so i've read the cursed gomens screenplay for the film that was supposed to happen in the 90's and (thankfully) never happened that was making the rounds on my dash yesterday and today and... it really is cursed, uh
like if i was going to judge it just as a story, just as a screenplay without any other context I would say it could make a somewhat decent film, though it would be in a cheesy, forgettable work. But like as an adaptation it would be wild man because it really doesn't carry any of the charm of the book or any of the charm of the characters' personalities lmao
i mean crowley in this screenplay is. such. an. asshole. He really is. He's just SO mean and he's weirdly a misanthrope? Is startling how much he loathes humanity and that he genuinely wants the Apocalypse to happen. And in all gomens verses - be the book, the show, the radio play even - you get the sense that Crowley and Aziraphale are really good friends who like each other a lot, and that Crowley respects Aziraphale, but in this thing here, he barely tolerates Aziraphale at best. If this had become a movie, I think some of these sharper edges could have been softened, depending in how the acting would be, but like there ain't any way you could soften him saying to Aziraphale "you're so stupid you don't deserve to live" like... that's so mean, this Aziraphale - whose unbeliavable naivete's is really overplayed - surely deserve better friends ):
also Madame Tracy's adopting Adam is a wild idea but honestly I think it could be cool if this Madame Tracy was anything like she was in the book or the show but in here it's just so. Weird. In a non fun way. (tho now I kind want to read a fic who uses this concept but like. in a good way). Also hate that The Them aren't friends and that Brian is such a tiny bully asshole.I kind like this version of Anathema tho, even if she doesn't have the Book, it doesn't feel like she was as butchered as the other characters were
to point two good things I will say that weirdly Satan was my favorite character. He is very charming and honestly a good sport about Adam not wanting to be the Antichrist thing. Also Shadwell doesn't exist in this play and he's not missed at all
tl;dr this screenplay is an entertaining read that would have made a pretty terrible adaptation and i'm glad it never saw the light of the day
