The Sweet Hereafter

After a tragic school bus accident devastates a small town, a lawyer arrives to help the grieving families find justice, but soon uncovers secrets that will forever change their lives.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

Discover a powerful and poignant exploration of family, community, and the human condition in this groundbreaking script. Featuring a unique blend of intimate character moments and stark urban imagery, the narrative weaves together the stories of individuals grappling with loss, addiction, and the search for justice. The dialogue is sparse yet impactful, conveying emotion and atmosphere through subtle interactions. With its innovative storytelling techniques and distinctive characters, this script offers a fresh perspective on legal drama, family dynamics, and moral ambiguity. Dive into a world where the mundane and the extraordinary collide, shedding light on the complexities of the human spirit and the power of connection.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

This rating is from a single AI engine based on structure, character, tone, and emotional engagement.

Gemini
 Recommend
Story Facts

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Family, Thriller, Legal, Romance, Slice of Life

Setting: Contemporary, Summer cottage, car wash, city phone booth, fairground, airport, motel

Themes: Loss and Grief, Parent-Child Relationships, Justice and Lawsuits, Community and Neighborhood, Memory and Nostalgia

Conflict & Stakes: The main conflicts include Mitchell's struggle with Zoe's addiction, Billy's grief over the loss of his children, and Nicole's guilt and memory loss from the accident. The stakes involve family relationships, legal battles, and emotional healing.

Mood: Serious and emotional

Standout Features:

  • Emotional Depth: Rich emotional exploration of family dynamics and personal struggles
  • Legal Intrigue: Intriguing legal battles and moral dilemmas adding depth to the storyline
  • Character Development: Strong character arcs and relationships that drive the narrative

Comparable Scripts: The Verdict (1982 film), A Time to Kill (1996 film), Rain Man (1988 film), The Fault in Our Stars (2014 film), Dead Poets Society (1989 film), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006 film)

Script Level Analysis

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Story Critique
Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.
Characters

Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.

Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.
Themes
Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.
Logic & Inconsistencies
Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.

Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
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Other Analyses

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.
Writer's Craft
Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.
Memorable Lines
Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.
Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
World Building
Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.
Correlations
Identifies patterns in scene scores.
Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.