Depraved

Depraved 2019

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Plot Summary


Alex and Lucy find themselves in a profound conversation about the possibility of starting a family, yet they both agree that the timing couldn’t be worse. Frustrations soon boil over into an intense argument, stemming from Alex’s deep-rooted feelings of failure. Quick as a flash, it’s Alex’s birthday, and Lucy surprises him with a thoughtful gift—a necklace. However, the celebration takes a horrific turn when, on his way back home, Alex is brutally stabbed multiple times, leaving him lifeless in the street as the credits begin to roll.

In a shocking twist, Alex awakens in what appears to be a makeshift laboratory, where he discovers that parts of his body have been replaced with various stitched-together components. Staring into the mirror, he realizes he is now an amalgamation of spare parts. Enter Henry, who is visibly astonished and soon dubs the transformed Alex as Adam. Henry shows Adam around, expressing his desire to protect him. Meanwhile, Adam struggles with fragmented memories of his former life as Alex.

To sustain his existence, Adam is required to take several medications, including one crucial for his survival. Henry attempts to enlighten Adam with knowledge, but Adam seems lost in a haze of recollections. Ultimately, they discover that music serves as a pivotal tool in aiding Adam’s learning process, propelling his education forward at an astonishing rate.

Delving deeper into the narrative, we learn about Henry’s tumultuous past as a doctor in Afghanistan and the impact his choices have had on his life—and others. He navigates his relationship with Liz, who confronts the difficulties of Henry’s alleged PTSD, which he adamantly refutes. As the story unfolds, we’re introduced to Polidori, the mastermind behind a revolutionary drug, eager for wealth and fame, accompanied by his affluent girlfriend, Shelley. Henry begins questioning the morality of their actions.

A riveting encounter occurs as Polidori takes Adam to a museum, unveiling exhibits of weaponry and erotic art that portray the depths of human depravity. They unexpectedly run into Lucy, Alex’s ex-girlfriend, who does not recognize Adam, yet he feels a flicker of familiarity.

As tensions rise, Henry decides to halt Adam’s medication, defying Polidori’s advisements. He returns Adam’s old necklace, evoking painful memories. Driven by anger and confusion, Adam discovers a series of videos that reveal unsettling truths about his existence. Confronting Henry, he declares, > “I know what you did,” and storms off, leaving chaos in his wake. The search for Adam ensues as he meets a charming blonde at a bar. Initially intrigued by his quirky demeanor, their encounter spirals into tragedy when Adam’s impulsive behavior leads to an accidental fatality.

Upon his return, Henry stumbles upon a grisly scene: Adam entangled with the lifeless body of the girl. Demanding that Henry resurrect her, Adam learns that she has been dead for too long. A brutal confrontation unfolds, resulting in Henry stabbing Adam in a moment of desperation. Meanwhile, Liz arrives just as they decide to bury the girl and dispose of Adam in the woods.

The plot thickens at Polidori’s residence, where an unexpected gathering unfolds. After sharing the grim events, they plan to regain control the following day, only for Adam to emerge from his grave. Fueled by vengeance, Adam confronts Liz, leading to her tragic demise at the hands of Henry, who suggests that Polidori bears the blame.

The tension mounts as Polidori discovers their dark secret; he takes drastic measures that culminate in a shocking betrayal. During a climactic struggle, Henry suffers a fatal wound and dies in Adam’s grasp. With a sinister grin, Polidori ignites the house, leaving Adam to succumb to flames. Miraculously, Adam escapes just in time, exacting vengeance on Polidori by forcing pills down his throat and discarding him from a bridge as he plummets to his death.

In the aftermath, it is revealed that Adam exists outside any legal system, devoid of identity or fingerprints. Escaping into the wilderness, he makes his way to the city, delivering a necklace to Lucy. Upon questioning the delivery man, Lucy is taken aback when her colleague notes that it was a peculiar-looking guy. Rushing outside in search of Alex—unbeknownst to her, standing just out of sight—she fails to recognize Adam’s new form as he quietly walks away, merging into the crowd, forever haunted by his fragmented past.

Timeline


The Conversation

Alex and Lucy engage in a profound conversation about their future, contemplating the possibility of starting a family. Despite their mutual feelings, they both acknowledge that the timing for such a significant decision couldn't be worse, adding tension to their relationship.

The Argument

Frustrations reach a boiling point during their discussion, resulting in a heated argument. Alex reveals his deep-rooted feelings of failure, which only exacerbates the conflict and showcases the emotional turmoil they are experiencing.

Alex's Birthday

On a more positive note, Lucy surprises Alex with a thoughtful necklace as a birthday gift. This moment hints at the affection they hold for each other amid their struggles.

The Attack

As Alex returns home following his birthday celebration, tragedy strikes when he is brutally attacked and stabbed multiple times. The incident leaves him lifeless, marking a heartbreaking turn of events as the credits begin to roll.

Street

Awakening in a Lab

To his shock, Alex awakens in a makeshift laboratory, discovering that parts of his body have been replaced with stitched-together components. This marks the beginning of his transformation into a new being, now referred to as Adam.

Laboratory

Meeting Henry

Henry, a doctor, enters the scene and expresses astonishment at Alex's transformation, dubbing him Adam. He takes it upon himself to show Adam around, aiming to provide protection and guidance as Adam grapples with fragmented memories of his former life.

Medication and Music

To sustain his new existence, Adam must take several medications, crucial for his survival. During this process, Henry discovers that music plays a pivotal role in helping Adam regain his learning capabilities, pushing his education forward remarkably.

Henry's Background

As the story unfolds, we learn about Henry's troubled past as a doctor in Afghanistan. This background details the traumatic experiences that have shaped his current life, including his strained relationship with Liz, who confronts him about his alleged PTSD.

Polidori's Ambitions

The narrative introduces Polidori, a mastermind behind a revolutionary drug, who craves wealth and fame. Combining ambition with unethical choices, he complicates the lives of those around him, raising moral questions about his actions.

The Museum Encounter

During a visit to a museum, Polidori unveils exhibits showcasing human depravity, including weaponry and erotic art. In an unexpected twist, they encounter Lucy, who fails to recognize Adam but triggers vague feelings of familiarity within him.

Museum

Stopping the Medication

In a moment of defiance, Henry halts Adam's medication against Polidori's advice. He then returns Adam's old necklace, awakening painful memories that lead Adam to confront his unsettling reality.

The Fatal Encounter

In a tragic twist of fate, Adam's impulsive behavior during a night out leads to an accidental fatality involving a charming blonde he meets at a bar. This event escalates chaos in Adam's already tumultuous existence.

Bar

Desperate Measures

Returning home, Henry discovers Adam with the lifeless body of the girl. In a moment of desperation, he refuses Adam's demand to bring her back to life, resulting in a brutal confrontation between the two.

The Climactic Struggle

The story reaches a boiling point during a climactic struggle at Polidori's residence, ultimately resulting in Henry's fatal wound. In the chaos, Polidori's betrayal becomes evident, culminating in a dramatic fight.

Polidori's residence

The Final Vengeance

In a final act of revenge, Adam confronts Polidori, forcing pills down his throat before tossing him from a bridge to his death. Escaping the ensuing chaos and fire, Adam disappears into the wilderness, free from societal constraints.

Characters


Alex

Alex is a deeply introspective character plagued by feelings of inadequacy and failure. His desire for a family contrasts sharply with the traumatic events that lead to his brutal demise. As the narrative unfolds, the transformation into Adam creates a conflict between his past identity and his current existence.

👤 Main Character 💔 Tragic

Adam

Adam is the altered version of Alex, struggling with remnants of his past life and a new reality that is both alien and disconcerting. His evolution reflects the struggle for agency in a world that has changed him beyond recognition. Adam's journey is one of rediscovery, echoed by his interactions with those from his former life.

🧬 Altered State 🔄 Transformation

Henry

Henry is a complicated figure with a troubled past, grappling with the moral implications of his actions. His relationship with Adam oscillates between mentor and tormentor, as he attempts to balance his responsibilities while facing his own psychological scars and the ghosts of his history.

⚖️ Morality 🩺 Doctor

Polidori

Polidori embodies ambition and moral ambiguity. His eagerness for success in the pharmaceutical industry drives him to make perilous choices that impact others drastically. His character serves as a catalyst for much of the conflict, highlighting the darker side of innovation and its consequences.

💼 Ambitious 💰 Greed

Shelley

Shelley is portrayed as a compelling figure intertwined with Polidori's ambitions. Her role in his life raises questions about loyalty, complicity, and the struggles of being associated with someone driven by greed and a blinding desire for fame.

💄 Glamorous 💔 Relationships

Lucy

Lucy represents a haunting reminder of Alex's past life. Her encounter with Adam reveals the emotional weight of unrecognized love and loss, as she remains oblivious to the dramatic transformation that has stripped Alex of his former identity.

❤️ Unrequited Love 👁️ Lost

Setting


Time period

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, where modern medical ethics collide with ancient moral questions. The characters wrestle with personal and societal problems that reflect current dilemmas regarding identity, mental health, and the human experience in a rapidly changing world.

Location

Laboratory, Museum, City, Woods

The laboratory serves as a dark and unsettling space where Alex is transformed into Adam, a blend of human and technology. The museum becomes a backdrop for exploration, showcasing the grotesque intersection of art and weaponry that highlights the depths of human depravity. The city represents a facade of normalcy, where identities collide and pasts intertwine. The woods become a haunting escape route, serving as the setting for grave decisions and concealments.

🏥 Laboratory 🎨 Museum 🌆 City 🌳 Woods

Themes


🧩

Identity

The theme of identity is deeply explored through Adam's transformation from Alex to an amalgamation of spare parts. This loss of self raises questions about what constitutes individuality and the emotional toll of reinvention. The journey illustrates how past experiences and memories shape our sense of being, even amidst drastic change.

⚔️

Betrayal

Betrayal weaves throughout the narrative as characters navigate their moral compasses. The relationship between Henry and Adam reveals deep complexities of trust and survival, while Polidori's actions ultimately lead to catastrophic consequences, showcasing the dark side of ambition and revenge.

💊

Survival

Survival in 'Depraved' goes beyond mere existence; it examines the lengths one would go to avoid death and seek revenge. Adam's reliance on medication highlights the fragility of life and the ethical dilemmas surrounding medical interventions. The tension rises as personal survival frequently clashes with ethical boundaries.

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