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Story Details Discovered for Chris Sparling's New Script 'ATM'

by Alex Billington
February 16, 2010
Source: SlashFilm

Buried was one of the hottest films coming out of Sundance this year which means big things for director Rodrigo Cortés and writer Chris Sparling. We reported back in February right after the fest that Sparling had sold anther one of his spec scripts titled ATM to Gold Circle Films and Safran Co. The story focuses on three co-workers who unexpectedly end up in a desperate fight for their lives on a seemingly routine stop at the ATM. SlashFilm was just sent details about what the story is actually about (without spoiling anything) and it sounds pretty damn cool. Read on to find out a bit more about this new stuck-in-one-place thriller.

"Three co-workers driving home together from a employee Christmas party in the city decide to grab some late night pizza, for which they must stop at the ATM, to get some cash. Apparently, this is where the fun starts — about 15 or 20 minutes into the story. ATM exchanges the cramped 7 foot by 3 foot wooden coffin seen in Buried for a 15 square foot indoor ATM shack. The 24-hour ATM is located in a remote area of the barren supermarket parking lot, in a not-so-great neighborhood. The rest of the story is set primarily in the ATM vestibule, and never leaves the supermarket parking lot."

"...Find themselves trapped in the ATM, unable to escape as a large menacing man in a heavy hooded parka stands between them and their car. It is the middle of the night, and all that surrounds them is cold and darkness. To make matters worse, they find themselves without their cellphones or any way to call for help... Hawkeye says that people are describing it as Phone Booth meets Frozen."

I'm sure some people are probably getting tired of all these stuck-in-one-place movies, but I love them, and this one sounds pretty awesome. I've heard from someone else who has read the script that this mystery guy in the parka starts messing with other people who come walking by and the people get even more scared or something like that. It's just a great concept, or at least one that I want to see made into a movie. First time feature filmmaker David Brooks is making his directorial debut with this. I'll be curious to see who they cast and what else happens with this project, as it could be a great of follow-up to Buried. Sound interesting?

Related categories: Movie News, Opinions

DoomCanoe

I was surprisingly entertained by Phone Booth. so ill give it a go. i just really hope it doesn't become a big fad
Ben

So in other words Chris Sparling can only write one type of movie? Anybody got the script? I loved Buried's script, but this one sounds a tad lame.
beavis

this guy has jumped the shark.........doing a film (buried) like this once, is an interesting idea- after that you've landed in "lame city". what's next? - the "dangers" of the parking garage? LOL! the"fear" of the all-nite laundry? big LOL! i have NO desire to see the "stuck-in-one-place" thriller concept catch on.
People's Champ 3D

The next one is about a guy being stuck in line at a bank.
DEADPOOL,MERC WITH A MOUTH

i got dvd's with atm in the title & they got about twenty sequels.
David Banner

Will the sequels be called "ATP" and "ATOM" ? Or maybe they have been taken allready, do u know Deadpool?
DEADPOOL,MERC WITH A MOUTH

@ david banner normally the ATM dvds i've seen have nothing to do with the above article.as for the titles most of the are just called atm 2,atm 3 & so on,but you never know you may have stumbled upon something i haven't seen yet.
Xerxex

These films are usually very good, Phone Booth was a highly underrated film, and Buried seems like it will be good, so I'm in.
Guy

How do 3 peoples cell phones become inoperable?
Xerxex

nice Beavis, I would actually like to see "Fear" of the all nite laundry, lol.
kLO

Well, considering both PHONEBOOTH and FROZEN were terrible films, I'll be passing on this one.
beavis

thanks xerxex.(i won't even tempt you with the horrors of the DMV) ........seriously, though - it isn't that these types of films can't be good - they can. it's just i don't feel they need to become an established genre. having one come along every once in a while is ok.......but, (in a short time period) we've been given "buried", "frozen" and now this "ATM" movie is coming? i don't want movies to move in this direction - i think it's a step back as far as storytelling.
Xerxex

I'm with you on that, these films work every 5 or 10 years.
Blake

Pretty sure I saw this in an episode of Dawson's Creek.
Jen

Chris Sparling was my writing teacher in Rhode Island and after seeing BURIED, and from what I know about his upcoming movie ideas, I can't wait!!!! He doesn't only do this kind of movie either. His next two are going to be very different as well.