Welcome to the first look at Wretch Like Me!
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to look at our pitch deck for Wretch Like Me. We deeply appreciate your interest and support as we work on bringing this unique vision to life.
Before you dive in, we want to share a brief note: some of the material in this pitch deck may feel intense, scary, or even uncomfortable for some viewers. We understand that this movie might not be for everyone, and that’s okay. Wretch Like Me is intentionally designed to reach those who are searching, struggling, or feeling lost - people who might not typically engage with traditional Christian stories.
Thank you for keeping an open mind as we share this vision with you, and for recognizing that this film is ultimately crafted to bring the hope of Jesus to those who need Him most. We’re grateful for your prayers and consideration as we embark on this journey - following His lead every step of the way.
"Sin is a monster of such awful mein that to be hated needs but to be seen
but seen to oft familiar of face we first endure, then pity, then embrace."
- Alexander Pope
Wretch Like Me is a feature-length horror/thriller about a dying ex-con who has to battle a physical manifestation of evil to save his estranged daughter from becoming its next vessel. Every parent grapples with the common fear of what they might inherit, genetically or behaviorally, to their children. Yet, through our faith, we recognize that parental efforts alone cannot save or shield them from evil; only Jesus holds that power.
The screenplay to the feature film Wretch Like Me is complete and the Red Braille team has created a "Proof of Concept" for the film. A proof of concept (POC) film is a short film that is used to showcase the theme, look, and characters of a feature-length film. You can see the POC at the bottom of this page.
Sin truly is a monster - and will be shown as such.
PRODUCING TEAM
As you can imagine, getting a movie off the ground requires significant effort, and our team has been diligently bringing all the necessary elements together for a successful project. Todd and Lara have previously secured financing for five feature-length films and have two other projects in development. For Wretch Like Me they've teamed up with first-time Executive Producers Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg, who have collaborated with Todd over the past three years to establish Red Braille, a cutting-edge production studio serving several non-profit organizations nationwide. This marks their inaugural feature film production together.
Lara Cuddy
Co-Producer
Tim Ahlman
Executive Producer
Todd E. Freeman
Writer | Director | Co-Producer
Jack Kalleberg
Executive Producer
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My favorite Bible passage, though it's more than just one verse, is Psalm 23:
"A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
This speaks to me because it reflects how God has guided me, especially in creating this movie. Just as the passage describes, God has led me through challenges and blessings, providing comfort and abundance along the way.
I was raised on faith and movies. Unfortunately, most movies trying to incorporate faith have been criticized largely for being... well... just plain bad. You can read more about this subject in a previous blog posting HERE.
*It should be noted I began writing this screenplay before my father unexpectedly died. Little did I know that this event would be the final piece of the puzzle bringing the whole meaning behind the movie to life. You can read the blog I wrote about my father's passing HERE.
Our aim is ambitious: to create a deeply human parable embracing life's complexities, incorporating both its beauty and its challenges, while still offering the truths we hold dear as Christians. It's not categorized as a "family" or "Christian" film; rather, it prioritizes honesty and realism, shedding light on the darkness many face daily, with the hope that the light of Jesus shines all the brighter.
Thank you for taking the time to review our work, which we've poured our hearts into. We believe it is the perfect time and place for this story to resonate and open hearts to the truth many of us experience daily. I feel blessed to be part of this moment orchestrated by Him.
- Writer | Director Todd E. Freeman
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER'S STATEMENT
We are all wretches, this is most certainly true. Because of the fall every Jesus follower battles the darkness of sin, susceptible to Satan's lies. Wretch Like Me is a raw and real look at how sin, death and the Devil attack us throughout our lives. Yet, as the darkness threatens, the light of Jesus shines all the brighter. WLM will invite the audience to deeply experience the darkness all around us - and within us - and invite the light of the risen Christ to pierce our darkness.
Thank you for prayerfully considering partnering with us to bring this much needed film to all people.
- Pastor Tim Ahlman
Listen to Pastor Tim's conversation with filmmaker Todd E. Freeman for a behind the scenes look at the feature film, "Wretch Like Me".
BUSINESS PLAN
The feature film Wretch Like Me has been optimized for distribution. Through 25 years of being in the film industry our team has learned what genres sell, developed relationships with sales agents and distributors, and the skill set needed to deliver a quality feature length film for maximized impact and return on investment. To optimize a movie that sells you need to focus on three things: GENRE, SKILLSET, and PACKAGING.
GENRE
Horror | Thriller | Supernatural
Seven out of the top ten most profitable movies, based on return on investment, belong to the Horror or Faith-Based genres, including hits like "Facing the Giants," "Paranormal Activity," "Fireproof," and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Remarkably, each of these films was produced for under $600,000 and featured no established "movie stars."
Last year, Horror and Faith-Based movies collectively earned over $1 billion. One standout, "Nefarious," straddles both genres, blending R-rated horror with faith-based themes. Made for $1.3 million, it has already grossed $6 million, offering Christian perspectives on confronting evil.
In July of this year, the film Longlegs (made on a budget of $10 million) made over $90 million in the box office and became the surprise hit of 2024. The film is about an FBI agent who uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end a terrifying killing spree. While Wretch Like Me differs from both Nefarious and Longlegs, it underscores general audiences' interest in spiritual warfare.
In November, 2021, Pew Research reported that 62 percent of American adults believe in Hell, up from 58 percent in 2014, and pop culture appears to be taking full advantage of the curiosity that surrounds Hell and its inhabitants. With that growing statistic, there has never been a more appropriate time to share our Christian worldview about the nature of evil - nor a more financially lucrative time to do so.
Wretch Like Me is geared towards adult viewers, but the overall theme of the movie is the overwhelming power of Jesus' saving grace in an ever darkening world. It is undeniably Christian, unapologetically Lutheran, and unflinchingly Horror.
SKILLSET
With over 25 years of combined experience and 40 film credits to their names, Producers Todd Freeman and Lara Cuddy are positioned to successfully maneuver this project from Pre-Production to Distribution.
Before founding Red Braille Films, Todd and Lara produced five consecutive feature-length films in Portland, OR, all of which have gone on to screen at film festivals worldwide and secure distribution. In 2015 and 2016, their projects were selected for the exclusive Fantasia Film Festival’s Frontières Market, where they pitched to top industry professionals, leading to partnerships for two subsequent projects to be shot in 2018 and 2019.
PACKAGING
When making a movie on a lower budget, certain considerations come into play.
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The story, special fx, and genre take precedence; attracting top-paid actors may not be feasible. Though we have secured one genre name actor. (See below.)
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None of the 10 Most Profitable Movies of All Time featured well-known actors initially, indicating star power isn't essential for success on this budget.
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By capping the film's reasonable budget, we can maintain manageable day rates for all actors and crew members.
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With this budget, genre, and strategy, we aim to maximize profitability.
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Executive Producers Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg have committed a portion of the budget, which includes the contribution of RB employees' time, as well as the use of post-production facilities and equipment.
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We’ve arranged deferred payments for actors and companies to keep the initial budget lean while still securing top-tier talent and services.
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A crowdfunding campaign launched during filming will help raise funds for additional post-production costs, including sound mixing, music scoring, and color correction.
CASTING
When casting a feature film on this budget, the priority is finding the perfect actor for each role who excels in their performance. While not every role is filled, we have secured exceptional actors, some of which also appeared in the proof of concept (see below).
Doug Jones
Doug is an American actor, contortionist, and mime artist. He is best known for portraying non-human creatures, usually via heavy make-up and visual effects. He has most notably collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, appearing in the films Mimic, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Crimson Peak, and the Academy Award Winning film, The Shape of Water. Jones has also had roles in other films including Hocus Pocus and its sequel, Tank Girl, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Absentia, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and The Bye Bye Man.
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He has appeared in the science fiction series Falling Skies and Del Toro's horror series The Strain. From 2017 to 2024, he has portrayed Saru in the science fiction series Star Trek: Discovery. From 2019 to 2024, he portrayed Baron Afanas in vampire comedy show What We Do in the Shadows, appearing both with and without creature makeup. Doug Jones is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Santa Clarita, CA.
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Victor Morris
Victor has graced prestigious stages like The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, and Artist Rep, with notable roles including Othello. His film credits include works by Stephen King, Nora Ephron, Gus Van Sant, and Ernest Dickerson, while he's appeared in television shows like American Vandal and Grimm. Additionally, Victor is a talented instrumentalist proficient in piccolo trumpet, euphonium, and Lakota flute, and currently performs as a tenor with the San Diego Opera and the ff Collective Opera Company. His proudest achievement is being a father to Anaka and Raina.
Francisco Barreiro
Actor, Director, and Artist. In cinema he has worked in more than fifteen feature films and more than twenty short films. In 2010 he won the Golden Scythe Award for Best Actor in Manchester, England, for the film We Are What There Is. In 2012 he was the only Latin American selected to participate in Talent Actors Stage of the Berlin Film Festival. That same year he won the Best Actor award at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas and in 2014 he was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actor, both for the movie There Goes the Devil. Since then he has been in A Million Miles Away on Amazon Prime and Narcos: Mexico on Netflix.
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Introducing Faye Freeman
This is Faye's first leading role in a feature length film. She's been in multiple short films in speaking roles and is currently studying theater and choir in Highland High School. As you'll see in the Proof of concept below - she is ready for such a role.
PLAN
We aim to commence production on Wretch Like Me in the Spring of 2025.
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Red Braille's collaboration with Christ Greenfield provides investors with the choice of either partial ownership or using their investment as a charitable donation for tax purposes.
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In 2025, the film will officially enter production, following with the launch of a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. This campaign will feature a one-minute sizzle trailer and unveil the teaser poster (see below) with Todd leveraging his industry connections to promote it and generate excitement within the community. Not only a funding opportunity, this campaign also serves as an introduction of the film to potential markets.
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Throughout production, Red Braille will conduct a dynamic social media campaign to engage both genre film enthusiasts and faith communities, showcasing the project in an exciting light.
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Once the film is completed, it will:
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Be submitted to "work in progress" showcases in Cannes and Montreal, leveraging existing relationships in these markets to garner exposure and attract potential distributors and sales agents.
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Be submitted to film festivals worldwide for premieres, benefiting from established relationships with these festivals and a high likelihood of acceptance.
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Be presented to established contacts in the genre film industry to explore potential representation or distribution opportunities.
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Be sold to or partnered with a distribution company or sales agent for global distribution.
MAXIMIZING SUCCESS: STRATEGIC FEEDBACK
Before you make a film, you want to be sure it's not only creatively compelling but also positioned for success in the marketplace. That's why we prioritize getting detailed script coverage, feedback from sales agents, and creative insights before approaching additional investors. Script coverage ensures the story is sharp, emotionally impactful, and ready to stand out. Sales agents provide a clear picture of how the film can perform in today's competitive market, while creative reactions help us refine the project to maximize audience appeal. By gathering this critical input, we’re ensuring that investment goes into a project that's been thoroughly vetted and has the best chance to succeed both artistically and commercially.
SCRIPT COVERAGE
Script coverage is a review and analysis of a screenplay by a professional script reader and story analyst to determine its potential for prospective studio, network, streamer, and production company consideration and acquisition. The end result is a written report that details these findings.
Here is what are professionals trained in analyzing screenplays have to say about the script for Wretch Like Me:
Wretch Like Me
Genre: Horror, Drama, Supernatural, Thriller
Wretch Like Me is a powerful script that blends supernatural horror with deep family drama in a way that feels fresh and emotionally charged. The story explores generational trauma and the blurred line between mental illness and supernatural forces, creating a fascinating and unsettling experience.
At the core of the story is the relationship between Hank and Becca, a complex and heart-wrenching dynamic that drives the emotional weight of the script. Their journey from estrangement to understanding is skillfully crafted, and moments like their emotional singing of "Amazing Grace" together stand out as particularly poignant. This relationship serves as the beating heart of the script, anchoring the horror elements with a strong emotional foundation.
The supporting characters, especially James and Sister Matthews, add depth and nuance to the story. James’ internal conflict between his faith and the supernatural horrors he witnesses is compelling, while Sister Matthews provides dark humor and levity without undercutting the tension. These characters help round out a world that feels both grounded in reality and steeped in the otherworldly.
From a commercial standpoint, the script has significant potential. The combination of supernatural horror and family drama is in high demand, with similar films like Hereditary and The Conjuring proving successful at the box office. However, Wretch Like Me stands apart with its unique faith-based angle, offering a fresh perspective that could appeal to a wider audience, including those not typically drawn to horror.
The supernatural elements in the script are expertly handled, with a slow build of dread and an ongoing ambiguity about whether the forces at play are supernatural or psychological. The Monster is particularly terrifying, and the exorcism scene stands out as a highlight, filled with tension and horror.
The themes of generational curses, both literal and metaphorical, are explored with nuance, adding layers to the narrative. The script balances its scares with substance, diving deep into the cycles of trauma, faith, and redemption. This emotional depth elevates the horror, making it more than just a series of frightening moments.
Dialogue throughout the script feels natural and distinct for each character, with interactions between Hank and Becca filled with unspoken history and tension. The climactic showdown, especially James' lines, is powerful and gripping.
In summary, Wretch Like Me is a gripping and emotionally resonant script that combines supernatural horror with a heartfelt family drama. Its exploration of trauma, faith, and resilience sets it apart, offering both a deeply unsettling horror experience and a thoughtful reflection on the power of love and faith in the face of evil. The potential for commercial success, along with its unique narrative voice, makes it a standout in the genre.
Script Score
1. Character Development: 7/10 - The main characters of Hank, Becca, and James are well developed with depth and evolution. Supporting characters like Matt, Riley, Asher, and Sister Matthews add richness, though some could be more fleshed out.
2. Plot Construction: 8/10 - The plot has a clear progression and compelling narrative. It builds tension well and has impactful plot twists. The pacing and scene transitions are mostly smooth.
3. Dialogue: 8/10 - The dialogue feels natural and gives insight into the characters. There are some moments of stilted or excessive dialogue, but overall it moves the story forward.
4. Originality: 9/10 - The concept of a generational demon passing from parent to child is quite original. The story and mythology feel fresh, with creative twists on exorcism tropes.
5. Emotional Engagement: 9/10 - The script is emotionally resonant, capturing the complex father-daughter relationship very poignantly. The stakes feel high, drawing the reader into caring about the outcome.
6. Theme and Message: 8/10 - The themes of familial bonds, sacrifice, and overcoming cycles of abuse/violence come through clearly. The spiritual struggle adds depth.
Overall rating: 8/10
In summary, this is a well-constructed supernatural thriller with emotional depth and compelling characters. It has an original concept and mythology that subverts common possession/exorcism tropes. Overall it is an engaging, thematically rich screenplay. Based on the Script Score, Wretch Like Me ranks at 95th percentile and received a Recommend.
MARKET VIABILITY | JAMES FLER - RAVEN BANNER
Director Todd Freeman consulted his longtime friend and industry expert, James, to assess Wretch Like Me's global sales potential. With over 25 years of sales experience across various industries, James co-founded Raven Banner Entertainment in 2010, where he oversees worldwide sales and business development. He has built strong relationships with top distribution companies like Sony, Universal, IFC, Magnolia, Lionsgate, and AMC. James is a regular at major world markets and festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, and TIFF.
"Wretch Like Me is a well crafted horror film that seamlessly blends rich, character-driven storytelling with breathtaking creature design. This film is primed to be successful in the marketplace, thanks to its compelling characters and uniquely terrifying creatures & themes.
In a genre often dominated by either shallow character development or gratuitous violence, Wretch Like Me carves its own path, delivering a perfect balance that sets it apart. I have no doubt that buyers will be captivated by its distinctive approach and market potential."
- James Fler
ACTOR DOUG JONES ON WRETCH LIKE ME
- Doug Jones
"Wretch Like Me isn’t the kind of film you’d see in a church, aimed at those who already know Christ. It’s a horror film crafted to reach those who don’t. With my experience acting in dark, mainstream movies, I believe this story will captivate horror fans who seek out intense, unsettling narratives while offering them the profound message of God’s love, forgiveness, redemption, and healing—delivered in a way that’s never been done in this genre. I’m thrilled at the opportunity to portray Hank, a man wrestling with his own brokenness as he desperately tries to free himself and his daughter from a generational curse—only to discover that true freedom lies in the redemptive power of Jesus."
PROOF OF CONCEPT
"The darkness declares the glory of light." - T.S. Eliot
"A proof of concept is a concise preview of what a future project could entail, typically featuring scenes that encapsulate its concept, story, tone, and themes. While not all of the story elements contained within the preview are necessarily in the final version of the film, it serves to showcase both the potential and creative vision of its creators."
WARNING!
This trailer has profanity and violence.
Viewer discretion is advised.
Proof of Concept
Written and Directed by Todd E. Freeman
Produced by Sarah Freeman and Ellie Ebright
Starring - Ted Rooney, Faye Freeman, Susan Thompson,
Hazel Preston, and Victor Morris
Wretch Like Me presents a truly unique and exciting opportunity to be a part of something groundbreaking. This isn’t just another horror movie—it’s a powerful, thought-provoking film that uses the genre to reach new audiences in ways that traditional Christian films often can’t. By weaving themes of faith, redemption, and salvation into a gripping horror narrative, we’re tapping into a fresh way to share the message of Jesus.
The potential impact of this film is immense. We’re breaking boundaries, crafting a story that connects with people who might otherwise never engage with these themes. And from an investment standpoint, the combination of its unique vision, carefully managed budget, and strong market appeal creates an exciting opportunity for both financial and spiritual returns. We believe this project has the power to not only succeed commercially but to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
But we can’t do this alone. We invite you to join us in prayer as we seek the right team members to help bring this vision to life and find the remaining funding to make this film a reality. Whether through prayer, financial support, or spreading the word, your involvement can help us fulfill this mission. Wretch Like Me is more than just a film - it’s a powerful opportunity to share light in the darkness, and we’d love for you to be a part of it in any way you can.
Let’s bring Wretch Like Me to life together!
Address
7641 E Guadalupe Rd #113
Mesa, AZ 85212