Adapting Odd Thomas

I think that adapting Odd Thomas could be relatively easy but would have some difficulties as well. One of the most difficult things to transfer from the book to the movie would likely be the ghosts. This would be difficult because they look like normal people to Odd, and dressed in normal clothes, yet filmakers would have to find a way to differentiate between the ghosts that Odd sees, and the normal living people he interacts with. It might also be hard to show the bodachs accurately. I think that most of those problems would be tackled best with a combination of special effects, makeup (for the ghosts), and post production editing. I also think that since so much of Odd's reasoning process and understanding of the ghosts, come from his thoughts and ideas, that it could be difficult to transfer the storyline clearly in the movie. I think that in order to make sure that this doesn't happen, it would have to have an excellent script and good actors that can portray the characters well.

One of the scenes that I think must not be removed from the movie is one of the early scenes that involves Odd going into the Fungus Man's house and seeing both his collection of files and information about serial killers, and then the unusual black room where Odd sees his double. I think this scene is crucial because it shows why Odd suspects throughout the rest of the book about Fungus Man's motives and how creepy the man is. It also would be an interesting scene to watch, what with both the double of Odd, and how they would pull off the black room and time warp.

Another scene that I think is crucial to not be removed is one of the very early scenes where Odd first sees and communicates in his way to the ghost Penny Kallisto and then goes on a chase after Harlow, who is the one who killed her. I think that this is an important scene because it would be a good opening scene that both draws the audience in, and helps explain a little about Odd's ability and personality, right off the bat.

The last scene that I think cannot be removed or changed from the movie is the final climatic scene at the mall, where Odd finds out the identity of the killers, and uses his psychic magnetism to lead him to stop them. I think this scene cannot be changed because it is what the entire book has led up to, as well as has consequences that cannot be ignored.

One of the scenes that I think can be removed is the scene with Odd visiting first his father, and then his mother before going to the mall in the climatic scene. I think that this scene would detract from the suspense and buildup into the final scenes, and unless you truly deeply delve into Odd's childhood, it wouldn't seem important or notable that he goes to visit them, and what he gets out of it.

Another scene that could be removed is an early scene with Rosalia Sanchez, his neighbour where he reassures her that she is visible and living. While I enjoyed this scene in the book, I think that it would not necessarily be relevant in the movie, and may not be explained as well as it should be, with the emotional ties that Dean Koontz creates in the scene.