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Paine Island

After uncovering secret coordinates aboard disgraced billionaire Gregory Paine’s abandoned yacht, ambitious entrepreneur Artie Callis leads his friends to an uncharted island in search of the mystery Paine left behind. But the island is home to something ancient and hungry—something offering unimaginable wealth and power to anyone willing to keep it fed.

When ambitious entrepreneur ARTIE CALLIS buys disgraced billionaire GREGORY PAINE’s abandoned yacht at auction, he and four friends discover a hidden panic room containing cash, cryptic journals and coordinates to an uncharted island. Convinced they’ve stumbled onto Paine’s final secret, they follow the coordinates across the Caribbean. Waiting for them is an untouched tropical paradise, an immaculate mansion and a strange network of silver barriers protecting its grounds. But beyond those barriers, something ancient is waiting—and it has already noticed the new arrivals.

As night falls, the creatures close in and the friends discover the island was never Paine’s sanctuary. It was the source of his extraordinary wealth. For decades, Paine maintained a horrifying arrangement with the beings who inhabit it, providing them with what they need in exchange for everything a man could desire. Now Artie and his friends aren’t simply stranded on the island—they’re the next offering.

With their group being picked apart and escape rapidly disappearing, Artie and Andrea uncover the true price of Paine’s success. The island doesn’t just kill those who find it. It offers them a choice. Survive long enough, and they can leave with unimaginable wealth and power—but only if someone is willing to take Paine’s place and keep the bargain alive.

Script Excerpt
Written by:
Format:
Screenplay
In the Vein Of:
The Menu
Ready or Not
The Ruins
Posted:
08/08/2026
Updated:
08/08/2026
Author Bio:
Ritchie “Stonian” Johnston is a British screenwriter and novelist specialising in high-concept genre storytelling across horror, thriller, action, sci-fi and dark comedy. A former independent filmmaker, he brings a strongly visual, character-driven approach to his work. Ritchie was selected for the ISA Development Slate and named one of ISA’s Top 25 Writers to Watch for 2026. His work has earned recognition across numerous competitions and industry programmes, including two consecutive appearances on the Capital Fund Screenplay Contest Hot 100 with different projects.

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