MOORLAND PITCH DECK
MOORLAND (aka: ARMY OF THE UNDEAD)​
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Leticia, Ethan and Caleb.
Logline:
​A cynical Goth girl and a nerdy college student must stop a charismatic pharmaceutical mogul from turning their town into a corporate zombie workforce — or be drafted into his army of the undead.
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Heathers meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Zombieland
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Genre:
Horror-Comedy/Social Satire/Action Thriller
Tone:
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Fast-paced, stylized, subversive, sarcastic, and bloody fun.
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Moorland blends the irreverence and visual inventiveness of Edgar Wright, the kinetic horror-comedy of Sam Raimi, and the teen-savvy wit of Juno.
Leticia, Ethan and Mrs. Dobson.
Target Audience:
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Gen Z and Millennials (18-35) who enjoy genre-bending films, dark humor, action, and suspense.
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Fans of zombie films looking for a fresh, intelligent, and humorous take; audiences who appreciate social commentary embedded in entertainment.
Ethan and Scott at Video To Die For.
Comparable Films & TV:
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Zombieland: Fast-paced, witty dialogue, comedic zombie action, strong character dynamics.
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Wednesday: A darkly funny, genre-bending horror romp where a sharp, sarcastic teen girl seeks to solve a deadly mystery plaguing the local town.
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Shaun of the Dead: British humor, relatable protagonists, subversion of horror tropes, heart amidst chaos.
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Warm Bodies: Unique take on zombie emotions/behavior, blend of romance and humor.
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Jennifer’s Body: Teenage voice, gendered themes, possession/infection as metaphor.
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The Stuff: Parody of Big Pharma/consumer goods, horror-comedy blend, addiction metaphor.
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Don't Look Up / Thank You For Smoking: Satirical elements critiquing corporate power and societal apathy.
Leticia at PizzaOnly.
Synopsis:
Something sinister is brewing in the seemingly quaint town of Moorland. Cynical 18-year-old Leticia lives a double life, studying botany while secretly dispatching the "new breed" of zombies that are far from mindless shufflers. When she is framed for the disappearance of her co-worker, Megan, Leticia and her nerdy, optimistic best friend, Ethan, are forced to uncover a chilling conspiracy: pharmaceutical mogul Cosmo Ravencroft III is turning the town's vulnerable into a workforce of obedient, chemical-fueled zombies. Allied with Caleb, a grizzled zombie hunter obsessed with a personal vendetta, the trio must overcome an unbelieving and easily manipulated populace before the entire town becomes a product of Ravencroft’s twisted machinations.
Sheriff Briggs and Officer Darwin take Leticia into custody.
Key Characters:
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Leticia – Our cynical, Goth protagonist is a total standout and a star making lead. Sarcastic, brave, capable, and emotionally guarded, she’s Buffy by way of Daria, and audiences will love her.
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Ethan – Boyishly enthusiastic, her loyal, horror-nerd best friend: charming, pop-culture-obsessed, and surprisingly strategic.
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Caleb – Brooding sword guy with a single-minded vendetta and a flair for Shakespearean vengeance.
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Clare & Scott – The social-savvy sidekicks who add heart and hilarity.
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Cosmo Ravencroft III – The impeccably dressed, charismatic and ruthless biotech mogul. He’s a corporate villain whose ambition to control minds represents a chilling satire of modern consumerism.
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Professor Mori – Betrayer in a lab coat. Ethically flexible, katana-capable.
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Mrs. Dobson – Sweet old lady with cupcakes...and demolition skills.
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The Zombies – Not your typical shambling undead. They are domestic, emotional, and increasingly intelligent, serving as a unique and often comedic threat.
Leticia is institutionalized.
Themes:
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Free Will vs. Control: The central conflict of societal obedience versus individual liberty.
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Consumerism & Corporate Power: A satirical look at how companies exploit vulnerabilities and societal desires for profit.
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Truth & Deception: The struggle to expose the truth in a world where media and authority are manipulated.
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Found Family: The unexpected bonds formed between quirky individuals facing an impossible threat.
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Taking Action: The importance of fighting for those ignored by society.
Why Now? (Market Relevance):
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Resonates with Modern Anxieties: The themes of control, misinformation (media ownership), and the pursuit of "bliss" (through consumerism/addiction) are highly relevant in today's world.
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Escapism with Substance: Offers audiences a fun, action-packed escape while subtly commenting on contemporary issues, a formula proven successful.
Fresh Take on Popular Genre:
The zombie genre remains popular, but audiences crave innovation. This screenplay delivers a unique twist that breathes new life into the concept.
Leticia trapped in an elevator with Zombies.
Closing:
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Moorland is a razor-sharp horror-comedy that blends zombie mayhem, corporate satire, and coming-of-age rebellion into a blood-splattered thrill ride. When Leticia, a jaded but sharp-witted college student, stumbles onto a pharma-fueled conspiracy to zombify America through soda distribution, she’s forced to go from institutionalized to insurgent. Alongside a band of unlikely allies — including a nerdy classmate, a vengeful zombie hunter, and a sweet little old lady — she must confront a town-wide outbreak, a biotech billionaire, and her own growing sense of responsibility. With echoes of Shaun of the Dead, They Live, and Heathers, this is a stylized, fast-paced genre mashup with brains — and the occasional severed limb.
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Moorland is a bloody valentine to genre fans, built for cult status and midnight screenings. It’s fierce, funny, fast, and feral—and it knows exactly what it’s doing.
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Whether you're into horror, satire, or just watching zombies...this is the apocalypse you've been waiting for.
Leticia and Ethan investigate the mushroom farm.
Note:
Zombieland box office adjusted for inflation is $135 million.
Beetlejuice box office adjusted for inflation is $204 million.
Merchandising & Licensing Potential
High. Strong potential for comic books, video games, sequels/TV spin-offs, and themed merchandise based on the unique zombies and the soda brand​.
Sequel/Spin-off Potential
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Sequel Hook: The final scene with Leticia and Ethan teases werewolves in Harker County, setting up a potential franchise.
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Spin-off: A prequel about Caleb and Maggie’s zombie-hunting days, or a TV series exploring Moorland’s other supernatural secrets.
In the Catacombs, the Dreaded Zombie menaces Leticia.
CASTING SUGGESTIONS:
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Leticia Baudelaire
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Jenna Ortega
Ariana Greenblatt
Sadie Soverall
Admirah J
Malia Baker
Ruby Rose Turner
Professor Mori runs zombiefying experiments on Mice.
Ethan Locke
Jack Champion
Owen Teague
Nicholas Stoesser
Archie Madekwe
Joshua Colley
Noah Jupe
Will Coombs
Is Leticia fated to be Ravencroft’s next victim?
Caleb Simeon Lovejoy
Kurt Russell
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Fahey
Michael Bien
Louis Herthum
John Ralston
Ravencroft’s Zombie Workforce.
Cosmo Ravencroft III
Ralph Fiennes
Dan Stevens
Walton Goggins
Michael Sheen
Christoph Waltz
Mads Mikkelson
Christopher Heyerdahl
Briggs and Darwin attacked by Zombies.
Professor Aki Mori
Rie Miyazawa
Anwa Sawai
Mari Yamamoto
Professor Mori sets a trap for Leticia, Ethan and Caleb.
Clare Evangeline Baudelaire
Bella Chadwick
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Sheriff Briggs
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Scoot McNairy
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Officer Darwin
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Betty Gilpin
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Mrs. Evelyn Dobson
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Celia Imrie
Annette Badland
Baylor
Danny DeVito
Leticia, Ethan and Caleb make their last stand at The Gallows Pub.
POTENTIAL DIRECTORS:
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Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Edgar Wright
James Gunn
Sam Raimi
Ruben Fleischer
All Natural
A Product of Ravencroft Pharmaceuticals
