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  • THE SERPENT'S SMILE
  • More
    • Home
    • about Darren
    • projects
    • consultancy
    • testimonials
    • Screen Tales
    • contact
    • THE SERPENT'S SMILE
  • Home
  • about Darren
  • projects
  • consultancy
  • testimonials
  • Screen Tales
  • contact
  • THE SERPENT'S SMILE

written by darren markey

 When a troubled young woman returns to the country town of her upbringing, she discovers her former home in the grip of a terrifying witchcraft brought upon by her dead mother.


A supernatural horror feature film, THE UNLIT completed shooting in 2019 and was subsequently acquired by High Octane Pictures for 'rest of world' sales in 2020.

'THE UNLIT' - TRAILER

A man mourning the death of his wife over 2 years ago moves into a new house – hoping to forget his recent tragic past.  In an attempt to ease his pain, he turns to online dating for comfort – not realising that he is making contact with the dead former inhabitant of his home, bent on moving back in at whatever the cost. 


Feature film screenplay.

Following the death of her father a troubled young woman arrives in the seedy, gaudy seaside precinct of Fleur De Mar in search her sister, only to step into a civil war.  


LILLY is a contemporary re-telling of the Snow White tale – placing the story against the colourful backdrop of a seaside precinct brimming with vivid characters and a lively nightlife. 


The story follows Lilly as she heads to the city in search of her estranged half-sister, Rachel to bring her home in time for their father’s funeral. Lilly unwittingly steps into the verge of civil war as she encounters a cast of colourful eccentrics and crims, as she discovers Rachel is now a successful nightclub singer under the keep of drug addled Mirah, wannabe overlord of Fluer De Mar. 


With the unexpected help of reluctant hitman, Bob – Lilly finally confronts Rachel, as the two arrive home just in time to see their father lowered into the ground. 


Moving, colourful, and entertaining – LILLY is above all a tale of family, love and belonging, and suggests that freedom exists where we never expected to find it. 


Feature film screenplay.

A haunted car thief with dreams of travel takes on one last job that will change his life forever.


Based on actual events, CLICK follows the story of Dragan, a haunted car thief drawn into the orbit of Kristy – a troubled dealer at an underground nightclub. Dragan soon discovers Kristy has many admirers, and a body count to match, as their two worlds collide with bloody consequences.


CLICK is authentic in its depiction of several specific lifestyles, the suburban migrant experience, and the Melbourne underground club/drug scene of the 1990’s. Moving and vivid, CLICK is a crime/romance where WILD AT HEART and TWO HANDS meets TRUE ROMANCE.


Along with its blend of drugs, clubs, guns and crims – CLICK is a crime film with a heart that asks, where would you go if ‘click’ was the second last sound you heard?


Feature film screenplay.

A dying marine photographer helps a lost water nymph escape the dangerous clutches of ruthless and mysterious hunters – before helping the nymph find her way home. 


A fantasy/adventure/romance feature film, THE WOMAN BY THE WATER is currently in development, with a 'proof of concept' having been  shot early 2023 in the Geelong and Lorne regions in Victoria, Australia.


Feature film screenplay.

'THE WOMAN BY THE WATER' - POC

A desperate and driven TV producer assembles a dangerous cast of contestants in one last drastic attempt to resurrect the ratings of a ‘Big Brother’ style reality show – and thereby save the network he loves.


twenty two / 7 is a seven by thirty-minute episode television series featuring an on-going storyline.  


Series bible and episode 1 screenplay.

A bright-eyed entrepreneur, having recently ‘seen the light’ - forms a troupe of misfits before hitting the road on a Crusade to achieve his dreams of acclaim, earthly riches and eternal glory.


THE BLESSED is an eight by thirty-minute episode television series featuring an ongoing storyline.


Series bible, episode 1 screenplay and full series treatment.

A lone traveller with eternity on his mind follows a disturbed street preacher to a run-down apartment and won’t be leaving until he has what wanted from the beginning – if only he had asked. But the preacher’s passion springs from wells darker and deeper than the man could have imagined, and only a deal that neither wants will offer a way out…unless…


Armageddon is nigh – don’t leave the room.


THE SERPENT'S SMILE, a full length play, is winner of Cracked Actors Theatre (CAT)  Summer Reading season. The play is scheduled for production by CAT late 2023, early 2024.

Copyright © 2026 Darren Markey - screenwriter - All Rights Reserved.


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