The Burned Over District (2022) Movie Script

1
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[truck horn]
[gasps] Oh!
[breathing heavily]
Natalie...
Oh, no.
Hey.
It's not that bad.
It's not bad.
Just look at me.
Look at me, okay? Look at my eyes.
[gasps]
Help! Somebody help!
Natalie, please, no.
[cries] No!
[crying]
[breathing heavily]
Oh god...
[siren]
[cries]
[siren]
[screams]
[crying]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
Seriously?
Didn't you quit?
Didn't you?
[laughs] What does it matter at my age?
Who am I trying to impress?
[sighs] Can you just fuck off today, Mom?
I don't know how he's gonna afford
this place all on his own.
What do you say to
someone at a time like this?
You just have to let it run its course.
Eventually, he'll get back to his routine.
He'll find a new girl.
Preferably, a better one
next time around. [scoff]
Jesus Christ.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Cut the shit, Katie. You
and her never got along.
Don't pretend to be a saint now.
If I were him, I would just sell this place
and start over.
If he's lucky,
it's still not too late
for him to pull out of the mortgage.
Would it kill you to be decent
for even one day?
At least have some respect for the dead,
or if anything, your son.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Will?
Mom and I are gonna get going.
Is there anything you need?
[kiss]
Katie?
It's my fault.
I was the one driving.
It should've been me.
Don't say that.
Please, don't think that.
It's not your fault, Will.
[sniffs]
[exhales]
[running water]
[inhale]
[creaking sound]
Will?
[breathing]
[weeps]
[weeps]
[weeps]
[weeps]
[weeps]
Come back to bed.
Come on.
Just come back to bed.
What happened to me?
What did you do to me?
You did this!
You did this!
This is your fault!
You left!
I'm still here!
You left!
I have to stay!
[gasps] [sighs]
[exhale]
[screams]
[music]
[scream]
[scream]
[wood chop]
[music]
[screams]
Will!
[gasps] Oh, chill.
[gasps]
I didn't mean to scare you.
I'm sorry. What are you doing here?
I brought beer.
How's...
There is something so wrong here.
It's like something
dark
that's just hovering over me,
and I can't seem to shake it.
That's normal
under the circumstances
Maybe it's Natalie you feel.
This is different.
I can feel it in my soul.
And it's not Natalie.
[music]
Do you ever really think about
what comes after this?
I've been trying to wrap my head around it,
[sigh]
Does everything really just turn black?
You sure it's a good idea for you
to stay here alone?
I don't like where your head's at.
What if you come stay with me for a while?
Or maybe I could stay with you.
[sigh]
Do you ever think that
maybe the dead prefer where they are?
Will, what's going through your head?
[music]
I think it's time for you to leave.
[blazing fire]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[birds chirping]
[music]
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[screaming]
[whispering]
[insects chirping]
[whispering]
[whispering]
[whispering]
[eerie sound]
You all right, son?
Yeah.
Why don't you
step over here, away from that edge.
Sorry, I heard...
Heard what, son?
I don't know. Nothing.
Fred Middleton.
I live just down the road there.
Will Pleasance.
Yeah. Sorry about your situation.
You weren't thinking of
stepping over that edge
now, were you?
No.
Hey, what the hell is this place?
Well,
no one knows where the hole leads
or how it came to be.
Back before the settlers arrived,
the natives would use this hole to
discard the evil that lived among them.
Rapists, murderers,
pedophiles, and thieves,
All thrown down there
Primitive justice, I suppose.
But natives got wiped out.
Settlers brought religion.
Religion brought fear.
And that fear brought
more use for this place.
All sorts of rituals and gatherings,
executions, baptisms, happening here
It became a holy place of sorts.
[laughs] Weird, wild shit, man.
Okay. So, I suppose that's what these
symbols are?
Yeah.
A lot of...
Lot of dead guys down there.
People were simple then,
willing to put blind
faith in charismatic men
and promises of everlasting life.
[scoffs] Little did they know, the darkness
that would come along with it.
You know, man was meant to pass
the word fo the Lord, but
it wasn't always the Lord
that was talking to them.
Okay.
Look, sorry about this,
about meeting this way.
I don't know what came over me.
No sweat, kid.
I just don't think there's
a need for another body
down there, so I thought I'd come by today
and make sure it didn't get one.
Stop by. We'll have a beer, eh?
Yeah, all right.
[knocking]
Will!
[wind sound]
[door squeak open]
Will?
[door closes]
[clock ticking]
Ah, that's as good as it gets.
Just like your father.
[thumping sound]
Will?
[footsteps]
[floor squeaking]
Oh, nice.
Will!
[sudden sound]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[electric current sound]
[click sound]
[wind blows]
[music]
[music]
[telephone ringing]
Hi, this is Will.
Leave me a message.
[tone]
Hey, it's me.
I just got into town.
Give me a call when you can.
Hey, have you heard from Mom at all?
I'll see you soon. Bye.
[tone]
[click]
[car door open]
[car door closes]
[fire crackling]
[cries]
[screams]
[wind blowing]
[squeaking sound]
There's no place for you here!
We are done!
He's my son! My son. My...
You need to leave!
[door chimes]
You need to leave now. Go!
He's my baby. He's mine.
What can I do for you, Ma'am?
Ma'am?
I need gas.
I couldn't quite figure
out how to work the pumps.
Those old pumps can be tricky.
Come now.
I'll get you squared away.
Ladies first.
Do I pay here or inside?
I can't do anything with that plastic,
unfortunately.
I don't have any cash on me.
Could I maybe come back and pay you?
My brother lives up the hill,
just a few miles away.
That young man who lost his wife
in that awful accident some months back?
I'm sorry.
My apologies.
That was rude of me.
It's just this is such a small town,
and I'm afraid everyone gets
in everyone's business,
if you know what I mean.
It's okay.
But yeah, that's him.
You took him! That's my baby!
[cries]
My baby, give him! Give him back to me!
Come here, bitch!
[cries] No! No! No, no!
Come on! Get in there!
[door closes]
No! [cries] No! No! No! no! [sobs]
[cries]
No! [cries] No! No! No! no! [sobs]
Poor girl.
She hasn't been the same since.
What happened to her?
Her child slipped away one night
while she was sleeping.
She just went on caring
for the child for weeks
without telling anyone.
We're a tight knit community here.
We take care of one another.
But some things,
some things just need to run their course.
My God. How awful.
I can't imagine what that's like.
You're all set, Ma'am.
What do I owe you?
I tell you what.
Why don't you just swing by when you get
a chance and, we'll make things right.
Okay? You have a good night now.
My name's Daniel, by the way.
Nice to meet you.
Watch yourself in the hills.
Take care now.
[car door open]
[car door closes]
[phone vibrate sound]
Hello?
He what?
Yes. Yes, I'm on my way.
[click]
[keys jingling]
[music]
We saw him staggering
near traffic.
Pulled over to make sure if he was okay.
But then he took a swing at my partner.
What?
Now he's here.
I am so sorry.
He's been going through a lot lately.
His wife actually just
died in a car accident.
Yeah. I remember that. That was a mess.
Anything you can do?
I'll let it go this time.
It's your call.
Yeah, let him go.
All right.
Thank you.
No problem.
Hey. Let's go.
Today.
Hey.
[metal door swing]
All right?
Okay?
You need to practice
that right hook.
Come on. Come on, let's go.
[grunts]
Yep. There you go.
The last time I had to carry your drunken
corpse to bed was when you were 17.
You snuck out to see a Slayer concert,
and your buddies dropped you,
literally, at the end of the drive.
[laughs] Those assholes. Oh, my god.
[laughs] Good thing I was awake and not,
well, you know.
[laughs] It's a miracle you all
made it home alive.
Not a single sober sophomore in your squad.
[hums]
[laughs] Oh, yeah.
That's good. Yeah. [laughs]
Pretty good, right?
You blew chunks all over that night.
Oh, okay.
[laughs] That must've been a
hell of a show.
I was scared, you know?
I was scared that
that he'd be awake.
Or that he'd wake up when I got home.
That's why I drank so much.
[exhales]
You kept him away.
You kept him away.
Thanks.
I'm sorry about this.
No. Get some sleep, little brother.
Yeah. Yeah, I'm gonna get some sleep.
[music]
[music]
[click]
[ringing]
At the tone, please record
your message. When you have finished re...
[click]
[water dripping]
[water dripping]
[sudden sound]
Hello?
[door squeak]
[glass breaks]
[dripping sound]
[thump]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[music]
We defile the ancient graves
of thine ancestors,
tearing apart the resting places that once
housed lowly spirits.
We beg that you bestow your knowledge
of the cosmos so that we may serve you
and one day, stand beside you.
Inject life into the
walled fortresses of decay.
Promote the divine plan
to conquer the living.
In torment, ye shall rise!
[foreign language]
Tonight is a return to the Golden Age.
The star alignments are
once again happening.
The year was 1892.
My great-greatgrandfather
was first brought here
and given the secrets of the stars.
He was given the knowledge
that this right here before us tonight
is a vortex point
that will relink us with
our ethereal masters.
During the last Golden Cycle,
we were in harmony with all things.
Everything was us, and we were everything.
It was perfection.
Portals just like the one
we stand before tonight
created interdimensional doorways,
linking the heavens with the Earth.
Humanity's corruption
and blatant disregard for
unity tore us further and further apart,
destroying the perfection that was.
Fear and judgment kept us from our true
purpose.
Chaos replaced harmony.
Mankind has fallen into a dormant slumber,
and we need to wake up!
We have an opportunity tonight,
and we will gladly carry out our duty,
bear our burden, and fulfil our destiny
because fate commands it!
There is no meaning any longer.
[gasps]
[whimpers]
Your life is controlled by fear
and judgment.
I can see it in your eyes.
It consumes you.
But tonight, tonight
your life will be worth
something.
Tonight, your life will have meaning.
[gasps] [cries]
[screams] [cries]
[screams] [cries]
[sighs]
[screams]
[groans]
[groans]
[flop]
[music]
[chanting]
[chanting]
[sound]
[music]
[screams] No!
[wretches] [coughs]
[metal clanking]
[screams] Will! Will! Will! Will! [gasps]
[door squeak]
[screams] Will! Will! Will! Will! [gasps]
What? Hey
[cries] Those people, that man!
What man? What man? What are you
talking about?
They killed Mom!
They cut her open! They saw me.
Shh.
[music]
Go upstairs
Hide.
[cries]
Go.
[music]
[music]
[metal jiggles]
[gun clock]
[grunts]
[metal clanks]
[grunts]
[grunts]
[punch]
[grunts]
[thump]
Oh, my god! Will! Will! [cries]
I've seen you before.
Where's my sister?
What are the voices?
What's down there?
It is not what's below that speaks to you
but above!
And it seems that the
heavens have chosen you,
my son.
Who the fuck are you people?
What do you want? Huh?
There are no accidental meetings in
this life.
[blade swish]
This has always been your fate.
[thump]
[grunts] [groans] Oh, god!
Oh, god! [grunts] [groans]
[grunts] [groans]
[hums]
[gasps]
[hums]
[cries]
Will! Will! [cries]
Shh.
Where is Will?
Your brother has served his purpose.
[cries] Please! Help me! Help me! [cries]
Shh...
[cries]
[hums]
No! [screams] [cries] No, no, no!
[cries]
No, no, no! No! No! No! No! No! No!
No! No! No! [screams]
[cries] [screams]
[cries] [screams]
[cries] [screams]
[cries] [screams]
[cries]
[hissing sound]
[cries] [screams]
[music]
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[baby sound]
[music]
[music]
[bells ringing]
[music]
[music]
[music]
[thunder]
[music]
[music]
[music[
[music]
[music]
[gasps] [groans]
[gasps] [groans]
[gasps] [groans]
[gasps] [groans]
[music]
[fire burning]
[coughs] [gasps]
Fuck.
[gasps] [screams] [gasps]
Gentlemen, that ain't for us.
We're not gentlemen.
Speak for yourself.
Ooh!
Gentlemen, this is to inform you that
unless overdue payments for tailoring
equipment are made within 24 hours,
we will repossess said equipment.
Balance now due, $321.86.
[knocking]
Skin and Flint Finance Corporation.
I, Fleecem, President.
[clocks gun]
That'll put us out of
business. What'll we do?
[door opens]
You guys worry about that.
I'm too young to worry
and get wrinkles on my
pretty little face. What we need is a
little music to cheer us up.
What the hell happened to you?
When I said to come over for a beer,
this is not at all what I had in mind.
Look, I know what you're thinking,
but you're banged up pretty good, kid.
And I would not go looking for a fight
in that condition.
They killed my mom.
And now they have my sister.
You just tell me where they are.
It's damn Danson family.
They're convinced that that pit on your
property is some kind of gateway.
They've been worshiping at that
fucking place for hundreds of years.
They have destroyed this town with
their insanity.
[sigh]
And they even have my little girl.
I don't understand.
Why don't you do something?
Or what about the police?
These people are deeply imbedded in
this community.
No one'll touch them.
And that pit that you stumbled upon,
that was no coincidence.
There is a heavy evil in this town.
And the closer you get to that place,
the stronger it gets.
Okay. Yeah. Fred, I appreciate
you, patching me up, man. But enough.
This is bullshit.
You talk about these people like
they're demons or deities.
These are people. And people bleed.
I've seen what that place is
capable of.
It will make you see
things that are not real.
[sighs]
And it may be the reason
your wife died in that crash.
Don't talk about my wife.
I know how she died.
It had nothing to do with some cult
or a fucking hole in the ground.
I need your help, Fred.
All right. [sniffs]
Well, if you'd rather sit
here and drink yourself
to death,
be my guest.
Where are you going?
Hunting.
[music]
[gasps]
They stole my shotgun.
You just keep messing up.
Who's there?
[gun clocks]
Mom?
I never wanted you.
You've always been a burden in my life.
You're not real.
You're a loser, just like your father.
And now, that pretty wife of yours is
dead because of you.
It's all your fault.
You're not real!
[gunshot]
Your mother serves in the depths of a
forgotten hell.
[thump]
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
God damn it! Fuck! [screams]
[door open]
[hums]
Perfect.
Why are you doing this to me?
Is she everything that you said she is?
They called you,
just as they called to me,
and just as they called
to my family before me.
One month ago,
they brought you to us.
You see,
the universe is controlled by them.
To them, humanity is
nothing but a plaything.
All of your ideas, values, hopes and dreams
are nothing more than a grand illusion.
But you,
you were given the gift of sight.
In this void of existence,
they chose you.
But they needed to strip away your earthly
attachments.
And we did that for them. For you.
I once questioned my calling.
I was awakened
by the thunderous cries from above,
and I was taken
by a celestial force
to the spot
where the ancient beings
had fallen to the earth.
With them,
a darkness followed.
No longer able to link
the earth with the heavens,
they demanded blood.
And it became my duty,
our duty,
to deliver it.
And we will.
[car door opens]
You!
Move.
Come on.
[door closes]
Here.
Move.
Get up.
[foreign language]
Shut up.
Shut the fuck up!
They see you.
Where is she?
She is with us now.
[gun clicks]
Last chance
She achieved a greater
understanding.
What did you do?
Our seed is growing within
her now.
[gunshot]
Fuck.
No. No.
Move.
Move!
Get in.
Get in the fucking car.
Come on.
Get in.
Start it.
[door closes]
[engine starts]
Drive.
Our time has come.
We need not fear death
but should embrace it
with open arms.
We'll shed our earthly
bodies
and transcend.
Our creator spilt blood
so that our universe
could be born.
We will
in turn
offer up that same sacrifice.
Drink.
Please don't give me a reason.
Okay?
All right, get out of the car.
Quietly.
[car door opens]
[grunts] [gasps]
Don't.
[gasps] [coughs] [chokes]
[gunshot]
It's starting.
Paul.
[music]
[door slams]
[coughs]
[yells]
Ah! [groans] [grunts]
[grunts]
[gunshot]
[gasps]
Let's burn this fucker down.
[grunts]
Edith.
Go now.
Do what you need to do to get your sister
out of here.
But
give me some time to save my little girl.
You just keep your head
down in there, okay?
All right
The quieter we get
in and out, the better.
Something's coming.
I can feel it.
Yeah.
Let's go.
Okay.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Evy?
Daddy?
[cries]
I should've never let
you get mixed up with
these people.
[cries]
Daddy,
I'm so sorry
No.
I'm sorry
for being such a mean,
drunken piece of shit...
[gasps]
And I'm sorry.
That you're just as blind as the rest of
them.
[groans]
[sighs]
[door opens]
[gunshot]
[gun clicks]
[screams] No! [struggles]
[gunshot]
[coughs] [gasps]
[coughs]
Will?
Will! [cries]
I thought you were dead.
I thought... [cries]
It's been weeks.
What?
Where have you been?
What did they do to you? Will?
Something's coming, Katie.
Get up.
[gun clicks]
Where'd you get that?
Where's Fred?
There's a car parked just down the street.
We got to be quick, and we got to be quiet,
but we...
No.
We can get the fuck out of here.
We can get out of this town.
You have no idea
what they did to me,
what I've seen.
I can't.
I can't leave.
Don't ask me to risk losing you again.
Not for this.
I have
to do something.
And I'll do this without you.
No, you won't.
Let's go.
[music]
[music]
[clock ticking]
[foreign language]
[gun clicks]
I'm no threat to you.
In the end,
we all want the same thing.
You.
How?
You were supposed to be a sacrifice.
You have spilled enough blood here tonight.
And you.
Don't you see?
He's holding you back!
He's keeping you tethered
to this anatomical prison.
Everything you know is a lie.
The truth
has been revealed.
Welcome
to eternity.
[screams]
[gunshot]
[weeps]
[gurgles]
No! [weeps] No, no, no.
Get out.
No.
Get out.
No, I can't.
It's okay.
Shh... I can't leave you. [weeps]
It's okay.
[cries]
[music]
No!
No! [cries]
[gasps]
You're free now.
No longer tethered
by your earthly attachments.
We're all here to bear witness.
[music]
You can finally transcend.
[music]
[music]
[music]
[gasps] [cries]
No! [cries]
Deo?
Deo.
Deo!
[foreign language]
Deo!
[cries]
Deo!
[foreign language] [groans]
Deo! [screams]
[foreign language]
[cries]
Deo.
[groans]
[foreign language]
[screams]
[cries]
Deo.
[foreign language]
[cries]
[cries]
Deo. Deo. Deo. Deo.
[cries]
Deo. Deo. Deo. Deo.
[cries]
Deo!
[gunshot]
[gasps]
[music]
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[weeps]
[weeps]
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