Homicide Detective with Amnesia?

[fu2zi]

Hi there!
I've got a friend who's going to start a screenplay about a murder cop with memory loss who begins to suspect that he might be the murderer as the story progresses. I said that i'd seen that done a few times before, but i couldn't think of any examples.

Does anyone know of any movies this has this happened in before (but not Memento)?

Thanks!

[Pain In Da Azz]

done a few times?? try done to death ;) i'm sure some of the movie buffs here can post what movies have used that theme unfortunately i'm jus getting to work and it takes about another hour for my brain to start working.

if he uses this idea try puttin a different spin on things....

[Kastman]

Or maybe instead he could have short term memory loss, and everything in the movie would have to go backwards and he writes all the notes on his body to find the criminal... oh wait a second im getting de ja vu... i remember this, but cant remember where from.you see i have this condition...:D

[fu2zi]

I know it's been done to death - that's why I'm trying to dissuade him by giving him examples of when its been done before.

Maybe he could make it original by having the detective wake up at the end and realising its all a dream ;)

[Captain Planet]

Originally posted by fu2zi
Hi there!
I've got a friend who's going to start a screenplay about a murder cop with memory loss who begins to suspect that he might be the murderer as the story progresses. I said that i'd seen that done a few times before, but i couldn't think of any examples.

Does anyone know of any movies this has this happened in before (but not Memento)?

Thanks!

If he does write it, may I suggest a name: The Three.

[TheDeadWalk]

Comedy: Clean Slate with Dana Carvey (Err, supposed to be a comedy...)

And from what I hear, The Bourne Identity and Paycheck both deal with memory loss and figuring things out like that. Not exactly homicide cop, but similar.

[DoCk]

Originally posted by fu2zi


Maybe he could make it original by having the detective wake up at the end and realising its all a dream ;)

bad idea. i have read books and they all say try not to make corny endings such as "it was all a dream!" thats more for after school specials, lol.

if u want a twist why not make this into a comedy/action....of course it has to be funny though even without big names attached as actors.

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by Captain Planet
If he does write it, may I suggest a name: The Three.




HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!


Thats the best thing I've read all day.

[XvoorheesX]

If he does write it, may I suggest a name: The Three. I don't get it.

[bankholdup]

Originally posted by XvoorheesX
I don't get it.

Adaptation reference.


The Three was Donald Kaufman's script (which, if I remember correctly, had a plot somewhat similiar).

[Gregorious8]

Originally posted by bankholdup
Adaptation reference.


The Three was Donald Kaufman's script (which, if I remember correctly, had a plot somewhat similiar).

The detective was also the killer and the victim at the same time.

[fu2zi]

bad idea. i have read books and they all say try not to make corny endings such as "it was all a dream!" thats more for after school specials, lol.

I'll make sure he doesn't try to include any sarcasm in it then :)

[Tuukka]

Actually I think this *could* be original. I don't think I have ever seen a movie with exactly this plot. I was thinking of Angel Eyes when I read this, but that is also different.

Think about it:

A detective starts investigates a murder. The murder has ZERO connection to him. He finds clues and tries to find the killer. Slowly he realizes that the clues are leading to people he knows. He starts suspecting them. Then he realizes that the clues are leading to HIM. So he becomes confused and thinks he is being framed. He actually starst hiding evidence from other detectives because he thinks there is a conspiracy going on. But other detectives become suspicious of him, they know something is wrong and evidence is missing, but they don't know what is going on. And finally as the clues become more and more obvious the main character starts suspecting himself and tries to find out what he did on the night of murder, but he can't remember it. I someone framing him? Is there someone else who looks just like him? Or is it he who did the murder?

Yes, there are movies which are similar, but I don't think that this particular story has ever been done before. I think it has potential.

[fu2zi]

It just seems way too familiar to have any mileage though. The only way you could do it would be that it turns out that he isn't the murderer after all.
How about maybe he blacks out when the victims get abducted and he experiences being murdered through their eyes (or the killers)? he forgets everything when he wakes up hours later but he doesn't know why he knows certain details about the killings?

nah, thats rubbish. There's no way you could make this story into something new that hasn't been done a zillion times.

[EoghainFOKeeffe]

But why dissuade him?

We can't always come up with totally original ideas, but we have to write! I think it's important to write all the time, just to keep strengthening those muscles so that we are able to write about the original ideas when they DO occur to us.

And, sometimes, you can start writing an idea that has been done before and a flash of inspiration will take you down a totally original path.

[fu2zi]

probably because he shot all my ideas down in flames :(
I didn't think they were that bad, but what do I know

[EoghainFOKeeffe]

Here's what I do...

I don't discuss my ideas with people until I've developed them into a story that can stand up on it's own. I don't mean to sound pretentious, but I think an idea is like a small flame and you have to build a lot around it before it can survive in the 'real world'. Asking people for their opinions of your bare ideas is just asking for trouble - because NO idea sounds impressive until it's fully fleshed-out into a story.

So, next time you have an idea that appeals to you - lock yourself in your room and write until it turns into a story. And then, if you still like the story, you're not going to be fatally discouraged if somebody dislikes it.

At least, that's what I do! :)

[Captain Planet]

Fuck it. Since none of the movie buffs on this forum can think of a propper example, I'd say your friend is pretty safe.

Heck it might even work. Imagine if Morgan Freeman turned out to be the killer in Seven. Okay it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but there was a moment in The Bone Collector-- just a moment though as a result of a weird reaction shot-- when I thought that the pareplegic Denzel Washington was the killer. I nearly had a stroke. This was a highlight in an otherwise forgettable thriller.

[ilovemovies]

That would have been so stupid and absurd if Denzel turned out to be the killer. I don't know what ever made you think that because I never did.

Anyway the upcoming Ashley Judd thriller Twisted has almost the exact same premise. Infact Tuukka pretty muched described word for word (sort of).