When a white supremacist cop is confronted by billboards calling out his chief’s neglect of a rape and murder case, he must silence the victim’s bitter mother and return peace to the town.

A gritty hell raiser launches a scorched earth billboard campaign in a hard scrabble small town when the cops bungle her daughter’s rape and murder investigation.

In a hard scrabble small town, a  gritty hell raiser starts her own investigation when the cops bungle her daughter’s rape and murder case.

In a hard scrabble small town, a gritty hell raiser starts her own investigation when the cops bungle her daughter’s rape and murder case.

Karel,

I guess I'll have to re-view the movie.   However, I will say that I think women would be more inclined to root for Mildred rather than Dixon because she has to contend with a common situation women can identify with:  not being taken seriously enough by men.

Also, women demanding justice for the murder of their daughters is a primal motif, an archetypal theme that goes back to Greek mythology and tragedy.  (See the Oresteia, Aeschylus' magnificent trilogy on revenge and reconciliation.)

I grant you that working out a strong hook for marketing purposes may not be reducible to a formula.  But I think there are some key questions that can be asked to stimulate and guide the brainstorming process.  Another thread, perhaps, for another occasion.

Regards and thanks again for providing this vital service to aspiring writers.

Karel,

I guess I'll have to re-view the movie.  However, I will say that I think women would be more inclined to root for Mildred rather than Dixon because she has to contend with a common situation women can identify with: not being taken seriously enough by men.

Also, women demanding justice for the murder of their daughters is a primal motif, an archetypal theme that goes back to Greek mythology and tragedy. (See the Oresteia, Aeschylus' magnificent trilogy on revenge and reconciliation.)

I grant you that working out a strong hook for marketing purposes may not be reducible to a formula. But I think there are some key questions that can be asked to stimulate and guide the brainstorming process. Another thread, perhaps, for another occasion.

Regards and thanks again for providing this vital service to aspiring writers.