Film Treatment © Barry Ashworth, All Rights Reserved 2016
ACT ONE: THE FALL
Opening Scene
Snow-whipped winds sweep the desolate highlands of Hokkaidori, a land where legends and curses intertwine. RYŪ, a battle-worn warrior with eyes like cold steel, rides hard through the drifting snow. Clutched to his back is HIMEKO, a princess whose gentle beauty contrasts with the fury of the storm. Behind them, ghostly samurai on midnight horses give chase, their armor echoing in the howling wind.
Himeko’s voice, trembling yet resolute, cuts through the clamor:
HIMEKO: “Ryū, we have no choice—if we do not act now, our fate is sealed!”
Ryū’s hand hovers over the scabbard of the cursed blade—a demon sword said to devour souls. With no other escape, he draws it. In an instant, the blade erupts in a plume of dark, burning mist. Ryū’s form shudders as the forbidden power surges through him. Under its influence, he transforms into something both heroic and monstrous, slashing down their relentless pursuers with inhuman speed.
But in the chaos, a sudden cry shatters the moment. Himeko gasps as a searing pain pierces her side. In horror, Ryū sees crimson bloom on her snowy kimono—an arrow of fate, or perhaps the cursed sword’s own treachery.
RYŪ (whispering): “No… Himeko!”
The life in her eyes dims as Ryū cradles her gently, despair and fury mingling in his gaze. In anguish, he casts the demonic blade over the cliff’s edge, watching it vanish into the swirling darkness. With a heavy heart, he lifts Himeko’s limp form, the weight of his curse settling upon him.
Later that night in the stone-walled corridors of Castle Akihiro
Ryū stands before KING AKHIHIRO, a stern yet sorrowful ruler whose eyes reflect a personal betrayal. The courtiers fall silent as the king’s voice, low and anguished, fills the great hall.
KING AKHIHIRO: “You were sworn to protect her. Now you return with her lifeless body. For this sin, your life is forfeit at dawn.”
Defeated, Ryū bows his head. As he is led away, a spectral figure emerges from the shadows—FUJIN, an enigmatic wizard whose presence carries ancient wisdom.
FUJIN (softly): “Ryū, listen well. Himeko’s soul is not at peace. The cursed blade did not simply end her life—it captured her spirit. There is still hope… in the deep mists of the Kuro Mori, the haunted forest of our ancestors.”
Ryū’s eyes burn with defiance even as he replies in a broken tone:
RYŪ: “Hope is lost. She is dead, and so am I.”
FUJIN (firmly): “Not if the sword still holds her. Seek out Mori, the sorcerer of the Kuro Mori. Only his ancient arts can free her soul.”
ACT TWO: THE JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS
In the Shadows of Yami no Machi
Ryū’s escape from execution is as desperate as it is miraculous. At sunrise, while the angry masses prepare to seal his fate, a sudden surge of power frees him from his bonds. With his heart pounding, he flees the castle, dodging arrows and jeers.
Within the labyrinthine alleys of Yami no Machi—the City of Thieves—Ryū finds both refuge and danger. An elderly woman in a modest teahouse senses his desperation and discreetly leads him to a secret meeting place.
Later, inside the dimly lit common room of ARUTSU-INN, Ryū meets ARUTSU, a burly innkeeper whose sharp eyes miss nothing. The inn’s atmosphere is thick with whispered conspiracies, and soon Ryū assembles his unlikely band of allies:
- BANEI & FIZU, renowned ogre hunters with hearts as fierce as their blades.
- AKAI SENSEI (The Red Priest), a fallen cleric seeking redemption for past sins.
- A small contingent of corrupt city guards, motivated by coin more than honor.
- KIYOSHI, a cunning rogue with secrets of his own—whose calculating gaze reveals an agenda not entirely aligned with Ryū’s quest.
Before departing, a street merchant, eyes glinting with greed, addresses Ryū while eyeing the demon sword strapped at his side.
MERCHANT: “That cursed blade is worth more than you know, warrior. Sell it to me and rid yourself of its torment—use it too often, and it will claim more than your soul.”
Ryū’s grip tightens on the hilt, his voice low and resolute:
RYŪ: “It is not for sale. Its curse is mine to bear—and Himeko’s soul is trapped within it.”
In the shadows, Kiyoshi smiles silently, his true loyalties still hidden.
Through the Mists of the Ghost Swamps
The journey leads the band through the forbidding Ghost Swamps, where ancient spirits moan beneath gnarled trees. Amid the swirling fog, they come upon a village besieged by vengeful apparitions. One of Ryū’s men, overcome by emotion at the sight of a lost loved one among the ruins, abandons his post to intervene. Tempers flare and suspicions arise.
That moonlit night, as spectral light dances on stagnant water, Ryū confronts one of his own—a guard whose cruelty knows no bounds. Finding him cornering a trembling villager, Ryū draws his demon sword. The cursed blade pulses, its dark whisper seducing him with the ease of death.
RYŪ (hissing, voice trembling with both rage and regret): “Enough!”
Before the guard can utter a plea, the blade strikes true. In that grim moment, the guard’s soul is consumed, and a brief, dark satisfaction almost overtakes Ryū. Kiyoshi watches with narrowed eyes, silently cataloging every sin.
Dawn breaks over the swamp, and a heavy silence falls—fear and uncertainty rippling through the band.
At the Heart of the Kuro Mori
Deep in the ancient Kuro Mori, where towering cedars and twisted pines weave a tapestry of shadow, Ryū and his companions arrive at a secluded lake. At its center stands a solitary, ancient tree—a silent witness to countless lost souls.
Ryū, guided by the merchant’s cryptic incantation, recites an age-old poem aloud:
RYŪ:
“Through sorrow’s veil, the spirit calls,
In midnight’s breath, the darkness falls.
Awaken now, through blood and pain,
Let life be freed from endless stain.”
As his words echo, the air shimmers and the very mosquitoes seem to coalesce into a shifting visage. From the swirling mists emerges MORI, a venerable sorcerer with eyes that burn like embers.
MORI (in a deep, resonant tone): “You dare summon the old power? You are the chosen, Ryū—but know this: the sword you wield is not merely cursed. It is alive, thriving on the souls it devours.”
Ryū’s hand tightens on his sword. “Tell me then—how do I save Himeko’s spirit?”
A tense silence hangs before Mori answers, his voice a whisper of ancient winds.
MORI: “Only by facing the darkness within. Embrace the truth of your curse, or let it devour you entirely.”
A furious clash ensues between Ryū and Mori—a battle where every strike carries the weight of fate. When Ryū is hurled from a cliff’s edge and clings desperately to life, Mori vanishes into a burst of flames and smoke, leaving more questions than answers.
ACT THREE: REDEMPTION OR DAMNATION?
At Sea, Between Life and Oblivion
Days later, the journey takes the band to the restless ocean. On a creaking ship beneath a storm-dark sky, Ryū contemplates the demon sword—a relic of his suffering. Its malevolent whisper beckons him with promises of power and the return of Himeko.
RYŪ (murmuring to himself): “Perhaps… if I could reclaim its strength, I could bring her back.”
Driven by conflicting desire and duty, he dives into the churning sea after the blade. The ocean’s cold grip and the sword’s relentless pull threaten to drag him into an abyss where light is but a memory.
Suddenly, a firm hand clasps his shoulder. It is Arthur, his voice thunderous over the roar of the waves:
ARUTSU: “Ryū! Let it go! The dead belong to the past. Fight for those who still live!”
With a herculean effort, Ryū breaks free from the sword’s seductive call. He watches, pained yet resolute, as the cursed blade sinks into the dark depths, disappearing into oblivion.
The Crow and the Shinigami
Far to the north, a solitary black crow soars against a blood-red sky. It flies to the towering silhouette of a crumbling fortress known as the Dark Tower, where the enigmatic SHINIGAMI awaits. The skeletal lord of death smiles, his voice a chilling murmur:
SHINIGAMI: “The time has come… He is coming.”
In the dim light, Kiyoshi kneels before the Shinigami, revealing his true allegiance as the shadow’s spy.
Final Choice
Back on the ship’s deck, the storm abates, leaving Ryū staring at the horizon with eyes that now carry both sorrow and determination. The burdens of the past weigh heavily, yet a new resolve begins to form.
RYŪ (quietly, to himself and those gathered): “I have walked through darkness and despair. Now, I must return, fight for those still left, and find a way to honor Himeko’s memory.”
The ship turns toward the rising sun, setting forth on a new course—a journey of redemption, fraught with both hope and the lingering specter of damnation.
FADE TO BLACK.
Draft Charactisations
PROJECT TREATMENT: BLACK MOON
Format: Graphic Novel / Limited Series
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Samurai-Noir / Psychological Horror
Tone: Gritty, visceral, and tragic. Visually inspired by Batman: The Dark Knight and Lone Wolf and Cub.
I. THE VISUAL PHILOSOPHY
The world is rendered in stark, high-contrast inks. Color is used sparingly as a narrative device:
- The World: Monochrome greyscale.
- The Corruption: A sickly, electric Cyan glow emanates from the Runeblade and the eyes of those it possesses.
- The Tragedy: A deep Crimson appears only during moments of intense violence or emotional pain.
II. LOGLINE
After accidentally sacrificing the woman he loves to a sentient, soul-drinking blade, a disgraced champion must journey through a hallucinogenic wasteland to find the sorcerer who can break his addiction and free her spirit.
III. KEY CHARACTERS
- RIVEN (The Ronin): An older, weathered warrior. He was once the “King’s Champion,” but guilt and the physical toll of the Demon Sword have left him “unfit” and broken. He is a “functional addict,” needing the sword’s dark energy to keep his aging body fighting.
- LEONIE (The Echo): The Princess of Winterley. In death, her soul resides within the blade. She appears to Riven in reflections, not as a ghost, but as a silent reminder of his failure.
- BISHOP MARTIN (The Death King): A man who sought immortality and found a parasite. The “Crown of Darkness” has fused with his skull, making him the terrestrial anchor for the entity Iridian.
- ARTHUR: A cynical but loyal innkeeper from the City of Thieves. He represents Riven’s last link to humanity.
IV. NARRATIVE ARC
Act I: The Shattered Mirror
The story opens with the parallel falls of two men. Bishop Martin discovers Iridian’s tomb; the moment he places the Crown on his head, a bear-trap mechanism locks into his skull, a graphic metaphor for the loss of free will. Simultaneously, in the stronghold of Winterley, a “Dark Mirror” shatters, revealing Morim’s Library.
Riven, tasked with protecting Leonie, finds the Black Runeblade. Unlike a standard weapon, it smokes like burning oil. During an ambush on a desolate cliff, Riven is forced to unsheathe it to save Leonie from a Necromancer. The art shifts into a chaotic, ink-splattered style as Riven transforms. In a “heroin-like” trance of power, he strikes down the enemy, but his momentum carries the blade through Leonie. As she dies, her soul is visibly inhaled by the steel.
Act II: The City of Thieves
Riven is a ghost of a man, sentenced to death but “saved” by the demon within the sword during his execution. He flees to the City of Thieves, a sprawling, vertical slum of crooked wood and shadow.
Here, the treatment focuses on the “Crew Building” phase. Riven recruits Arthur and a pair of brutal Ogre-hunters, Barney and Fiz. The journey through the Ghost Swamps serves as a descent into madness. The “Specters” of the swamp don’t just attack; they whisper the names of those Riven has killed. Riven’s reliance on the sword grows; he begins to relish the “high” of soul-absorption, creating a tension between his mission to save Leonie and his growing monsterization.
Act III: The Face in the Swarm
In the heart of the Black Forest, Riven summons the ancient sorcerer Morim. The summoning is a visual spectacle: billions of mosquitoes coalesce into a gargantuan, shifting face.
Morim delivers the twist: The weapon is actually the Sword of Light. Its demonic appearance is a reflection of Riven’s own self-loathing. It “refracts” the soul of the wielder. If Riven dies hating himself, Leonie’s soul is extinguished forever. To save her, he must achieve “Satori” (enlightenment) amidst a battlefield of the Undead.
Act IV: The Breaking of the Blade
The finale takes place on a ship heading North. The Death King’s fleet intercepts them. Riven faces a choice: keep the power and win the war, or lose the power to save the girl.
In a final act of Samurai Penance, Riven drives the sword into the heart of the enemy commander and deliberately snaps the blade with his bare hands. The release of energy is a “White-Out” panel. The souls are freed. Leonie’s spirit is seen one last time, not as a prisoner, but as a light fading into the dawn.
The Ending: Riven is left on the deck of the ship, powerless, old, and alone. But for the first time in the story, the Crimson and Cyan are gone. The final panel is a wide shot of the ship sailing into a natural, Golden sunrise. He has no sword, but he has his soul.
V. THEMATIC GOALS
- Addiction: The sword is a metaphor for power and substance abuse. The “pleasure and pain” of the kill is Riven’s greatest enemy.
- Redemption vs. Recovery: Redemption isn’t about winning the war; it’s about being man enough to live with what you’ve done.
- Nature vs. Corruption: The “Stone Ogre” and “Sunlight” elements emphasize that the natural world (the Light) is the only cure for the artificial darkness of Iridian.
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