Xanafix is a dark comedy/horror screenplay written by therealjackieboy.
It's 1985. Conner Turner is a teenager struggling to connect with his dad, who is working for the corrupt Deckard Industries, a company run by charismatic CEO Troman Deckard specializing in the creation of drugs and vitamins. Deckard's just released their latest product: Xanafix, a vitamin meant to help deal with stress and anxiety. But a series of violent murders and disappearances emerge after Xanafix's release. And Conner's got a whole lot more to worry about after he accidentally gets a taste of Xanafix himself.
Body Horror ensues.
It's up to Conner and his friends Maggie and Jimmy to put a stop to whatever's in store for their small town.
The script can be read here
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Xanafix provides examples of...
- The '80s: Set in the mid-80s, exploring several themes found in the teen movies and Body Horror flicks of its time.
- Ambiguous Situation: It's unknown whether or not Conner thinks Troman lied about his father tampering with Xanafix's recipe, or if he's just in denial about it.
- Armored Closet Gay: Despite Brady's homosexuality, he insults Conner and his friends by calling them "queers".
- Body Horror: Xanafix's side effects are on the side of Society and The Thing (1982). They're not pretty to say the least.
- Bolivian Army Ending: The script ends with Conner and his friends about to take on the remaining mutants.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Troman Deckard's infamous amongst some of the townsfolk for his alleged corruption. Not only are the allegations shown to be true, but Troman plots the destruction of the entire town just for the sake of profit.
- Deconstruction: Of recent Nostalgia Filter 80s homages, showing how corrupt corporations and authority ruled behind the scenes. Deckard himself even makes a speech near the end about how businessmen like him will look back on the decade with pride and affection.
- Deconstructed Character Archetype:
- Brady Riggs is one toward the standard bullies found in various 80s movies. Rather than being a one-dimensional psychopath, Brady's shown to have been ultimately shaped by his father Carson, and when he finds out about his old man's prized possession, a photo of him killing a pregnant woman, Brady shows signs of regret.
- Herb Turner is one for the workaholic dads of his time. Rather than being vilified for focusing on his job over his son, Conner can't stand him for working at the allegedly corrupt Deckard Industries, with Conner seen as in the wrong. Plus the fact that Herb's too busy plotting out his company's downfall after one of their pills killed his wife, which deeply affected him. The only reason he's still working is so he can sabotage his own company.
- Dirty Cop: Police Chief Carson Riggs is revealed to be in Troman's pockets, willingly going along with his plan to slaughter the town and get more people hooked on Xanafix in order to achieve a world where the strong rule over the weak.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Subverted. Carson shows affection for his son Brady after he partakes in a food fight at his high school, but it's only because he values people who show signs of being as violent as him. Once Brady goes against his father's plan to help Troman unleash Xanafix upon the world to turn people into mutants, Carson cuts all ties with him.
- Faux Affably Evil: Troman's a very charismatic man, able to pose as a good-natured businessman who cares for the community. But once he finds out about Xanafix's side effects, he abandons all traces of politeness, instead indulging in greed and sadism.
- Heel–Face Turn: Brady goes from generic bully to an ally for Conner after he learns the true extent of his father's monstrosity.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Troman ends up torn apart by his own mutants.
- Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: The mutated Herbert does a Heroic Sacrifice to rid the world of Troman.
- Nice Guy: Herbert "Herb" Turner, Conner's father, is a sweet, dorky guy who just wants his son's affection for him. Majorly subverted when it's revealed that he's the one responsible for Xanafix's side effects, knowingly harming the lives of innocents just to get back at Deckard for the death of his wife.
- Politically Incorrect Villain:
- Brady often makes racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic remarks towards Conner and friends.
- His father Carson on the other hand is even worse, displaying extreme levels of racism, misogyny, and homophobia that unnerve even his own son.
- R-Rated Opening: The script opens with a teenage sex scene, which leads to a bloody, visceral murder.
- Shout-Out:
- Troman Deckard's named after a certain film studio and Rick Deckard. Even his son's named Lloyd.
- Conner's mutant abilities were based on Meatball Machine.
- Rashida Jones is named after the actress of the same name.
- Sir Swears-a-Lot: Jimmy swears the most out of all the teens, with Maggie being the opposite.
- Skyward Scream: Conner's reaction to his father's death.
- Social Darwinist: After serving his time in 'Nam, Carson came to believe in a world ruled by the strong. The main reason he even collaborates with Deckard's plan is because he was given the promise of his ideal world, where men like him reign supreme over those he deems weak.
- Sociopathic Soldier: Chief Carson served in the Vietnam War during his youth, and has kept with him a photo of himself gleefully shooting a pregnant woman from his days on tour.
- Smoking Is Cool: Deconstructed. Brady often smokes to act cool, but the first time he's shown doing it, he chokes while inhaling. He drops smoking entirely after he sides with Conner.
- Stylistic Suck: From what we've heard from him, Jimmy's stories have poor, almost non-existent plots and laughable attempts at being dark and edgy.
- War for Fun and Profit: Troman hopes to start several wars just so he can sell the Xanafix mutants as bioweapons.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Herb sabotaged the recipe for Xanafix, knowing that its side effects would be deadly to consumers, just to take down the corrupt Deckard Industries.
- Would Hurt a Child:
- To showcase Troman's willingness to sacrifice whatever he can for profit, he gives his son Xanafix upon finding out about their side effects, turning him into a mutant in order to study him.
- Carson, during his time in Vietnam, killed a pregnant woman with sadistic relish. Carson's also willing to kill several teenagers, including his own son, for standing in the way of Troman's plans.
