Cherreads

Chapter 50 - Second Viewing

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"Achoo"

Jodie Foster quickly lowered her head upon noticing Christian Booth nearby, fearing being seen.

She had come to watch the premiere of "Wrong Turn" but missed it and had to settle for the second show. She wasn't here as an investor; otherwise, she wouldn't be late, let alone in disguise. She was here as a fan, wanting to revisit some unclear aspects of the film, which had left her with lingering questions.

While watching the preview, Jodie felt that "Wrong Turn" was well shot but lacked a detailed interpretation. However, scenes from the movie kept replaying in her mind for days, leaving her with a nagging feeling that something was amiss.

"This just doesn't sit right," she thought.

As her curiosity grew, Jodie made up her mind: "I'll just go and relax."

Her decision to watch the movie was a spontaneous one. She hadn't informed Christian, the director of "Wrong Turn", or the producer, Westwood. Jodie Foster simply wanted to enjoy a quiet night at the movies.

She had invited her assistant, Anna, but Anna, a gentle soul, declined when she heard it was a horror film. So, Jodie watched the movie alone in disguise and decided not to disturb Christian and Charlize, whom she observed from afar.

"Enjoy your evening, lovebirds", she murmured.

Though her initial impression of Christian Booth wasn't great, Jodie admired his talent upon closer inspection. As for Charlize, Jodie could see her scheming nature during their conversation, but it didn't bother her. In Hollywood, such traits were common, as long as they weren't malicious. Jodie believed Charlize deserved a "good person" card.

Seeing Christian and Charlize watching their movie premiere, Jodie decided not to interrupt them.

"I can only help you so far," she thought.

The premiere ended, and the audience began to leave. To Jodie's surprise, many of them queued up to buy tickets for another viewing.

"What's going on?" she wondered.

A tall man nearby provided an answer, "There must be some hidden plot we haven't seen."

"I agree," said a shorter man, his tone containing a hint of sarcasm.

"But the movie's plot is quite complete, Leonard," another short man chimed in.

"Howard, you're right, but I also sense something hidden in this movie," an Indian young man with a curry scent in his accent added.

The odds seemed to favor the idea of a hidden plot. What would Howard say?

"Well, I agree with you. Let's watch it again," Howard decided.

"But what if not?" Leonard looked displeased.

Jodie couldn't help but mutter, "You could still go home and sleep. Having a girlfriend doesn't change that; it only affects your sleeping arrangements."

As she complained, a voice spoke up, "You four, want to buy a ticket?"

The four men stepped back when faced with a confident, newly turned 18-year-old girl named Emily. Her assertive demeanor surprised them.

"Get out if you're not buying a ticket" Emily demanded.

Jodie Foster couldn't help but smirk, thinking, "Seems like Christian's Easter egg is quite interesting; so many people are watching it a second time." She adjusted her expectations for the box office of "Wrong Turn".

She was well aware that, unlike artistic dramas that demanded careful appreciation, horror films, much like action films, typically didn't garner repeat viewings from the audience. Christian was puzzled about how they had managed to make so many viewers want to watch "Wrong Turn" again. Even if the box office didn't double as expected, a significant increase was likely.

"Yet, those are concerns for Foster, who will be a producer tomorrow. Right now, I just want to enjoy movies," Foster thought as she decided to forget about it. She had lingered in front of the popcorn stand for a while, eventually choosing to go without it, and walked into the screening room with a hint of disappointment.

But then, "Why are these guys here again?" she exclaimed as she noticed the four geeky young men and the girl who had confronted them entering the theatre once more.

And they sat right beside Jodie.

"I just wanted to watch a movie, but why can't I stay away from these guys who seem so noisy at first sight?" Jodie Foster sighed and covered her forehead. Fate, it seemed, had other plans. Despite their earlier quarrel, the group had become friends.

"Maybe, as Sheldon suggested, there are hidden scenes in this movie that require a second viewing to grasp," Emily analyzed as they sat down. Sheldon was beside her.

"Trust me, that's exactly it. I have a photographic memory. If I'd seen it, I'd remember it, even if I didn't consciously notice it," Sheldon replied.

"Is that so? So if you didn't remember it, it means you need to watch it again," Emily nodded. Surprisingly, she got along best with Sheldon, the most difficult one in the group. Fate's mysterious ways indeed.

"That does seem plausible," Jodie, sitting next to them, agreed. However, despite being a seasoned actress, she hadn't fully grasped the intricacies of camera work and cinematic language.

"It appears I'll only understand what's happening after seeing the actual effects," she thought as the theatre dimmed, and "Wrong Turn" started once more.

"Be cautious this time" Christian, sitting in the back row once again, took a deep breath and turned to Charlize beside him.

"Don't let go of my hand, or you won't make it back, Sally," Christian said, clutching the girl's slender hand tightly.

"And Alexis"

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