A video blogger helps his ex-girlfriend search for her missing husband, a political figure.

STORY COMMENTS ON TREATMENT
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN EUROPE is a complex political thriller. The location and setting is unique. The tone is dark and fits with this thriller plot. It also has a “film noir” sense of style
The setup to this thriller is intriguing and there are some smart story choices. The idea that the protagonist, Pete, is a video-blogger is captivating. Moreover, the idea that he secretly videotapes people is smart. This has a nice payoff at the end.
In addition, the idea that Pete’s ex-girlfriend is asking for his help adds a nice layer of personal conflict and tension. It would work even more effectively if the audience understood …show more content…
If done well, it will make for an unexpected reveal. However, in the treatment, one suspects Kate fairly quickly of being involved in her husband’s disappearance. She meets with Juri and it’s clear they are both up to no good. Thus, when the truth is revealed it doesn’t feel like a strong enough twist or revelation, because the audience already has put it together that Juri and Kate are conspiring.
One does question why Kate goes to Pete in the first place and involves him. It’s not clear in the treatment what motivates her to do this. If she’s setting him up, one isn’t sure exactly why.
The opening nicely establishes the idea that Pete secretly videotapes people. However, the idea that he sends the person to a “notorious scam place” isn’t well understood. One doesn’t understand what a “notorious scam place” is. Also, how this fits with a political thriller isn’t well understood.
The other area that needs to be clarified is Kate’s backstory with Pete. It’s not entirely understood. This will need to be explored in the script.
There’s something about Pete blackmailing Kate about nude photos, but this requires more clarification.
It’s unclear if the terrorists were really terrorists or working with Kate and Yuri. It’s a bit confusing. Kate claims he’s missing, but we see him giving out the DVD, then terrorists abduct him. One has a difficult time, putting the pieces …show more content…
Is this the Russian agents – it’s not clear.
To make the plot work and engage the audience with the goal of finding the husband, the audience needs to believe that Kate really cares about her husband, but right now one doesn’t get that feeling.
The treatment presents Kate as being seductive and manipulative. Early on the audience knows she’s not a good person. So there’s no twist when it’s revealed that she conspired against her husband.
In a thriller it always helps to create a few suspects. Take the audience down one path, as if this person might be responsible and then change the path (in a logical way). So, for example, Pete might suspect “X” and he follows X, but then something happens and Pete learns that X could not be responsible for the husband being missing or killed.
Remember, the audience wants to participate in the mystery and solve what happened to him, so clues need to be revealed.
Pete has strong potential to be a very intriguing and complex character. As mentioned the idea of him being a video blogger and hiding cameras, makes him a convoluted person and flawed person. He’s definitely is amoral, but he still feels likable and the audience clearly roots for