Pulp

The story unfolds in a mid-20th-century milieu, an era of glamorous celebrity culture and smoky hotel rooms. Social scenes and glossy publicity feed the tension between art, fame, and corruption. The period's sensibilities about reputation shape the characters' choices and the consequences that follow.

Malta provides the backdrop for the writer's life, anchoring the story on a Mediterranean island. The setting is used to stage glamorous parties and discreet dealings that fuel the plot's intrigue. The island's atmosphere of sunlit luxury contrasts with the dark secrets at the heart of the story.

👑 Power & Status

Power and status drive the actions of the elite circle around Preston Gilbert. Gilbert's celebrity life masks a network of influence that threatens anyone who uncovers its secrets. The party and the past events reveal how wealth and connections shield criminals from accountability. As the protagonist uncovers the truth, the film examines how status can corrupt memory and justice.

🕵️ Mystery & Deception

Deception threads through disguises and misdirections: Miller's priest disguise, the misidentification of the contact, and the party's staged pranks. The narrative invites the viewer to question who is trusted and what is real. Clues surface slowly, forcing the protagonist to navigate a web of lies and cover-ups upheld by powerful people. The mystery culminates in the revelation of a past scandal that others want to forget.

✍️ Storytelling

Ghostwriting becomes a central act of storytelling, as King is asked to compose a life that may not be his to tell. The film explores how narratives are shaped, edited, and used to control perception. The divide between autobiography and sensational fiction mirrors the larger tension between truth and image in celebrity culture. King's own skepticism about the subject's truth drives him to pursue the real story, with dangerous consequences.