomon.
The signs from all the tapes.
They're from this book.
14th century.
It's for conjuring
demons and shit.
[heavy breathing]
All the tapes are from...
- I don't know.
Is it on the tape?
- No. Because VHS
tape is magnetic,
so even if you wrote
it on the tape,
it wouldn't be on the footage.
- All right, yeah.
Yeah, I know.
[deep breathing]
Did you fuck with it
when you digitalized it?
- Why the fuck would I do that?
[sighs]
- I don't know.
For one of your video projects?
I don't know what goes on
inside your head anymore.
[soft thuds]
[rustles]
[exhales]
[rustles]
[tense sound]
[static]
[static]
[tense sound intensifies]
[switch]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[static]
[gasping]
[shallow breathing]
- Do you recall
doing any of this?
- No.
No.
This is...
This is...
I've never...
[nervous breathing]
[rustles]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[eerie sound]
[eerie sound continues]
[metal clanking]
[eerie sound continues]
- You know something about him?
Sam Norda.
He's the audience.
Isn't he?
[metal clanking]
- Yeah.
Who's Norder?
[eerie sound continues]
- Tell us.
- Come on, Bea.
[metal clanking]
- Maybe...
Maybe he used to own this
place called Mandragore Films.
And they would do custom
films for premium clientele.
This was ages ago.
Before websites.
When you're from the
industry, people come and go.
You know?
One day you're
friends with someone,
and then you never
see them again.
You know how it is.
Everyone that Sam liked
eventually went away.
- He's back, isn't he?
- He's dead.
- Did you shoot an assignment?
[deep breathing]
- Perhaps check in 40 minutes.
[metal clanking]
[lights]
[burns]
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
- What are you doing?
Where's Bea?
- What do you want?
- The footage.
It's making us sick.
When I watch them this
time, it's all fucked up.
Wrong.
It's all wrong.
- Jasper.
I told you about
watching the tape.
- It keeps changing.
- Jasper, Jasper.
[heavy breathing]
Am I his customer service?
[deep breathing]
What do you want me to do?
- I want you to fuck off.
No more referrals.
Just stay out of our
lives, do you understand?
[exhales]
[suspenseful music]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
- I can't play on.
[eerie sound]
[eerie sound]
[tense sound]
[tense sound with eerie sound
continues]
[tense sound with eerie sound
continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
- I've figured it out.
It's not that hard
to understand.
If you let me really
think about it.
- Come on, aw!
- No. No!
[rustles]
[footsteps]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
- Can you see it?
Can you see it yet?
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
The female has been behind
the electronic grain
between the frequencies
inside the gamut.
You fear for her, but
the female has no fear.
You try to protect her,
but she has come to
us under her own will.
The female is ready
to become a vessel
to what sits behind the veil.
The only way to bring her
back is to master the rituals,
capture the flow of
time, to haunt it.
[warp sound]
But you struggle
because you're weak.
The female can see it.
Can you see it yet?
- Noder?
[sighs]
[sighs]
- Can you see it yet?
[tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[vibrates]
- Harry?
[ringing]
[door opens]
[paper rustles]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[static]
[shallow breathing]
[shallow breathing continues]
[door knob rattles]
[door opens]
[tense sound]
[static]
[rolling]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[footsteps]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[plastic rustles]
[shallow breathing]
[plastic rustles]
[switch]
[plastic rustles]
- Turn it on.
[switch]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[door opens]
[switch]
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
[shallow breathing]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[tense sound]
[static]
[static]
[rustles]
[thud]
[rustles]
[lid opens]
[paper rustles]
[tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[thud]
[footsteps]
[steel rustles]
[switch]
[static]
- Where is she?
- I can take you there.
[static]
Open the door.
[static]
- Hi, I'm Snake.
- And I'm Flower.
We know that our
collective really, really,
really, really does.
- You have the key.
[rumbles with static]
[switch]
[rumbles with static]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
[tense sound]
[thud]
[shallow breathing]
[shallow breathing continues]
[shallow breathing continues]
[shallow breathing continues]
- Open the door.
[shallow breathing continues]
[static]
[tense sound intensifies with
static]
[rolling sound]
[rolling sound continues]
[rumbles with static]
[switch]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[END]
[silence]
[silence]
[static]
- Hi, I'm Snake.
- And I'm Flower.
- Uh. We met in an
art collective, me,
video, her, photos.
- And we're pretty
fucking good at it.
- Yeah, yeah we were,
um, but guess what
it doesn't really matter
because you can't pay rent
just doing art shit,
so we've decided to
do something new,
something fun and exciting.
- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. - Uh.
Basically we're new here,
so just be gentle with us.
- Yeah, and if you
want anything specific
you can just send us a message
and, um, we'll do our
best to accommodate.
- Uh. Private show
tickets are available here
and, um, click
subscribe, it's free.
[laughs]
Okay?
- Okay.
[smooches]
[smooches]
[rumbles with static]
[silence]
[deep drumbeat with static]
[deep drumbeat continues with
horns]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[deep drumbeat with horns
continues]
[eerie vocalizing]
[eerie vocalizing continues with
deep drumbeat]
[eerie vocalizing with deep
drumbeat continues]
[eerie vocalizing]
[eerie sound]
[static]
[static continues]
[resonant rhythmic breathing]
[resonant rhythmic breathing]
[static]
[resonant rhythmic breathing
continues]
[static]
[resonant rhythmic breathing
continues]
[heavy breathing]
[heavy breathing continues]
[heavy breathing continues]
[static]
[heavy breathing continues]
[static]
[organ note held]
[constant ringing]
[constant ringing continues]
[ringing intensifies]
[muffled rumbling with ringing]
[ringing continues]
[tense sound]
[ringing]
[tense sound]
[ringing]
[tense sound]
[slow exhale]
[silence]
[footsteps]
- What have you been?
What happened?
[eerie sound with static]
[eerie sound]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie sound continues]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie sound continues]
[heavy breathing]
[sucks]
[heavy breathing]
[smooches]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[heavy breathing continues]
[smooches]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[tense sound with heavy
breathing]
[eerie sound]
[ruffles]
[insect sound]
[birds chirping]
[indoor noise]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound with drumbeats]
[background music playing]
[squeaks]
[lights]
- I had a weird dream.
[inhales]
[exhales]
- Alright well, ease
up on the booze then.
- Any shots for today?
- No but, um, aren't you still
editing that one from Tuesday?
- What's wrong
with the last cut?
- Nothing, I just... [exhales]
figured we could
spice it up a bit.
Had some inserts.
[sniffles]
I've got like a whole folder of
stuff we can use on my laptop.
Maybe change the soundtrack.
I'm thinking Goblin, maybe
Cipriani, Bay of Blood.
Oh you know I was talking
to Heidi last night
and she has that photography
exhibition at the gallery.
[chupse]
Apparently her main
guy has dropped out
because he was sending
pictures of his dick to some
of the models so she said she'd
take a look at my portfolio.
- That's good.
[sniffles]
[grunts]
[exhales]
[snaps]
- Something's cooking.
- Yes, got a few ideas.
- You gonna finish any of these?
[exhales]
Well good.
Oh god.
[suspenseful music]
[tense sound]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensifies]
[footsteps]
[kicks]
- How many times do I have to
tell you not to pull this shit?
- What are you talking about?
- Oh don't play Tom, you're
too fucking good at it.
- What are you doing?
- What do you think I'm doing?
[plastic rustles]
[plastic rustles with gasping]
[heavy exhales]
You disgusting little
piece of shit, look at you.
You make me feel sick.
[spits]
[gasping continues]
Do you like that?
[gasping continues]
Do you like that you
disgusting little fucking
little maggot, you
fucking arsehole.
Fuck you Bill.
[plastic rustles]
- For fuck's sake Harriet.
[heavy breathing]
He specifically said not Bill.
[heavy breathing]
See?
[heavy breathing]
- Okay well we
can cut around it.
- No we can't just cut around it
because it breaks the illusion.
[heavy breathing]
- Come on you should be able to
do this in your sleep by now.
- Yeah, well, maybe
that's the problem.
[heavy breathing]
- Let's just go for one more.
- No, I need to eat.
[sighs]
- Are you fucking joking?
It takes you like five hours to
get into that setup, come on.
[smirks]
- I'm not joking. And
we need more towel,
why don't you write that
in your little notebook.
[footsteps]
[phone switch]
[switch]
[footsteps]
[rustles]
[static]
[smooches]
[background music]
[footsteps]
[swallows]
- Talk.
- Bishop wants us
to talk to someone.
[footsteps]
- After his last referral?
- 10k a scene.
- That's fucking insane Jasper.
What does he want us to do?
Kill a homeless person
on camera, ain't he?
[tense sound]
- What about eyeball
lady over there?
- "Lucia of Syracuse."
When she decided to give her
family's riches to the poor,
she had her eyes gouged out,
set on fire and a humongous
sword to the throat.
- Any favorites?
- Has to be crazy Kate.
"Catherine of Siena."
She claimed to have a ring
made out of Christ's foreskin.
The fucking thing was only
visible to her of course.
Those were the
original perverts.
They paved the way for us.
- You look healthy.
Electric.
[smirks]
What's going on
in Jasper's world?
[footsteps]
- I don't even know
where to start.
[sighs]
- No, no.
There's something here.
Something new.
That elusive glint in
the back of the eye.
Like a burning ember.
- I've been thinking
about a new piece.
- Back into artsy
snobbery again, huh?
Oh, Jasper.
I had such high hopes for you.
[heavy breathing]
Well...
[thud]
[footsteps]
[moaning sound]
[footsteps]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[sniffs]
[rustles]
[grabs]
- For his eyes only.
[footsteps]
- You're not serious.
[rustles]
- When you're playing
me ten grand a scene,
you can come up with
all the rules you want.
He likes you, you know.
We talked about you.
And Harriet.
Yeah.
I sent him some of
those old videos.
Loved it.
Top job.
Top job.
[rustles]
[thud]
[heavy breathing]
You just need to
follow his assignments.
And never watch the tapes.
[chuckles]
- I mean we could just do some
fucking cave paintings instead.
- Woah, woah.
What this camera sees gets
engraved into the magnetic tape.
It's a chemical process.
Physical.
What this sees is
literally being conjured
into the material world.
Just hear me out.
What's worse can happen.
[tense sound intensifies]
No, Jasper.
We're not getting any younger.
Resistance is a
fucking meat grinder.
We have to suck the weirdos tits
while they're plump and fat.
How's Harriet?
- Yeah, she couldn't be better.
- Great to hear.
Great to hear.
[indoor noise]
[clicks]
[eerie sound with static]
[static]
[eerie sound continues]
- The path to your utmost
desire comes through me.
You give me what I want.
And I'll give you what you want.
[sighs]
The male.
Come closer.
Closer.
We may proceed.
What you're about to create
is unlike anything
you've experienced.
Your choice is final.
There's no looking back.
Will you glance behind the veil?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
[rumbles with static]
Now, listen.
As I present the assignment.
[rumbles with static]
[static]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[drumbeats]
[drumbeats]
[sighs]
[sighs]
- Masks?
- Mm.
[drumbeats]
This has gotta be up there
with some of the weirdest stuff
that we've done.
[chuckles]
- Yeah.
[exhales]
[exhales]
[deep breathing]
[drumbeats]
[inaudible]
- Just clear your mind.
[deep breathing]
Breathe.
Slowly.
In and out.
[deep breathing]
Now.
Create an image in your mind.
A black circle.
A hole.
Nothing goes in.
Nothing comes out.
[tense sound]
You are the absence.
You are the nothing.
You are the hole.
Nothing goes in.
Nothing comes out.
[tense sound and rumbles]
[switch]
[radio speaking]
[tense sound intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[warp sound]
[radio speaking and tense sound
intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[background music]
[drags]
[drags]
- You okay?
[gasps]
- Heidi said she liked my work,
but they went with
the dick pic guy.
Yeah, she said it
was out of her hands
and that I should keep
working on my art.
[rustles]
- I'm sorry.
- What more can I do?
[phone alert and vibrates]
- Ah.
- Harry.
[thud]
10,000.
[sighs]
- Yeah, well, at least
somebody's a fan of my work.
- Did you send the link?
- He insisted I post
the tape to a PO box.
- Oh, yeah, great.
[rustles]
- I saved a digital
version of us.
For the archive.
- Ugh.
- I didn't think we were
supposed to watch it.
- Oh, we're playing
by the rules now.
[rustles]
- Why don't you
stay here tonight.
I can put on a screen for us.
You know what is funny?
I can't seem to remember
much of what we did.
[rustles]
Where are you going?
- Out.
- By yourself?
[sighs]
- It's cute.
[footsteps]
I don't ask you about your shit,
so, don't ask me
about mine, okay?
- Yeah, well, there's not
a lot going on my side.
- Yeah? And who's fault is that?
- I'm working on a
new piece, you know?
- Yeah, how's that going?
- Why don't we go out together?
Celebrate.
[smooch]
- I'm free on Thursday.
[turning door knob]
[door closes]
- I want something
classy this time.
And, like, maybe the
whip in the body,
but with some real
action going on.
Uh.
Choose a scene, play
with it, you know,
but the whip is a must.
- Okay, yeah.
- The rest that's up to you.
- Sure.
- And keep the camera
closer, all right?
- Yeah, yep. - All right.
- Okay. - Just give me some
of that sweet whip, you dig?
- All right. - All right, yeah.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, thank you, cheers mate.
[snaps]
[soft thud]
[paper rustles]
[suspenseful music]
[soft thud]
[suspenseful music continues]
[typing sound]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensify]
[suspenseful music continues]
- Okay.
[clicks]
[suspenseful music continues]
[switch]
[static]
[suspenseful music continues]
[static continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[tense sound]
[tense sound intensify]
[tense sound continues]
[static]
[high pitch frequency]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensify]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[deep breathing]
[tense sound continues]
[ripping sound]
[eerie vocalization]
[tense sound continues]
[deep breathing]
[screams]
[static]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
- You better not be
watching porn without me.
[rustles]
- I have no recollection
of doing this.
[bites]
[chews]
- What is...
[chewing continues]
What are you talking about?
- This is our footage.
This is what we shot.
This is us.
[closes lid]
- Jasper, I just
got in the house.
[footsteps]
[suspenseful music]
[sniffs]
[suspenseful music continues]
[plastic rustles]
[suspenseful music continues]
[rumbles with static]
[rumbles with static continues]
[rumbles with static continues]
[crowd noise]
- What do you think
hell looks like?
[crowd noise continues]
Or any hell.
Or hell.
Just give me one last thing
that could happen to you.
Dismemberment.
Drowning.
Disembowelment.
Getting stuck.
Cross a river?
- No, like a hump.
Not being able to move
forward, progress.
Stuck.
[smirks]
- You're no fun.
- Well, alright
then, what's yours?
- I don't believe in hell.
[chuckles]
[footsteps]
- Listen, I've been, um...
I've been thinking about
our new mutual friend.
How do you meet him?
- Bishop!
I specifically asked you not to.
- Ignore her.
[sighs]
- I just... I just
don't understand.
What's the problem with
the usual boring clients?
- They're usual and boring.
I've met some of my best
friends through this gig.
- That's some fucking
military-grade mediocrity
you've got right there, love.
[thud]
[footsteps]
- Something feels off.
- Of course it feels off,
that's the whole fucking point.
[sighs]
It's probably some
bored, ultra-rich,
hoarding fucked-up video so
you can wake to in their bunker
after they've caused the
downfall of civilization.
Trapped in this
world, we're done.
It's a place driven mad
by repressed desire.
The Empire.
- Never ended yet, I know.
- Don't be smart.
- Why do the tapes
smell like that?
Like they've been treated
with... some sort of chemical.
And how are they going to know
if we've even watched the tape?
- You need to tread lightly.
We don't know who's
behind the hand, alright?
Could be anyone.
- Ever heard of Sam Norda?
[background noise]
[deep breathing]
- Tell me.
What have you seen when
you watched the tapes?
- Fuck off.
- You see, Harriet,
something I learned about you
is something I
learned about myself.
We're looking for
the same thing.
To create something beautiful
and then be annihilated by it.
Cheers.
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[rumbles]
[static]
[growls]
- Did you enjoy their last tape?
- Exquisite.
- Cool.
So, what next?
[sighs]
- Can I...
Can I ask you something?
What's the purpose
of the assignments?
- The point of the rituals
is to empty yourselves,
to become meat, to bring
the impossible night.
These are ancient ways
of the flesh remastered
in polyester plastic and oxide.
There's power in the rituals,
but to achieve it in full,
you have to leave your
fears, become a true artist.
Tell me, where's the female?
- I don't know.
- Do you want to know who
she's fucking right now?
- How do you know where she is?
The rituals give
us unbound vision.
They can transport
you to new places.
The rituals will
teach you to see.
And once you gain true vision,
you'll get your heart's desire.
Oh.
Can you see it yet?
[exhales]
- So?
- Does this feel right to you?
- Well, I have a theory.
It's... It's an auto-hypnosis
prompt, like a trigger.
He's pulling a
Manchurian candidate.
- Do you feel like we're
in control of this?
- Are we ever really in control?
Come on.
Be a good boy.
[rustles]
[radio speaking]
[radio speaking intensifies with
rumbling]
[radio speaking with rumbling
continues]
[transition sound]
[rumbling continues]
[lights]
[rumbling continues]
[tense sound]
[burns]
[rustles]
[rustles]
[radio speaking]
[typing]
[radio speaking continues]
[paper rustles]
[sniffles]
[radio speaking continues with
tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[slow surprise]
[heavy breathing]
- I've got it.
The Key of Solomon.
The signs from all the tapes.
They're from this book.
14th century.
It's for conjuring
demons and shit.
[heavy breathing]
All the tapes are from...
- I don't know.
Is it on the tape?
- No. Because VHS
tape is magnetic,
so even if you wrote
it on the tape,
it wouldn't be on the footage.
- All right, yeah.
Yeah, I know.
[deep breathing]
Did you fuck with it
when you digitalized it?
- Why the fuck would I do that?
[sighs]
- I don't know.
For one of your video projects?
I don't know what goes on
inside your head anymore.
[soft thuds]
[rustles]
[exhales]
[rustles]
[tense sound]
[static]
[static]
[tense sound intensifies]
[switch]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
[static]
[gasping]
[shallow breathing]
- Do you recall
doing any of this?
- No.
No.
This is...
This is...
I've never...
[nervous breathing]
[rustles]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[eerie sound]
[eerie sound continues]
[metal clanking]
[eerie sound continues]
- You know something about him?
Sam Norda.
He's the audience.
Isn't he?
[metal clanking]
- Yeah.
Who's Norder?
[eerie sound continues]
- Tell us.
- Come on, Bea.
[metal clanking]
- Maybe...
Maybe he used to own this
place called Mandragore Films.
And they would do custom
films for premium clientele.
This was ages ago.
Before websites.
When you're from the
industry, people come and go.
You know?
One day you're
friends with someone,
and then you never
see them again.
You know how it is.
Everyone that Sam liked
eventually went away.
- He's back, isn't he?
- He's dead.
- Did you shoot an assignment?
[deep breathing]
- Perhaps check in 40 minutes.
[metal clanking]
[lights]
[burns]
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
- What are you doing?
Where's Bea?
- What do you want?
- The footage.
It's making us sick.
When I watch them this
time, it's all fucked up.
Wrong.
It's all wrong.
- Jasper.
I told you about
watching the tape.
- It keeps changing.
- Jasper, Jasper.
[heavy breathing]
Am I his customer service?
[deep breathing]
What do you want me to do?
- I want you to fuck off.
No more referrals.
Just stay out of our
lives, do you understand?
[exhales]
[suspenseful music]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[nervous breathing]
[suspenseful music continues]
- I can't play on.
[eerie sound]
[eerie sound]
[tense sound]
[tense sound with eerie sound
continues]
[tense sound with eerie sound
continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
- I've figured it out.
It's not that hard
to understand.
If you let me really
think about it.
- Come on, aw!
- No. No!
[rustles]
[footsteps]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
- Can you see it?
Can you see it yet?
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound intensifies]
The female has been behind
the electronic grain
between the frequencies
inside the gamut.
You fear for her, but
the female has no fear.
You try to protect her,
but she has come to
us under her own will.
The female is ready
to become a vessel
to what sits behind the veil.
The only way to bring her
back is to master the rituals,
capture the flow of
time, to haunt it.
[warp sound]
But you struggle
because you're weak.
The female can see it.
Can you see it yet?
- Noder?
[sighs]
[sighs]
- Can you see it yet?
[tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[suspenseful music continues]
[vibrates]
- Harry?
[ringing]
[door opens]
[paper rustles]
[soft thud]
[rustles]
[static]
[shallow breathing]
[shallow breathing continues]
[door knob rattles]
[door opens]
[tense sound]
[static]
[rolling]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[footsteps]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[plastic rustles]
[shallow breathing]
[plastic rustles]
[switch]
[plastic rustles]
- Turn it on.
[switch]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[rumbles with rolling sound
continues]
[door opens]
[switch]
[tense sound]
[eerie sound]
[shallow breathing]
[rumbles with rolling sound]
[tense sound]
[static]
[static]
[rustles]
[thud]
[rustles]
[lid opens]
[paper rustles]
[tense sound]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[thud]
[footsteps]
[steel rustles]
[switch]
[static]
- Where is she?
- I can take you there.
[static]
Open the door.
[static]
- Hi, I'm Snake.
- And I'm Flower.
We know that our
collective really, really,
really, really does.
- You have the key.
[rumbles with static]
[switch]
[rumbles with static]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
[tense sound]
[footsteps]
[tense sound]
[thud]
[shallow breathing]
[shallow breathing continues]
[shallow breathing continues]
[shallow breathing continues]
- Open the door.
[shallow breathing continues]
[static]
[tense sound intensifies with
static]
[rolling sound]
[rolling sound continues]
[rumbles with static]
[switch]
[tense sound intensifies]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[tense sound continues]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music]
[END]