The Northern Ridge Line
Caught in a snow-swept biathlon course, former Olympian Elias Jansen guides Minister Peters through an unfolding political trap. The pristine winter landscape conceals a deadly game, and every second counts as the unknown threat closes in.
### **The Northern Ridge Line**
**A Film/TV Treatment**
#### **1. LOGLINE**
An elite ex-biathlete turned security operative must rely on her unique wilderness skills to protect a high-value politician from a sophisticated, unseen enemy in the isolating and treacherous terrain of a snow-swept mountain ridge.
#### **2. SYNOPSIS**
JANSEN, a stoic and hyper-aware security specialist with the muscle memory of a world-class biathlete, is escorting MINISTER PETERS on a high-risk "inspection" of a remote biathlon course ahead of a major international event. The mission is a ruse, designed to test the security perimeter and draw out a potential threat. As a blinding snowstorm descends, worsening visibility and seeping a damp, insidious cold into their bones, Jansen's unease solidifies into certainty. The oppressive silence of the forest feels unnatural, and her instincts scream that they are being watched. This fear is confirmed when she discovers a subtle, professionally placed tripwire, revealing that their route was anticipated and they are being actively hunted.
Forced off the groomed track and into the dense, disorienting wilderness, the cat-and-mouse game escalates. The appearance of a hostile drone signals a shift from passive surveillance to an active, technological pursuit. Realizing they are being herded, Jansen leads the physically struggling Peters to a forgotten, derelict maintenance shack—their only hope for cover. Inside the flimsy structure, their isolation is complete when they discover their communications are jammed. Trapped and exposed, with the drone buzzing menacingly overhead, the unseen enemy closes in, culminating not in a direct assault, but with the chilling sound of an explosive charge being set against the shack's wall, promising a violent and inescapable confrontation.
#### **3. CHARACTER BREAKDOWN**
* **JANSEN (30s-40s):** A former elite biathlete, now working in private security. She is physically formidable, disciplined, and moves through the hostile winter environment with an athlete's economy and a predator's awareness. Stoic and professional, she trusts her gut instincts, which have been honed by years of high-stakes competition and covert operations. She is a silent protector, her calm exterior masking a lethal efficiency.
* **MINISTER PETERS (50s-60s):** A polished, high-ranking government official, completely out of his element in the wilderness. He is intelligent and perceptive, quickly grasping the gravity of their situation despite his physical discomfort. Initially a liability, he reveals a core of steely resolve, placing his trust entirely in Jansen as he confronts a world of visceral violence far removed from his own.
#### **4. SCENE BEATS**
* **THE UNFORGIVING LANDSCAPE:** We open on the vast, monochrome expanse of the Northern Ridge. The wind is a physical force, the snow a blinding curtain. JANSEN, moving with practiced ease, leads MINISTER PETERS, who struggles against the elements and the altitude. The tension is immediate—Jansen’s unease versus the hostile environment.
* **A CALCULATED RISK:** Through dialogue, we establish the pretense of their mission versus the reality. Jansen has chosen this exposed route for its sightlines, a deliberate gamble to force an enemy into the open.
* **THE SILENCE IS WRONG:** Jansen’s senses are on high alert. It’s not the natural quiet of the woods; it’s a *held breath*. The world is unnaturally still, amplifying her paranoia. The sound design emphasizes the lack of ambient noise.
* **THE THREAT CONFIRMED:** Jansen halts, her body language shifting from guide to hunter. She discovers a nearly invisible tripwire. The abstract threat is now a concrete, immediate danger. They are not alone, and their enemy is smart.
* **INTO THE UNKNOWN:** The plan is compromised. Jansen makes a command decision: they abandon the track and plunge into the dense, disorienting forest. The known path is a trap; their only hope is the unpredictable wilderness.
* **EYES IN THE SKY:** A glint of movement in the canopy reveals a drone. The hunt has escalated. They are being tracked technologically, their thermal signatures painting them as targets against the cold. The enemy is not just a sniper in the trees; it's a sophisticated, well-equipped force.
* **A DESPERATE GAMBLE:** Jansen recalls a forgotten maintenance shack, an unmapped structure. It's a risk leading them to a fixed point, but it's their only chance for solid cover. The race is on—can they reach it before the hunters close in?
* **THE FORGOTTEN SHELTER:** They burst into the derelict shack. It is a fragile, freezing sanctuary. The sense of temporary relief is palpable but short-lived.
* **CUT OFF:** Peters discovers their satellite phone is dead. Comms are jammed. The trap is sprung. They are completely isolated, with no hope of extraction or backup.
* **THE HUNTER WAITS:** Inside the shack, Jansen prepares for a fight, her movements economical and deadly. She uses her thermal imager, scanning the cold, empty woods. The drone's hum grows louder, a constant, menacing presence directly overhead.
* **THE CLICK:** A faint, deliberate *click* is heard from outside, a sound that cuts through the storm. It’s the sound of a mechanism being set. Both Jansen and Peters hear it, and the grim reality dawns: the attack is imminent.
* **CLIFFHANGER - THE WRONG WALL:** Jansen shoves Peters into a corner and braces for an assault on the door. Instead, a deep, guttural roar vibrates through the shack as an explosive charge detonates against the main wall, blowing the scene to white and violent noise.
#### **5. VISUAL STYLE**
The visual style will be grounded, visceral, and atmospheric, emphasizing the oppressive power of the natural world.
* **PALETTE:** Heavily desaturated and monochromatic. The world is a spectrum of white, grey, and the dark green-black of the pines. Color will be used sparingly and with purpose: the bright orange of a thermal signature, the stark red of a laser sight, or the brilliant flash of an explosion.
* **CINEMATOGRAPHY:** A mix of sweeping, isolating wide shots that dwarf the characters in the immense, hostile landscape, and tense, intimate handheld work that captures their labored breathing and the treacherous footing. Inside the shack, the camera becomes claustrophobic, using tight frames and shallow focus to heighten the sense of being trapped.
* **SOUND DESIGN:** Sound will be a primary driver of tension. The constant, biting howl of the wind will be contrasted with moments of "unnatural silence." Key sounds will be amplified: the crunch of boots on snow, Peters' ragged breaths, the synthetic hum of the drone, and the final, bone-shaking roar of the explosion.
* **TONE & INFLUENCE:** The film should feel like a modern survival thriller with the tactical precision of a military procedural. Think the stark, brutal environment of **_Wind River_** meets the methodical, escalating tension of **_Sicario_**, with the isolated "last stand" feel of **_The Grey_**.
**A Film/TV Treatment**
#### **1. LOGLINE**
An elite ex-biathlete turned security operative must rely on her unique wilderness skills to protect a high-value politician from a sophisticated, unseen enemy in the isolating and treacherous terrain of a snow-swept mountain ridge.
#### **2. SYNOPSIS**
JANSEN, a stoic and hyper-aware security specialist with the muscle memory of a world-class biathlete, is escorting MINISTER PETERS on a high-risk "inspection" of a remote biathlon course ahead of a major international event. The mission is a ruse, designed to test the security perimeter and draw out a potential threat. As a blinding snowstorm descends, worsening visibility and seeping a damp, insidious cold into their bones, Jansen's unease solidifies into certainty. The oppressive silence of the forest feels unnatural, and her instincts scream that they are being watched. This fear is confirmed when she discovers a subtle, professionally placed tripwire, revealing that their route was anticipated and they are being actively hunted.
Forced off the groomed track and into the dense, disorienting wilderness, the cat-and-mouse game escalates. The appearance of a hostile drone signals a shift from passive surveillance to an active, technological pursuit. Realizing they are being herded, Jansen leads the physically struggling Peters to a forgotten, derelict maintenance shack—their only hope for cover. Inside the flimsy structure, their isolation is complete when they discover their communications are jammed. Trapped and exposed, with the drone buzzing menacingly overhead, the unseen enemy closes in, culminating not in a direct assault, but with the chilling sound of an explosive charge being set against the shack's wall, promising a violent and inescapable confrontation.
#### **3. CHARACTER BREAKDOWN**
* **JANSEN (30s-40s):** A former elite biathlete, now working in private security. She is physically formidable, disciplined, and moves through the hostile winter environment with an athlete's economy and a predator's awareness. Stoic and professional, she trusts her gut instincts, which have been honed by years of high-stakes competition and covert operations. She is a silent protector, her calm exterior masking a lethal efficiency.
* **MINISTER PETERS (50s-60s):** A polished, high-ranking government official, completely out of his element in the wilderness. He is intelligent and perceptive, quickly grasping the gravity of their situation despite his physical discomfort. Initially a liability, he reveals a core of steely resolve, placing his trust entirely in Jansen as he confronts a world of visceral violence far removed from his own.
#### **4. SCENE BEATS**
* **THE UNFORGIVING LANDSCAPE:** We open on the vast, monochrome expanse of the Northern Ridge. The wind is a physical force, the snow a blinding curtain. JANSEN, moving with practiced ease, leads MINISTER PETERS, who struggles against the elements and the altitude. The tension is immediate—Jansen’s unease versus the hostile environment.
* **A CALCULATED RISK:** Through dialogue, we establish the pretense of their mission versus the reality. Jansen has chosen this exposed route for its sightlines, a deliberate gamble to force an enemy into the open.
* **THE SILENCE IS WRONG:** Jansen’s senses are on high alert. It’s not the natural quiet of the woods; it’s a *held breath*. The world is unnaturally still, amplifying her paranoia. The sound design emphasizes the lack of ambient noise.
* **THE THREAT CONFIRMED:** Jansen halts, her body language shifting from guide to hunter. She discovers a nearly invisible tripwire. The abstract threat is now a concrete, immediate danger. They are not alone, and their enemy is smart.
* **INTO THE UNKNOWN:** The plan is compromised. Jansen makes a command decision: they abandon the track and plunge into the dense, disorienting forest. The known path is a trap; their only hope is the unpredictable wilderness.
* **EYES IN THE SKY:** A glint of movement in the canopy reveals a drone. The hunt has escalated. They are being tracked technologically, their thermal signatures painting them as targets against the cold. The enemy is not just a sniper in the trees; it's a sophisticated, well-equipped force.
* **A DESPERATE GAMBLE:** Jansen recalls a forgotten maintenance shack, an unmapped structure. It's a risk leading them to a fixed point, but it's their only chance for solid cover. The race is on—can they reach it before the hunters close in?
* **THE FORGOTTEN SHELTER:** They burst into the derelict shack. It is a fragile, freezing sanctuary. The sense of temporary relief is palpable but short-lived.
* **CUT OFF:** Peters discovers their satellite phone is dead. Comms are jammed. The trap is sprung. They are completely isolated, with no hope of extraction or backup.
* **THE HUNTER WAITS:** Inside the shack, Jansen prepares for a fight, her movements economical and deadly. She uses her thermal imager, scanning the cold, empty woods. The drone's hum grows louder, a constant, menacing presence directly overhead.
* **THE CLICK:** A faint, deliberate *click* is heard from outside, a sound that cuts through the storm. It’s the sound of a mechanism being set. Both Jansen and Peters hear it, and the grim reality dawns: the attack is imminent.
* **CLIFFHANGER - THE WRONG WALL:** Jansen shoves Peters into a corner and braces for an assault on the door. Instead, a deep, guttural roar vibrates through the shack as an explosive charge detonates against the main wall, blowing the scene to white and violent noise.
#### **5. VISUAL STYLE**
The visual style will be grounded, visceral, and atmospheric, emphasizing the oppressive power of the natural world.
* **PALETTE:** Heavily desaturated and monochromatic. The world is a spectrum of white, grey, and the dark green-black of the pines. Color will be used sparingly and with purpose: the bright orange of a thermal signature, the stark red of a laser sight, or the brilliant flash of an explosion.
* **CINEMATOGRAPHY:** A mix of sweeping, isolating wide shots that dwarf the characters in the immense, hostile landscape, and tense, intimate handheld work that captures their labored breathing and the treacherous footing. Inside the shack, the camera becomes claustrophobic, using tight frames and shallow focus to heighten the sense of being trapped.
* **SOUND DESIGN:** Sound will be a primary driver of tension. The constant, biting howl of the wind will be contrasted with moments of "unnatural silence." Key sounds will be amplified: the crunch of boots on snow, Peters' ragged breaths, the synthetic hum of the drone, and the final, bone-shaking roar of the explosion.
* **TONE & INFLUENCE:** The film should feel like a modern survival thriller with the tactical precision of a military procedural. Think the stark, brutal environment of **_Wind River_** meets the methodical, escalating tension of **_Sicario_**, with the isolated "last stand" feel of **_The Grey_**.