Conquer The FoeM

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Conquer the Foe

To all those whose truth has been silenced or forgotten.

— RKS

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FOREWORD:

Conquer the Foe is Roadkill Studios first ever short film. It is a hand-drawn anti-incidentalist film which pays homage to classic point-and-click Flash game culture.

The film began development in March 2025, and was composed, illustrated, edited, written, and published by one amateur artist.

All music and artwork was created by me, although some characters and visual elements are deliberate homages to, adaptations of, or parodies of works that influenced the film.

At the centre of the film is the film theory principle of anti-incidentalism. The notion that every visible character in a film must have a defined history and identity, irrespective of whether that history is immediately apparent to the viewer. The film is therefore intended to be experienced not merely as a graphic chase scene, but as insight into fragments of a larger world beyond what the viewer sees on screen.

The need for a film like this is to fulfil the duty of laying the groundwork for a comprehensive anti-incidentalist narrative long term. In some respect, the "art" of anti-incidentalism is to attempt to prepare for questions that will be asked in the future.

The film was created both as an exploration of this principle and as a personal homage to the visual and artistic style of 2010s Flash games.

Conquer the Foe is the first major release under Roadkill Studios, and it represents the start of a wider body of work that the studio will continue to develop over time.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Hundreds of hours were dedicated to the completion of this short film. Although entirely created by one individual, we must thank the developers whose artistic influences enabled this film to be made in the first place.

We thank Chriss Martin, Yan Lepage, Mario Boutin, Jo Fortier and Josee Godbout for Desolation: The Stages of Anxiety. Their work on this project is noted for the prominent grim-minimalist art style and inspiration for many character designs in the film. Stage 1 was constructed as a tribute to Desolation.

Credit: https://www.kongregate.com/en/games/webcypher?page=7

We thank Hyptosis for The Sagittarian and for his excellent hand-drawn style, which inspired the horde/chase elements of the film and several character designs, particularly in Stage 2.

Credit: https://hyptosis.newgrounds.com/

We thank Mateusz Skutnik for Submachine, and for over 20 years of consistent artistic output and contribution to the point-and-click genre, the influence of which cannot go unnoticed for this film.

Credit: https://www.mateuszskutnik.com/

We thank Patrick Majewski for Monster Basement and its sequel. These games established an artistic vision that largely inspired Stage 2. We also thank Patrick Majewski for permission to include The Mud Vile from Monster Basement as part of this film.

Credit: https://godlimations.newgrounds.com/

We thank Igor Stravinsky for The Rite of Spring. A composition that completely redefined modern music and paved the way for many of the film soundtracks released in the last century.

From the creator:

To my mentors from the conservatory — whose names have been omitted for privacy — I thank you for your knowledge and expertise in which you shared with great generosity. The role of mentor should not be undervalued, for the role they play in forming a trainee's professional (and sometimes personal) life can be profound. Their contributions both directly and indirectly have helped shape the vision of this film and will define all future Roadkill Studios productions. I remain indebted to them for their dedication, patience, and time they commit to providing guidance and mentorship.

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Stage Descriptions:

• Prelude - The point in time before any disturbance. The prelude is the calm before the storm.

• Stage 1 - The first stage is the experience of a sudden distressing event; this stage is the realisation that something has gone horribly wrong as panic sets in.

• Stage 2 - This is the stage where panic is quickly replaced by a state of blunt, numbing dissociation.

• Stage 3 - Stage three is where the density of consciousness reaches its breaking point. Sanity is erased following a flash of light, and the incomprehensible suddenly becomes known.

• Stage 4 - Consciousness returns hours later; the embers of the previous stages continue to burn as comprehension slowly reconsolidates. Episodes of delirium continue, with flashes of mnemonic rupture followed by further disorientation. The acute event is over but effects fluctuate over several hours.

Support Roadkill Studios on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/roadkillstudiosofficial

NOTICE:

This film contains disturbing, graphic, and mature material. This film was created for artistic and introspective purposes and is not intended to deliberately offend. All characters appearing in this film are entirely fictitious; any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This film does not contain any AI-generated images or music. This film contains flashing lights, disturbing imagery, or other

material that some may find upsetting. This film is intended for mature audiences only and is not directed toward children.

Viewer discretion advised.

“It is necessary to say and to think that Being is; for Being is, and Nothing is not.”

— Parmenides, On Nature, fragment B6