Title for apocalyptic noir flick?

July 12, 2005 10:34 AM

Can anyone suggest a title for an end of the world movie?

Right now it's called Eschaton (no, not the liberal blogger), but most people can't pronounce it. Doesn't exactly scream "Rent me!" (Plus our money guy'll have none of it.)

It's about a group of ancient gods who come to Earth to stop one of their own from causing the apocalypse. Sounds goofy, I know, but we're playing it as a really gory black comedy/noir-flick. We've been pitching it as "Passion of the Christ" meets "Road House."

We've been pounding our heads against the wall trying to think of something new, but nothing's coming. I know it's hard to come up with something like this when you haven't actually read the script, but if ya'll could just throw some ideas out there it might at least put us on an interesting track.

posted by brundlefly to media & arts (62 comments total)

P.S. If we use something you suggest, I'll be sure to put a special thanks in the credits...
posted by brundlefly at 10:42 AM on July 12, 2005

Ragnarok and Roll

Not new, but it hasn't been used for a feature film.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 10:42 AM on July 12, 2005

xiuhmolpilli - I guess that doesn't help your whole unpronounceable problem? How about:

Codex
posted by Pollomacho at 10:47 AM on July 12, 2005

End of Worlds

(or) The name of the rogue God, if it sounds neat.

Ancients

Ungodly
posted by qwip at 10:50 AM on July 12, 2005

Apocalypse Noir
posted by 23skidoo at 10:52 AM on July 12, 2005

Armageddon Outta Here!
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:54 AM on July 12, 2005

"Armageddon It"

"Bad God"

"Someone's Got a Case of the Apocalypse!"

"Exit Music"

"Reining the Horsemen"

"Black Friday" (or whatever day)
posted by kindall at 10:54 AM on July 12, 2005

Apocalypse When?
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:56 AM on July 12, 2005

How 'bout "The Widening Gyre" from Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned....
posted by Staggering Jack at 10:57 AM on July 12, 2005

How about "The End"? Then if you have an opener scene before the credits, when you eventually show the title you'll confuse the heck out of people. :)

It's been used a few times before, though. But not in anything significant.

Eschat Attack
While the Armageddon's Good
End Zone
posted by johndavi at 11:01 AM on July 12, 2005

So you don't want the title to be goofy? Do you want it to be funnier than Eschaton? Or are you looking to give it a film noirish title? (Noir titles are awesomely overdramatic: Next Stop: Armageddon.)

What's the span of time the film covers?
Is it most day/night, summer fall?
What's the last line of the movie?
Who's the main protagonist (name, psychographic)?
Who do you think this film will do well with?
Why else would someone pick it up?
Are these Greek, Egyptian, Sumerian.. gods? Or ones of your own devising?
What's the one idea you want someone to walk away with?

Sorry. I work in naming. Y'always need a creative brief to generate names ;)
posted by Gucky at 11:03 AM on July 12, 2005

Destructus Interruptus ?

(C) 2005, R.Mutt :P
posted by R. Mutt at 11:13 AM on July 12, 2005

You can't go wrong with "Everlasting Godstoppers" or "Godstoppers, Everlasting".

Why did you want to use Eschaton? The plot reminds me of the backstory of one of The Legend of Zelda games (I think it's Ocarina of Time although it could be Majora's Mask...I always get them mixed up). I'm glad you're not going to call it Eschaton - it sounds too much like Ishtar.

I love off-the-top-of-my-head naming threads, but I'm not getting whether or not you want the title to be funny, ironic, clever, serious...what?

Armaggedon, Interrupted
The Last God
Somebody Up There Likes Us
Anatomy of an Apocalypse
Armaggedon Now
Mythikal
Ancient History
The God Code
My Big Fat Greek Mythunderstanding
Anarchy A GoGo
Deconstructing the End of the World
posted by iconomy at 11:17 AM on July 12, 2005

Ends of the Earth

Out Of Time

God of Thunder
posted by inksyndicate at 11:20 AM on July 12, 2005

I vote for Gucky's "Next Stop: Armageddon."
posted by goatdog at 11:25 AM on July 12, 2005

Deus Ex Machina?

they do show up at the end, after all.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:25 AM on July 12, 2005

We're of two thoughts on the type of title (though we're open to other ideas): something short and punchy, kind of ominous sounding, or something noirish. Probably nothing too goofy (although I almost fell off my chair when I read "Armageddon Outta Here!")

Time span: 12 hours. It's day during the first scene, then everything plunges into what we term a "pre-apocalyptic night" for the rest of the movie.

Last line: "This sucks."

Protagonist: A schizophrenic ancient warrior named Zeke. He inhabits the body of a bum in an alley and enjoys Woo-style shootouts.

Demographics: This'd probably do well with teenage guys, mostly because it merits a hard R-rating. Action fans. Horror fans (because of the gore and supernatural angle). Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would probably dig it, as it has a similar sense of humor (my co-writer is very influenced by Whedon). Someone once said the script reads like Monty Python doing an action flick.

The gods are Mesopotamian (although we play it rather fast and loose with the mythology... our thinking being that the myths played fast and loose with what really happened...)

P.S. Thank you everyone for your suggestions so far... I'm making a list to show my partner.
posted by brundlefly at 11:29 AM on July 12, 2005

iconomy: Why Eschaton? You know how you sometimes get a word stuck in your head? Maybe that's just me. Anyway, during the first draft of the script, I had that word rattling around in my head and felt a need to use it. It literally fits I suppose, but no one will know what the hell we're talking about. And it does have an "Ishtar" vibe, doesn't it?

As far as the Zelda connection, that's a surprise to me. Never played many games....
posted by brundlefly at 11:37 AM on July 12, 2005

12 hours

Schizeke

Bum Fight

720 (the amount of minutes in 12 hours)

Day Into Night
posted by iconomy at 11:44 AM on July 12, 2005

Our Last Dance
Until We Meet Again
Crash Black
The Last Move
Penultimate+1
Zeke-a-de-do-da
Deadly End
posted by rudyfink at 11:46 AM on July 12, 2005

Sounds a little similar to the plot of Dogma, doesn't it?
posted by jozxyqk at 11:51 AM on July 12, 2005

plot kinda reminds me of "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prattchet.

now as far as a title..."One hell of a day"
kinda noirish...but also counds kinda comic bookish too
posted by ShawnString at 11:51 AM on July 12, 2005

Almost Over
posted by pmbuko at 11:55 AM on July 12, 2005

Night Erra (Erra, of course, being the god of war, death etc)
posted by Quartermass at 11:59 AM on July 12, 2005

Twilight

Dusk

Nightfall

Endtime

Eventide

The Gloaming
posted by googly at 12:02 PM on July 12, 2005

Got A Ram Or Dung?
posted by Capn at 12:16 PM on July 12, 2005

Sounds a little similar to the plot of Dogma, doesn't it?

Well, Dogma was essentially a chase-the-MacGuffin story involving supernatural entities.

So is this. Beyond that, "Eschaton" (or whatever) is completely different tonally, philosophically, structurally, and character-wise.

We get the Dogma comparison a lot when we describe the project to people (which is a problem) but when they read it they change their tune. Thank God, 'cause I can't stand Kevin Smith. (I'm gonna get drawn and quartered for that, aren't I?)

ShawnString: I've heard of Good Omens, but haven't read it. What are the similarities?

P.S. One thing that might spawn some titles is the setting. It's all in modern day New Orleans.
posted by brundlefly at 12:16 PM on July 12, 2005

I always think "I Feel Fine" when I hear anything about the end of the world, but you might have to give REM some dough...

As for Good Omens, I don't see much of a similarity myself other than it being about the end of the world.
posted by Moondoggie at 12:19 PM on July 12, 2005

How about:

Expiration Date

It seems like you're looking for a tounge-in-cheek title to match the campy story line. Maybe this idea could be written into the story. For example, perhaps one of the characters prefers some vice (cigarettes?) that is expired or is constantly looking for something consumable but finds that the product is always expired. Comedy ensues . . .
posted by quadog at 12:26 PM on July 12, 2005

Boom!
Damn!
BoomDamn!
Ow!
Passion of the Road House
Road House of the Christ Passion
Someone Should Do Something
We are Gods! (Are We Not?)
Quick! Zeus Is About To Do Something Stupid
I Haven't Used My Godly Powers for Awhile
Yes, We Definitely Should
Let Us Stop that Bolt of Lightning!
The Dumb God
posted by crapulent at 12:27 PM on July 12, 2005

"This summer: It took him 7 days to create it, and half a day to destroy it. It's the Finnnalll CouNTDowwnnn!"

How about "The Destroyer"?
posted by riffola at 12:27 PM on July 12, 2005

A movie about the end of the world set in Nawlins?
I have two words for you my friend:

"Bad Ju-Ju"
posted by lilnemo at 12:49 PM on July 12, 2005

Twilight of the Gods
Full Stop
To Kill a God
God-Killers
God-Stoppers
Gods of Noir
posted by signal at 12:51 PM on July 12, 2005

If it's a comedy: We're All Fucked!

If it's drama: We're All Fucked, Tomorrow!
posted by gsb at 12:51 PM on July 12, 2005

(the) Last Gods
posted by signal at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2005

A few more New Orleans titles:
Blood on the Bayou
Blood on Bourbon Street
The Creole Catastrophe
The Persistence of Voodoo
Crisis in the Crescent City
Big Trouble in the Big Easy
The City that Care Forgot
Let the Good Times Roll
Brass Band Funeral
Jazz Funeral
posted by lilnemo at 1:09 PM on July 12, 2005

Doom With a View
posted by dong_resin at 1:10 PM on July 12, 2005

Almost Over is actually really good.
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:21 PM on July 12, 2005

The End of the World
posted by theora55 at 1:22 PM on July 12, 2005

This Day All Gods Die
Stop Or My God Will Shoot
Die Die Deity
Beignet Brith
Marduks of Hazzard
Hammurabi Dawn
The Enki Darkness
posted by Caviar at 1:29 PM on July 12, 2005

Zeke!
Zed, the Last of Zeke
wait, zed is the first of Zeke. never mind

Doom With a View - nice one, dong_resin
posted by Cranberry at 1:37 PM on July 12, 2005

Penultimate Frisbee
T Minus
The Final Call


I love "stop or my God will shoot."
posted by inksyndicate at 2:04 PM on July 12, 2005

Revelations 666
tagline: "wake up & smell the coffee"
posted by ouke at 2:11 PM on July 12, 2005

The Ancient Mesopotamian Gods must be Crazy
Zekes Big Adventure
End of the Road
posted by blue_beetle at 3:09 PM on July 12, 2005

Just spell it like the Coil folk did: Eskaton.
posted by yesno at 4:19 PM on July 12, 2005

God Trouble
God With a Gun
Godfight!
Dead Gods Don't Talk
Reservoir Gods (sorry can't resist)
The God War
Gods Gone Bad
God on the Run
The Godkillers
Smackdown of the Gods
God Crazy

(I like Bad Juju best, personally.)
posted by melissa may at 4:36 PM on July 12, 2005

The Last Twilight
The Last Dusk
Twilight's Last Gleaming
From Cradle to Grave (mesopotamia = 'cradle of civilization', but I think there's already a movie called this?)
Apoc-Ur-Lypse
Apocreole
Hell's Gumbo
Get Your Marduk's in a Row

Wow, getting stupid. Amazing how hard it is to come up with titles, isn't it? Always leads to (fun, but pointless) dumbassery.
posted by dragstroke at 4:56 PM on July 12, 2005

Mana War
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:59 PM on July 12, 2005

Whore of Babylon!

that's begging to get rented.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:02 PM on July 12, 2005

War on Terra
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:02 PM on July 12, 2005

Bite Me Gilgamesh
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:05 PM on July 12, 2005

Graven Images
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:10 PM on July 12, 2005

Akkadian Idol
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:13 PM on July 12, 2005

Breakin 2: Electric Umunmutamku
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:14 PM on July 12, 2005

Baal Breakers
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:14 PM on July 12, 2005

Worlds Gone Wild!
posted by mosch at 5:16 PM on July 12, 2005

Rock Me Armageddon
posted by kindall at 5:18 PM on July 12, 2005

Last Night
It Shall Be Done
Shall Be Done
Be Done
The Gods Aren't Smiling
Nigh
Ungodly Might
Mardi Grave
Smite Night
Swing Low Sweet Chariot (of death)
Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense
New Orleans is Sinking
posted by furtive at 5:19 PM on July 12, 2005

plot kinda reminds me of "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prattchet.

I was thinking Gaiman's American Gods, myself.

Pantheon
The Godfather [sic]
Godfellas
The God Complex
Dear Gods!
God Plays Dice ("At least one of them does. And it's actually roulette.")
Rogue God [weak, but can't believe someone didn't already say it]
Pantheon Posse [ugh.]
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 10:23 PM on July 12, 2005

New Orleans eh?

La Fin--Du Monde or La Fin at Du Monde?

The Big Ending

Ending Easy or It Ended Easy

Cresent Farewell

Jazzzeek Jazzend (sorta sounds Mesopotamian :-p)

Zy-de-co-untdown

Bourbon Street Blowup

Tchapat-down

It Finally Gets Cleaned Up (get it?)

The Last Saint

Nawl-gone
posted by rudyfink at 2:24 AM on July 13, 2005

Disclosure: "This Day All Gods Die" wormed its way into my subconcious from somewhere, and I just realized where. It's the title of the fifth book of the (absolutely stupendous) Gap series by Stephen Donaldson.

I don't think titles can be copyrighted, so this shouldn't be a problem if that's the one you liked, but I can't take credit for it.
posted by Caviar at 11:46 AM on July 13, 2005

Annunaki Nights (assuming you are going for the old for the old Akkadian gods you could always go for Fatal Erra - Erra being the god of death - shit - on preview Quartermass had it first, even if mine is better ;P)
Enter Sandman

There are tons of groovy Babylonian/Akkadian gods you can use to make a good name.
posted by longbaugh at 3:22 AM on July 14, 2005