Review: GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE

​GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE: Screenplay analysis. Every now and again, I come across a film that is extremely satisfying. It doesn't happen often, but when it does...

This is an action film, and though it has a plethora of action scenes, it doesn't feel action-heavy. Why? Because it gets in and out before it runs its course. They understand that no amount of blood and guts, kicks, and punches can make up for the story. So, they give us some action then stop for a small story break before jumping back in.
This film has heart. It doesn't make us wait to know what it is. We learn within the first 10 minutes so that we can understand our protagonist's trauma and therefore relate to her and invest in her even though she is a stone-cold killer.

​The action scenes are used to mend relationships and build new ones that help fill our protagonist's hole in her heart - her internal need to have a relationship with her mother, which motivates her external goal of saving the little girl.

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AUTHOR

Shannan E. Johnson is a former creative executive at The Syfy Channel turned CEO + Head Consultant of The Professional Pen, a script consultancy that develops screenwriters from idea to pitch to become more confident storytellers ready for a professional screenwriting career, and consults with scripted development teams at entertainment companies to streamline their notes process to get to pre-production more efficiently.