MOORLAND PITCH DECK
MOORLAND (aka: ARMY OF THE UNDEAD)
Logline:
In a quaint town where the homeless are vanishing and no one wants answers, an outcast Goth girl and a nerdy botany student must stop a charismatic pharmaceutical tycoon from turning its citizens into an obedient zombie workforce — or be forced to join his army of the undead.
Comps: Zombieland meets Scream
Tagline: Efficiency is mandatory. Survival isn't.
Genre: Horror-Comedy/Social Satire
Tone: Fast-paced, stylized, subversive, sarcastic, and bloody fun.
Moorland blends the irreverence and visual inventiveness of Edgar Wright, the kinetic horror-comedy of Sam Raimi, and the teen-savvy wit of Heathers.
Leticia, Ethan and Caleb.
Central Question:
Is it better to fit in with a comfortable lie, or stand alone with an uncomfortable truth?
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.
Leticia, Ethan and Mrs. Dobson.
Comparable Films & TV:
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Zombieland: Fast-paced, witty dialogue, comedic zombie action, strong character dynamics.
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Scream: Self-aware horror, sharp and irreverent teen dialogue, subversion of genre conventions, and a young cast whose humor and personal conflicts coexist with genuine danger.
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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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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.
Ethan and Scott at Video To Die For.
Synopsis:
Something sinister is brewing in the seemingly quaint town of Moorland: the homeless are vanishing and no one wants to know why. Cynical 18-year-old Leticia, the town's resident outcast, studies botany by day and secretly dispatches zombies by night, a new breed that is 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 expose the truth: beloved pharmaceutical mogul Cosmo Ravencroft III is using an addictive soda to turn the town's most vulnerable into an obedient, chemical-fueled undead workforce. Joined by Caleb, a grizzled hunter driven by a personal vendetta, the trio must destroy Ravencroft's operation in an unbelieving town too glued to its screens to look up — saving the very people who have spent years treating Leticia like a freak — before Ravencroft erases the last free minds, including their own.
Leticia at PizzaOnly.
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.
Sheriff Briggs and Officer Darwin take Leticia into custody.
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.
Closing:
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.
Whether you're into horror, satire, or just watching zombies...this is the apocalypse you've been waiting for.
Leticia trapped in an elevator with Zombies.
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Leticia and Ethan investigate the mushroom farm.
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:
Leticia Baudelaire
Jenna Ortega
Sofia Rosinsky
Ariana Greenblatt
Sadie Soverall
Malia Baker
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
Ethan Hawke
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Fahey
Mandy Patinkin
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
Anna Sawai
Mari Yamamoto
Professor Mori sets a trap for Leticia, Ethan and Caleb.
Leticia, Ethan and Caleb make their last stand at The Gallows Pub.
Clare Evangeline Baudelaire
Kylie Cantrall
Bella Chadwick
Sheriff Briggs
Scoot McNairy
Officer Darwin
Betty Gilpin
Mrs. Evelyn Dobson
Celia Imrie
Annette Badland
Baylor
Danny DeVito
All Natural
A Product of Ravencroft Pharmaceuticals
POTENTIAL DIRECTORS:
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Edgar Wright
James Gunn
Sam Raimi
Ruben Fleischer
